ABOUT LACERA

BOARD OF RETIREMENT MINUTES 3-10-10

PRESENT

• Les Robbins, Chair
• Simon S. Russin, Vice Chair
• Yves Chery, Secretary
• James P. Harris (Alternate Member)
• Ed C. Morris (Alternate Retired)
• William R. Pryor
• Mark J. Saladino

ABSENT

• Edward L. Blecksmith
• William de la Garza

STAFF ADVISORS AND PARTICIPANTS

• Gregg Rademacher, Chief Executive Officer
• Robert Hill, Assistant Executive Officer
• Janice Golden, Assistant Executive Officer
• Robb Van Der Volgen, Chief Counsel
• Cassandra Smith, Retiree Health Care Division

1. ACTION ITEM
   1. Recommendation as submitted by Robert S. Van Der Volgen, Chief Counsel:

      That the Board deny the request of Sangeeta Swendson’s request on behalf of her father Ram Abrol, to waive LACERA’s six (6) month waiting period to allow her father to switch medical plans. (Memo dated March 8, 2010.)

      Mr. Van Der Volgen addressed the Board and explained the reasons for his recommendation.

      He pointed out that LACERA’s policy of imposing a six month waiting period on its members is to protect the plan from members switching from a low cost/low coverage plan to a high cost/high coverage plan when they need significant medical services, which would result in unfunded plan coverage.

      Additionally, LACERA has no existing policy on individual appeals to waive the six (6) month waiting period for compassionate and medical reasons and the present set of facts do not warrant making an exception in this case. The conclusion is the same under principles of equity because the member had several opportunities to change plans over the past several months.

      Board Members questioned and spoke at length with staff before making the following motion.

      A motion was made by Mr. Saladino, seconded by Mr. Morris, to approve the recommendation.

      The motion passed unanimously.

   2. Recommendation as submitted by Robert Hill, Assistant Executive Officer:

      1) That the Board reaffirm the Six (6) Month Wait Policy currently in effect; or 2) That the Board develop a Compassionate Waiver Policy for the Six (6) Month Wait Policy. (Memo dated March 8, 2010.)

      Based on the Boards decision, as noted above, the following motion was made:

      A motion was made by Mr. Saladino, seconded by Mr. Pryor, that the Board reaffirm the Six (6) Month Wait Policy currently in effect.

      The motion passed unanimously.

2. PUBLIC COMMENT

   None.

3. ADJOURNMENT

4/30/10