Essential Strategies for PG&E Employees Navigating Job Loss: A Guide to Financial Resilience

Healthcare Provider Update: Healthcare Provider for Pacific Gas & Electric The primary healthcare provider for employees of Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) is often covered under large insurance carriers that offer comprehensive plans, including offerings from Blue Cross Blue Shield and UnitedHealthcare; the exact provider may vary depending on the employee's specific plan and regional options available. Projected Healthcare Cost Increases in 2026 As we look ahead to 2026, healthcare costs are anticipated to rise significantly due to a combination of factors. Insurers are reporting average premium increases that could exceed 20%, driven largely by ongoing inflation in healthcare services and the potential expiration of enhanced subsidies provided under the Affordable Care Act. This perfect storm of rising medical costs and diminished financial support could shock many consumers, with estimates suggesting that out-of-pocket premiums might surge by as much as 75% for individuals reliant on marketplace plans. As such, both employees and employers within PG&E should prepare for heightened expenses, taking proactive steps now to mitigate potential financial impacts. Click here to learn more

For PG&E employees who find themselves out of work, it is vital to perform an instant and comprehensive financial analysis in order to limit losses,' says Kevin Landis of The Retirement Group, a division of Wealth Enhancement Group. 'The proper utilization of your resources such as the pension and the IRAs ensures that you are financially well positioned during the transitions.'

'According to Paul Bergeron of The Retirement Group, a division of Wealth Enhancement Group, managers of PG&E companies who have been laid off should focus on diversifying their income and seeking the advice of a financial advisor to come up with a plan that will sustain them financially and meet their future goals.'

In this article, we will discuss:

1. Immediate Financial Review and Actions: Outlining the first measures a professional interior designer made to reassess and cut her expenses after losing her job suddenly, along with the changes she made to improve her financial situation.

2. Long-term Financial Strategy Challenges: Describes the different strategies for sustainable income including the pension, retirement accounts, or another job and the implications for taxes and healthcare.

3. Secured Future and Continued Stability: Emphasizes the positive changes and financial planning, which led to the new employment with benefits and allowing the designer to keep on contributing to her retirement plans and defer Social Security, thus enhancing her financial future.

This article provides a case study of a seasoned interior designer who was earning $100,000 a year and found herself out of a job in September. At the age of 63, the professional living in Minneapolis and with no income at present, following a recent divorce, had to face not only a personal tragedy but also a severe financial issue. As a PG&E employee, it is important to be financially ready for any chance of job loss.

Immediate Financial Review and Actions

The first thing to do after being laid off was to review the financial situation. Her savings were decreasing at the rate of $4,500 every month; she had no income at all. She had to make some changes; she had to. Even though her mortgage and car payments were set, she cut her monthly spending by $3,000, which she did by cutting on travel, dining out, home renovations, and charitable giving. She also checked for health insurance from the Affordable Care Act and got a zero-premium plan in Minnesota once her parent’s plan expired.

Long-term Financial Strategy Challenges

It was a big challenge to identify what to do in order to get sustainable income during this period. She could have chosen to take her pension, use her traditional and Roth IRAs, take Social Security or work in a low-paying job. This decision was complicated because it had implications for her healthcare, taxes, and financial health generally.

Financial Guidance

Pension: Since the client is in good health and likely to live a long life, the $1,000 monthly pension payment was preferred as opposed to the higher but less stable $1,350.

IRA Withdrawals: Taking the money from the traditional IRA first helped her meet her budget since she could take money from that account without being taxed on it or paying penalties; she could take up to $29,160 without losing her eligibility for free health insurance. The Roth IRA was left to grow tax-free, untouched by any possible need.

Employment Opportunities: Taking a job greatly enhanced her pension income and allowed her to avoid touching her retirement funds and to delay Social Security payments, which could have increased her future benefits by 8% per year until she turned 70.

These three strategic decisions do not just apply to the designer. PG&E employees who are faced with job losses should consider these decisions carefully in their plans for how to manage unemployment. It is important to learn how to use your resources when you lose your job unexpectedly.

Secured Future and Continued Stability

She was successful in her financial planning as she got a job as a kitchen designer in a home improvement company, and the job paid her about $46,000 a year. This position not only gave her financial stability and health insurance but also allowed her to remain a member of the IRAs and delay Social Security, which in turn protected her financial situation.

The experience of this interior designer is a clear message of the need to be ready for change and financial planning. She developed a strong financial plan to weather the shocks of the unexpected layoffs with proper resource management, professional advice, and exploring job opportunities.

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Additional Resources

Financial blogs and articles written by experienced financial writers and advisors are likely to offer the level of guidance required to make sense of the financial terrain.

For PG&E employees who are close to retirement and want to reduce the risk of financial loss, it helps to continue working part-time as consultants in their fields through retirement age. This approach not only protects financial status but also helps to stay current with industry trends that are important for getting new jobs or projects.

When you lose a job, you are like a ship that has encountered a storm. At first, you are in smooth water with a stable income, but the loss of employment demands an immediate adjustment of the financial ship. Using pensions, IRAs, and perhaps new employment, it is possible to steer a course through to calmer waters and make a relatively smooth transition to retirement despite the unexpected twists and turns that can occur en route.

Sources:

1. Widget Financial Team. “Retirement Strategy After a Job Loss.” Widget Financial, January 5, 2025. widgetfinancial.com.

2. Haussmann Financial Advisors. 'Retirement Strategy After a job loss.” Haussmann Financial,  www.haussmannfinancial.com . Accessed 4 Feb. 2025.

3. Team at Hahn and Associates. “Retirement Strategy After a Job Loss.” Hahn and Associates, PC,  www.hahn-cpa.com . Accessed 4 Feb. 2025.

4. Michael Santiago CRPC. “Retirement Planning After Losing Your Job.” ComparisonAdviser,  www.comparisonadviser.com . Accessed 4 Feb. 2025.

5. Falcon Wealth Planning. “Retirement Planning Strategies After a Job Loss.” Falcon Wealth Planning, December 20, 2025. falconwealthplanning.com.