The Ohio Public Employees Retirement System is publishing a series of six videos to explain the key factors of the upcoming OPERS Health Plan changes, which begin in 2014.
The first video in the series discusses new program eligibility rules. The video features OPERS Health Care Director Marianne Steger.
You can click here to watch the video, which is on our YouTube channel.
During the video, Steger refers to the Comprehensive Guide to Pension and Health Care Changes. You can link to the guide for current members here. Click on this link for the guide that was written for retirees.
I HAVE PURCHASED MILITARY TIME I HAVE HEARD THAT IT WILL NO LONGER COUNT TOWARD MY HEALTH CARE UNDER PERSON IS THIS TRUE.
Michael,
That is true, if you enter the plan in 2014 or later, unless it’s USERRA time. However, bear in mind that military time purchases do not count now toward health care, unless you made the purchase before Jan. 30, 1981.
–Ohio PERS
I was hoping that I could be sure that I understand the changes in health care correctly. I have a few questions. I received a service credit for 2.824 years as a result of a BWC injury sustained while employed by my public employer. I have since returned to the same public employer. With the above mentioned service credit it will allow me to be eligible for retirement with 30 years total credit at age 48 in 2016.
1) Am I correct in saying, even though I will have 30 years “total “at that time, I won’t be eligible for immediate health care? And that I will have to work an additional 2.824 years to have immediate health coverage when I retire?
If the answer to the above questions is “correct” this brings up another question.
2) As a member of Group “A” and I work the additional 2.824 years in order to gain immediate access to health care upon my retirement it would bring the year to 2019. Would the new pension legislation & health care changes then force me to have 32 years of service to retire at any age with immediate health care coverage? In short does this mean I have an additional 5 years to work to make up the nearly 3 years’ service credit that I lost while injured?
I think these are valid concerns or questions that many other OPERS members may have. I would like the questions answered here so that we may comment. There are many OPERS members who have sustained BWC injury’s through the years while under public employ, received service credit thinking that that have been made whole, only to find out now, that sure they may retire with their total credit restored but that credit doesn’t count towards or buy them health coverage.
Chris,
If you retire in 2014 or beyond, only the following types of service credit will apply to your health care eligibility: contributing service, Ohio retirement system service, USERRA, unreported time and restored service.
If you are in Group A, you will not have to work beyond 30 years to become eligible for health care.
–Ohio PERS
Last year, employees had to retire by 12/31/12 to qualify for the standing COLA. In 2013, employees have to retire by 11/30/13 to be eligible for healthcare under the old system. Why not be consistent and have it be 12/31/13? I know it’s published but most people assume the end of the year is 12/31, and many are missing this information. Why make it confusing?
When I retired in 2011, I chose to take less money in my monthly retirement so my spouse would be able to receive benefits if I passed away. Am I able to recoup that money or “pop up” since that will no longer be an option in the near future? He is 53 now not receiving any health benefits through me, I retired with 30 years at the age of 51
Beth,
Under that scenario, a spouse would continue to receive pension benefits upon the member’s death. Spouses will continue to receive health care premium assistance through 2016.
–Ohio PERS
I have been retired for 10 years (30 years with ODOT – Equipment operator) with my wife on my health care program. I am 60 years old and she is 58 years old. Will she loose her coverage through my retirement? Will I loose my coverage or what is the transistion to Medicare and when?
What are our options?
Anthony,
Spouses will continue to be covered in 2014 as they are this year. After that, spousal allowances will be transitioned out:
2015: One-third reduction in allowance
2016: Two-thirds reduction in allowance
2017-19: Access to coverage, but no allowance
2020: No access, although the OPERS Board of Trustees will revisit the coverage rules as 2020 approaches
–Ohio PERS
For 24 years I was promised 100% health care coverage at 48 years old with 25 years service. I even paid a higher percent of my salary to have this benefit. Now as I start my 24th year I find out that I will get No health care unless I work 30 years. No transition period at all !!! Where is it. I understand reform and would gladly pay the proposed 25% now, that’s what they want by 2017. As of now a 48 year old officer with 25 years can retire by Dec. 2013 and get full health care, I cant retire until a month later and I get NO health care.
Bill,
Now that the OPERS Board of Trustees has voted to delay full implementation of the new health care program rules, members who would have come up a year or less short of the required service time to be eligible for health care now will be eligible.
–Ohio PERS
Right after I purchased 4 years of military service credit so that I could retire earlier, the changes came. Now I can still retire as planned, but can spend most of my pension check on health insurance for my wife and I, or work the whole thirty years anyway and hope OPERS doesn’t eliminate EVERYBODY’s health insurance by then.
The YouTube was no longer available. I am concerned on whether I am understanding my options correctly. In Aug 2016, I will be 60 and be 2 months short of 19 years of service, I had planned to retire at the time I turn 60. Am I grandfathered or will I now have to work 20 years and age 61 to be eligible for retirement. Also, I understand that money will be contributed towards my medical insurance but not 100%. How do I find out how much or what percentage. My spouse has his own insurance and will not need my coverage. Can my money be put towards buying outside coverage? Thank you.
Kim,
We will be re-recording the health care video series because of the delay in full implementation of the changes. We hope to have the first three videos posted during the third week of April, and by the end of the month we hope to post three additional videos.
–Ohio PERS