OPERS Member Services had a busy 2014
The Ohio Public Employees Retirement System’s Member Services department is often the best place for our members to gain information about their accounts and answers to their questions about pensions and health care.
Member Services employees assist our more than 1 million members with their individual accounts, retirement and health care, and many other issues. Last year was no exception. Here are some examples of the many ways our Member Services associates helped you in 2014:
- We received more than 500,000 calls from members.
- Our Virtual Hold option, which allows members to specify when we can call them back, was used more than 200,000 times.
- We conducted interviews with over 23,000 members and retirees.
- We helped more than 2,800 people at the front desk of our downtown Columbus headquarters.
- We responded to nearly 17,000 emails and online account messages.
- We educated more than 33,000 members through in-person presentations and online webinars.
- More than 48,000 people watched our Member Services videos and recorded presentations.
If you have a question or need some help from our Member Services staff, please call us at 800-222-7377.
Michael Pramik
Michael Pramik is communication strategist for the Ohio Public Employees Retirement System and editor of the PERSpective blog. As an experienced business journalist, he clarifies complex pension policies and helps members make smart choices to secure their retirement.
When will the 1099’s be available online?
thanks……
Floyd,
It should be in about a week. We will post a blog next week letting you know the exact date.
–Ohio PERS
I am trying to view the DVD for 2016 OPERS Medicare Connector; however, I cannot locate it on your website. I did not receive the DVD therefore, I would like to try and view it on line.
Linda,
That video is on our YouTube Channel. You can click here to access it directly.
–Ohio PERS
Recent legislation allows Opers to pay for Medicare part a for those Opers members that do not qualify . I saw the discussion of this on the Opers website. It’s great news for those that do not have the 40 quarters in social security to qualify. My question is : those of us that are retired and have our 40 hours in social security and qualify for part a . It seems that we are being short changed ? We are saving Opers paying our part a but will we get credit in the exchange for the saving to opers? It seems to me that to be fair those of us that have qualified for part a should have the savings to Opers passed on to us in the exchange?
David,
The changes brought about by Senate Bill 42 have no negative impact on members who qualified for Medicare Parts A and B. Ohio law requires OPERS to provide a Medicare Part A-equivalent plan to the approximately 6,500 retirees who will be affected by the bill.
–Ohio PERS
Was not Opers instrumental in getting the law changed? Does not Opers save money by getting everyone ( 65 and older) on Medicare part a ? You are correct to say ( spin) that It has no negative impact ,but it has no positive impact on those of us that already qualify. The real negative impact is from your changes that result in a cut and phase out of part b reimbursement ,plus the loss of our spouses insurance payment. Now we get an allowance in the HRA and we ( as of yet ) have no idea how far our allowance will go into paying for our health care.
Dwr,
The changes to “non-qualifiers” that were a part of Senate Bill 42 were not intended to have any impact, positive or negative, on other members or retirees.
–Ohio PERS
Is it not true to say that OPERS is saving money by getting everyone 65 and older on part A of Medicare ?
Dwr,
Ohio law requires OPERS to provide Medicare Part A coverage to retired members who do not qualify for premium-free Medicare Part A coverage. When recent health care changes were implemented, the law changed to allow us to have those retirees on the Connector. The only way that can happen is if we reimburse them for the Part A premium.
This is a cost savings to OPERS. Our actuaries say it saves us about $1 million over a 10-year period. It saves retirees money because they have more-affordable choices under the Connector.
–Ohio PERS
when will the 1099R form be available to view from my OPERS account??…thank you for the information, have a blessed day.
Kimberly,
The 1099-R forms are available now.
–Ohio PERS
My wife turns 65 in July. What spouse allowance will she get for 2015?
David,
She will get the full, current allowance for spouses. Beginning in 2016, spouses transition to a zero allowance by 2018. Her allowance will be reduced by one-third next year, by another third in 2017, then to zero in 2018.
–Ohio PERS