Annual benefit statements on the way
Consider the OPERS annual benefit statement as a check point for your retirement security.
The Ohio Public Employees Retirement System has begun mailing this year’s annual statements to all active members and vested inactive members of our Traditional and Combined plans. The statements will be mailed throughout April, so not all members will receive them at the same time.
If you’d like to receive your statement sooner, you can access it through your online account at www.opers.org by selecting the Documents tab.
The statements include your total contributions, account value, service credit totals and beneficiary designations through Dec. 31. They also provide a basic estimate of your retirement benefit, so you can use the statement as a planning tool for your total retirement income.
If you have questions about your annual statement, contact 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.
Dear Michael,
I apologize on behalf of all the OPERS retirees who are complaining long and loud about the changes in our health care coverage. Yes, we are frustrated by One Exchange’s poorly trained associates, and we wish we had access to supervisors who might learn from us the shortcomings of those associates. I don’t know if there was a better equipped company out there to handle this massive volume of new customers. Also, I wish they would ask for feedback regarding their web site, which is sorely lacking in accurate information. The web site could be a lot better, but they aren’t asking me, so I’ll just learn to deal with it. I’m so sorry for the posts you’ve had to deal with.
Patricia,
Thanks for the comment.
–Ohio PERS
OneExchange’s web site does provide you an opportunity to give feedback. Look in the lower left hand margin and you will see a black box clearly stating FEEDBACK. Click on it and you’ll get your chance to give feedbck
Need to be able schedule the insurance selection meeting in person without having to fight with Oneexchange fora meeting. I am hard of hearing need too see who I am talking too.
Please make it easier.
Thanks
Kenneth, you can call the Ohio Dept of Insurance and ask to speak to someone in their OSHIIP department. OSHIIP stands for the Ohio Senior Health Insurance and Information Program. They have volunteers who are very knowledgeable and helpful. I don’t know where in Ohio you live, but there may be an OSHIIP representative or volunteer who will sit with you while you talk with a One Exchange representative on the phone and help you choose an insurance plan. They were willing to do this during open enrollment in the fall. I strongly encourage you to take advantage of this helpful program.
When I contacted OSHIP they told me it was not their job to help us pick a plan. Must depend on who you happen to get on the phone.
Oh my gosh, please make it easier for the retirees! I am not yet retired, but when I read all of the entries of our retirees begging for help, it makes me very sad and upset.
This is mayhem. They want you to do home delivery. Doesn’t sound all that hard until the prescription has to be renewed and they don’t agree with the doctor what you need. 3 mos of harassing them and my doctor for a prescription which helps with the pain of fibromyalgia and mood. I have been on this med for years but all of a sudden the drug company tells the doctor what my daily does should be? Needless to say I went off this med cold turkey because there is some communication gap and I’m caught in the middle. Now I’m in to 3 months without it. I had a sub dural hematoma which I had severe head pain and now I’m going thru severe spine pain and shoulder pain. I’m sure I would have pain anyway but would it be this severe since I’ve had to be without a medicine that worked for me for years. When I look at my account on line, all the prescriptions are there from my doctor but just can’t be filled for some dumb reason. Tread lightly all you who are making this decision. Just writing your drugs on the application and them saying it’s covered doesn’t mean it’s really covered.
Oh my, your scenario sounds terrible, and I feel very sorry for you. I hope it all gets straightened out and you get the medications that you and you doctor say you need.
When I contacted OSHIP they told me it was not their job to help us pick a plan. Must depend on who you happen to get on the phone. Either way I wish the gentleman well in getting through the next round of calls when choosing insurance for next year. I agree it would be much better to speak to someone face to face. Hate the thought it is only a few months away before we have to go through it all again.
I feel for the woman who has gone without medication due to the insurance problems as I have had to get my prescriptions at my local pharmacy at a higher cost because I was told my medications were on the list for mail order but later told they don’t even carry it.
When I signed up for One Exchange —medicine I was total I would not go into a donut hole.
So what a shock when I was told I would have to pay $4800 out of pocket before they came back in to pick up the rest of the year.
I would have chosen a plan that I paid more –and would not have had this expense.
Only took 4 and half month to get my prescription filled at or near cost I could afford.
With these drug plans being so cheap ( like Silver Script) they don’t cover prescription that the doctor order.
I wish we have good coverage like we have on Medical Coverage, I had one major problem, had a rotor cuff surgery, no problems with that. Physical therapy they cut me off when Medicare said money ran out, Now I got wait until 2017 to get my shoulder right? I can not raised my arm any higher than my chest, can’t sleep because of pain, cannot even get my billfold out my pocket, their many more things I cannot do.