Daily webinars offer helpful member info
Budgeting, preparing for retirement, health care among topics
By Marc Tubbs, Ohio Public Employees Retirement System
Nov. 12, 2020 – As we continue to navigate the never-before-seen circumstances surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, OPERS is maintaining our high standard of service while many of our employees continue working in a remote environment.
Because the OPERS building remains closed to visitors, we’ve greatly expanded our ability to help and educate members in an online environment. For instance, OPERS member service representatives are responding to calls and emails in a timeframe typical for this time of year. We also offer one-on-one counseling via Zoom – call us at 800-222-7377 to set up an appointment.
Plus, we’ve expanded our online offerings this year in response to the decrease in live education events. We encourage members and retirees to take advantage of the following resources:
Webinars – For the safety of our membership and in accordance with current recommendations for gatherings in Ohio, we’ve postponed all in-person education sessions through the end of the year. However, we’ve increased the number of live webinars we offer for members at all stages of their careers. You can attend a webinar using a computer, smartphone or tablet.
Visit the Member Education Center at opers.org to register for any of the following member-targeted webinars, which will take place at noon on the designated days. (Additional webinars may be offered at other times.)
- Monday: Personal Budgeting – Learn how setting up a personal budget can help you meet your short- and long-term goals.
- Tuesday: Bridging the Retirement Gap – Assess your financial wellness, review your current spending habits and estimate your retirement income so you can identify the “gap” between what you will have in retirement and what you will need.
- Wednesday: Ready to Retire (Pension) – Find out how to calculate your monthly retirement payment, and learn about decisions you’ll need to make as you head into retirement.
- Thursday: Ready to Retire (Health Care) – Discover what it takes to become eligible for OPERS health care coverage and find out more information about current coverage.
- Friday: Active Member Pension & Health Care Updates – Find out more about health care changes coming in 2022 and their impact to active members.
We’ve also got several webinars for retirees, including the following:
- Open Enrollment 2021 – Hear updates about premiums, plan design and covered services for next year’s health care coverage. Webinar for those 65 and older | Webinar for those Under 65
- Retiree Health Care Under 65 – Understand the approved health care changes and their impact to retirees not yet eligible for Medicare.
- Transitioning to the OPERS Medicare Connector – Prepare to move to the Connector and to an individual Medicare plan.
- Retiree Health Care 65 and Older – Learn how the approved health care changes will affect those 65 and older.
- How to Use Your Health Reimbursement Account – Find out how to use the HRA to be reimbursed for expenses.
Recorded presentations – You can view online recorded presentations on all our webinar topics at your own convenience.
A complete list of recorded presentations, and many more resources for all OPERS members and retirees, are available within the Member Education Center.
Marc Tubbs
Marc Tubbs is the manager of OPERS’ Education division. He oversees the development and delivery of educational content that helps members and retirees make sound financial-wellness and retirement-related decisions.
Is there any way to get the information in written form? I can’t do webinars. Thank you
Barbara,
We’re not sure what specific information you’re looking for, but our website, http://www.opers.org, contains a wealth of information on every aspect of the pension fund. For questions about your account, send us a secure message through your online account, or give us a call at 800-222-7377.
I am interested in any health care changes for those of us over 65, especially if they are major ones. Thank you
how much will the cola reduction in 2022 and 2023 will save of the 24 billion needed ?
Steve,
When it was introduced in October 2019, the proposed cost-of-living freeze for 2022 and 2023 was projected to reduce OPERS’ unfunded liability of $24 billion by $3.44 billion.
where is the rest the 24 billion coming from?
Steve,
We’re not proposing to erase a $24 billion unfunded liability. However, the $24 billion liability was an all-time high for OPERS, and we needed to take steps to reduce it. The proposal came several years after the Ohio General Assembly passed a bill that required active members to pay more for their retirement and work longer before they could retire.
The COLA freeze proposal also includes delaying future COLAs to two years after retirement (for those not yet retired), and restoring a level of purchasing power to some retirees who receive lower pensions.
I am totally confused on my HRA account Have asked for less than my 335 amount for 11 months in 2020 and my reimbursement has varied sometimes more than 335 other times less . I have called VIA Benefits and have received confusing answers help
Please send your questions through the online message center or contact us by phone at 800-222-7377 so we can review your account and try and help assist you with your questions. Thanks M.S
Shout out to any who chose the Combined Plan. I learned today that the cost to transfer the service credit to the Traditional plan was three times the estimate I received last year. I was told the formula changed and that it generally changes every year. Needless to state, there’s no way for me to switch plans as it doesn’t make sense financially. The amount I’m being asked to pay far exceeds the amount to cover just my payments in retirement.
My First Using Zoom. I have a scheduled zoom call with OPERS. Do I Contact OPERS or Does OPERS Contact Me?
Pam,
If you are scheduled for a zoom appointment with an OPERS counselor approx. 24 hours prior to your appointment you will receive an email with a link to your zoom appointment .
Thanks MS
How does the pension monthly pay get paid? Meaning, the pay on say May 1st. Is that for May or is it for April? I have searched the website and cannot find the answer. It is beneficial to know if I will need a months pay to cover the first month of retirement if the pay is a month behind meaning May 1st is for the month of April.
Scott,
All monthly benefits are issued on the first of the month unless the first is a weekend or holiday then they are issued the last business day of the pervious month. For example if you receive a benefit on May 1 that payment is for May if May first was on a Saturday then you would receive the payment on April 30th.
Thanks MS