Health care open enrollment under way

Separate dates are set up for Pre-Medicare and Medicare retirees

By Michael Pramik, Ohio Public Employees Retirement System

Oct. 14, 2025 – Open enrollment season is here for the OPERS health care program. OPERS mailed this year’s open enrollment packet in early October. For more information, visit our open enrollment website page, or you can access the materials that were mailed to you by logging into your OPERS online account.

Improving the open enrollment experience

In January, OPERS staff met with Via Benefits to discuss our concerns about last year’s open enrollment. Following that initial meeting, staff continued to meet with Via Benefits on a monthly basis to hear progress on the changes that they have implemented. They recognize they fell short in several areas and have made great strides to improve your overall experience. Read on to hear how they are ready for our OPERS retirees.

• Increased staff: More representatives have been hired to ensure you receive assistance as efficiently as possible.
• Enhanced training: Via Benefits’ training programs have been redeveloped, and extensive training has been conducted to ensure their team members are better prepared to address your questions.
• Improved call routing: Your calls will now be promptly directed to the appropriate representative. Read this article, “Authentication – Why Does It Matter?” for more information.
• Refined virtual hold: Changes have been made to Via Benefits’ virtual hold technology to provide a more accurate estimate of your wait time.

Please make sure that you take the time to read the OPERS and Via Benefits newsletters and any other communication that you may receive throughout open enrollment, including anything from your current insurance carrier(s).

Open enrollment dates/contact information

Pre-Medicare benefit recipients: Contact Via Benefits between Nov. 1 and Dec. 15 to discuss your 2026 medical plan.

Medicare benefit recipients: Contact Via Benefits between Oct. 15 and Dec. 7 to discuss your 2026 medical plan. IMPORTANT: Medicare open enrollment ends on a Sunday this year. Via Benefits will not have weekend hours, so please plan accordingly.

OPERS vision and dental plans (administered by MetLife): Contact OPERS between Oct. 15 and Dec. 15 if you wish to make any changes to your coverage. Termination or change requests received after Dec. 15 will not be accepted.

Contact information

Via Benefits Medicare: 1-844-287-9945 Pre-Medicare: 1-833-939-1215 https://marketplace.viabenefits.com/opers

OPERS 1-800-222-7377 www.opers.org

MetLife 1-888-262-4874 metlife.com/opers

How to stay informed

We’ve updated our website with the latest information about this year’s open enrollment period. If you’re eligible for the OPERS Health Reimbursement Arrangement, your open enrollment packet will include the following:

• Personalized statement featuring your 2026 monthly HRA deposit amount, HRA enrollment status and the premiums for the OPERS vision and dental plans
• 2026 open enrollment insert providing detailed information about open enrollment and the OPERS Health Care Program
• Vision/dental change form to submit if you wish to enroll, make changes to, or cancel your OPERS vision and/or dental coverage

If you’re not eligible for the OPERS HRA but are enrolled in the OPERS vision and/or dental plans, your open enrollment packet will include the following:

• Personalized statement including 2026 premiums
• 2026 open enrollment vision and dental plan insert
• Change form referenced above

Authentication – why it matters

We know your time is valuable, and no one wants to spend more of it on the phone than necessary. Here are a few quick tips to help make your call to Via Benefits as smooth and efficient as possible.

OPERS benefit recipients receive priority treatment. However, it’s crucial you let them know who you are when you call so they can give you that priority. There’s an easy way to do that.

When you call Via Benefits, the Interactive Voice Response (IVR) system will ask you to confirm a few simple pieces of information.

▪ The last four digits of your Social Security number

▪ Your ZIP code

▪ Your date of birth

As an OPERS benefit recipient, entering this information ensures you receive priority routing to the appropriate service center agent. If you skip this step, you will not receive priority and will need to authenticate with a service agent, which may delay your support.

Once your identity is confirmed, you’ll be routed to a benefit advisor or funding agent, depending on your selection. Remember, scheduling an appointment by calling us or going online will help you reach a benefit advisor faster.

Appointments – schedule early

There’s no need to wait to schedule an appointment. Last year, 25% of all enrollment calls occurred in the final week of enrollment. To avoid the last-minute rush, schedule an appointment now. Planning ahead can save you time and stress.

If you can’t secure an appointment, don’t worry. Via Benefits has extra capacity to assist you. Call during business hours early in the enrollment season to ensure you get the help you need. Whether you have an appointment or not, Via Benefits is committed to helping you.