New seminar addresses HRA
Help provided on how to use Health Reimbursement Arrangement
By Michael Pramik, Ohio Public Employees Retirement System
June 28, 2017 – The Ohio Public Employees Retirement System has opened registration for a new seminar designed to help retirees in the OPERS Medicare Connector manage their Health Reimbursement Arrangement.
The seminars, which will be held around the state, begin July 12 and run through the end of November. During the seminar, OPERS will:
- Show you how to make payments for premiums and medical expenses.
- Explain how to be reimbursed for those premiums and expenses.
- Address common concerns.
- Help you navigate portions of your online account.
- Review information for spouses and caregivers.
Registration is required. There’s more information on the OPERS website, including dates and locations of the seminars and how to register.
The HRA is an account that Connector members use to conduct transactions. OPERS provides eligible retirees with an HRA allowance to use toward qualified expenses, including the purchase of an individual Medicare Advantage plan, or a Medigap plan and Medicare Part D prescription drug plan.
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.
Will OPERS medicare Connector contact me in October, 2017 to determine if I elected to stay with my current insurance providers or change to different plans? I am the spouse of a retired employee and will no longer receive reimbursement for medical premiums.
Glad you asked.
You will want to review any open enrollment materials you receive from OPERS and your current carrier. Think about your monthly budget and lifestyle and give OneExchange a call with questions and to review plans if you choose to do so. OneExchange will not be contacting you.
I already have an auto reimbursement set up with One Exchange. Will this change in 2018?
If you keep the same carrier next year (even if your premium changes) you do not need to do anything further with regards to your automatic reimbursement set up.
Please be sure to look at your Open Enrollment materials and any of your carrier materials as we go into open enrollment season. Always give OneExchange a call if you have any questions.
Best,
OPERS
I have been retired for some time and had to get my Health Care etc. several years ago thru One Exchange. Is there any different information at these seminars than what we already know.
The HRA seminars will address information that has been previously shared. Because there are many questions on this topic, we thought if we addressed this topic differently than in the past in these presentations, that it may help with understanding the HRA a little more.
Thanks,
OPERS
Is there any chance of getting HRA and retirement planning seminars close to where we live? We have had numerous problems getting reimbursed for healthcare, and have received no help from OPERS in trying to work with OneExchange. We also have numerous questions regarding retirement, healthcare, etc., and cannot find answers on the website. thank you
Jo,
The list of HRA seminar locations can be found on the OPERS website at https://www.opers.org/retirees/seminars/seminar-how-to-use-hra.shtml. Seminars will be held in locations across the state through November. Hopefully there is one close to you.
Julie, OPERS
When will we get information on if the connector will continue in 2019 and at what amount ?
Steven,
First, you should know that the OPERS Medicare Connector and the Health Reimbursement Arrangement, will continue. Your open enrollment materials will be mailed in late September, and will include information about your HRA amount and health care plan options for 2018. In the meantime, information on the Connector can be found on the OPERS website at https://www.opers.org/healthcare/plan-options/OneExchange/index.shtml.
Julie, OPERS
From the newsletter, “Recurring premium claim forms for 2018 Medicare Part B and OPERS vision and dental premiums need resubmitted each year. New for 2018 – OPERS will mail a copy of your Health
Care Premium Receipt in mid-December which needs submitted to establish these recurring premiums that are deducted from your OPERS pension benefit.” Is this in exchange for the current system or in addition to the current system? Can I still submit my recurring claim on line using the information from my member account?
Mr. Bell,
Thank you for your question. The OPERS Premium Receipt was introduced last year for the 2017 plan season and mailed this past January. We were able to time it this year so that the receipt is mailed earlier, aimed at improving the retiree experience. If you are enrolled in an OPERS vision or dental plan or have a spouse’s medical premium deducted from your OPERS pension, the Health Care Premium Receipt is sufficient proof for your reimbursement form your HRA, and you will not need to get a Proof of Coverage from the carrier for those expenses. This is the only documentation accepted for premiums deducted from your OPERS pension. (Open Enrollment statements are not considered proof of payment.) The OPERS Premium Receipt is a documentation to include with your reimbursement form request, including the recurring claim form.
Please let us know if you have additional questions.
Julie, OPERS
I am still confused. Since 2015 these have been available on line from my member account and I have submitted them on line to One Exchange. OPERS has never mailed me a premium receipt. You did not answer my questions: Is this ( the letter) in exchange for the current system (an online receipt) or in addition to the current system? Can I still submit my recurring claim on line using the information from my member account? I am mostly confused because of this statement, “This is the only documentation accepted.”
Mr. Bell,
You can still submit your recurring claim online using the information from your member account. The Premium Receipt is the only approved supporting documentation that can submitted with your recurring claim form for premiums deducted from your OPERS pension. Please call us at 1-800-222-7377 and a member of our staff can help you.
Julie, OPERS
Will you consider offering webinars? You offered them in the early days as we moved towards Towers Watson. It was possible to ask questions.
Good idea – we will keep that in mind when the time comes. No decision has been made yet. Once the Board votes, any changes to the COLA must be approved by the Ohio Legislature.
Julie, OPERS
My HRA amount keeps going down every year yet my health care premium continues to rise. How can I tell what my HRA amount will be in the future?
Mr. Herrel,
In 2012, the OPERS Board of Trustees adopted a set of changes to the OPERS health care plan to increase the sustainability of the heath care fund. As you may know, those changes included a Health Reimbursement Arrangement to provide funds to OPERS Medicare Connector participants. In order to make the transition to the new health care plan flow more smoothly, OPERS did two things: (1) furnish enrolled retirees with an additional $300 deposit to their HRA accounts once per year between 2016 and 2018, and (2) provide a higher allowance amount for the first three years to help ease the transition.
Between 2016 and 2018, the monthly allowance amount was decreased annually until the final allowance amount was reached in 2018. The three year transition to reduce funding is complete. At this point, the Board has not discussed anything further about making major changes to funding.
Julie, OPERS
In 2012, the OPERS Board of Trustees adopted a set of changes to the OPERS health care plan to increase the sustainability of the heath care fund. As you may know, those changes included a Health Reimbursement Arrangement to provide funds to OPERS Medicare Connector participants. In order to make the transition to the new health care plan flow more smoothly, OPERS did two things: (1) furnish enrolled retirees with an additional $300 deposit to their HRA accounts once per year between 2016 and 2018, and (2) provide a higher allowance amount for the first three years to help ease the transition.
Between 2016 and 2018, the monthly allowance amount was decreased annually until the final allowance amount was reached in 2018. The three year transition to reduce funding is complete. At this point, the Board has not discussed anything further about making major changes to funding.
When…Where …and dates are the reinbursement seminars in the Cincinnati area
located…….Eastgate and Sharonville,,,please…..Thank you
John,
You can find more information about the “How to use your HRA” seminars at https://www.opers.org/retirees/seminars/seminar-how-to-use-hra.shtml The Eastgate seminar will be held on April 25 and the Sharonville seminar will be held on June 19. Both locations begin at 2 p.m.
Julie, OPERS