Open enrollment here for 2018
Video details steps to take regarding health care coverage
By Heather Drago, Ohio Public Employees Retirement System
Oct. 2, 2017 — It’s time for 2018 Open Enrollment for those participating in health care coverage through OPERS, and we’ve released the 2018 Open Enrollment video for OPERS Medicare and pre-Medicare health care participants. The video covers key open enrollment dates and what to do as a Medicare-eligible or pre-Medicare plan participant.
Tune in to watch, and be on the lookout for open enrollment packets arriving in homes through mid-October.
https://youtu.be/Co_IbgOKxgA
If you’re already in the opers health care what else do you do when it comes time to open enrollment I believe if I’m satisfied with my health care I don’t have to do anything but if I want to change it who do I call
If you have reviewed your plan details for 2018 and do not want to make any changes, no action is needed. Your plans will automatically carry over into 2018. If you would like to adjust optional vision and/or dental coverage, or drop a dependent for 2018, call OPERS at 1-800-222-7377 by Dec. 7. If you would like to add coverage for yourself and/or dependents, complete the Health Care Open Enrollment Change form included in your packet.
You keep telling us to review our current plan and check out other options for price increases. Last year, I tried to find out what Medical Mutual was going to charge for 2017, but could not get an answer from OneExchange or Medical Mutual until it was too late to make a change if I wanted to. How can we find out what the 2018 premiums will be if no one will tell us?
Ms. Lashuay,
An open enrollment packet has been mailed to all retirees eligible for OPERS coverage with coverage and premium details within the Health Coverage Guide . The Guide is also be available at opers.org. Open enrollment ends Dec. 7. Please call us at 1-800-222-7377 and we can tell you your percentage amounts.
Julie, OPERS
The healtg coverage guide states that most of the plan costs will be paid by OPERS but does not indicate specifically what dollar amount and/or percentage OPERS pays for my Medical Mutual why not? And what amount for dental and vision? Doesnt OPERS think we have the right to know?
Mr. Zangara,
The total premium cost for OPERS and the retiree is $1,159.61. This was communicated in the most recent Retiree Newsletter. The amount a retiree pays toward this amount varies depending on age and years of service at retirement. 83 percent of pre-Medicare retirees will receive at least a 75 percent allowance from OPERS toward the cost of coverage. In other words, OPERS pay 75% and the retiree pays 25%.
The Open Enrollment Fall Bulletin, included in the most recent Retiree Newsletter, included three scenarios that show folks who retired at different points in their life with an allowance percentage. This should give a good ballpark of where you fall. Another way of backing into this amount is to look at your personalized allowance statement when your open enrollment packet arrives this month. The allowance statement includes the cost you pay. Subtract that amount from $1,159.61 and that will show you what OPERS pays for you specifically.
In regards to the dental and vision plans, OPERS provides access for retirees and eligible dependents to dental and vision plans. These plans are fully insured plans in which a retiree is responsible for the full cost of the plan. For 2018, this means retirees/spouses have costs ranging from $2.41-$5.62 per month under the vision plan, and between $20.17 and $33.54 under the dental plan.
Julie, OPERS
In error I asked this question in another blog, so I am asking again, why was the HSA reduced for 2018? I think I read all correspondence pretty well but must have missed the explanation.
Marty,
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. Beginning in 2016, for pre-Medicare retirees, the amount OPERS pays toward the total monthly cost of your coverage, known as an allowance, is based on your qualifying years of service at retirement and your age when you first enrolled in the OPERS health care plan.
For those eligible for Medicare, the allowance is a monthly amount we provide in an HRA account. The retiree can use these funds to receive reimbursement for the cost of Medicare plans and other qualified medical expenses as they wish.
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. Between 2016 and 2018, the monthly allowance amount was decreased annually until the final allowance amount is reached in 2018.
Julie, OPERS
When will I receive my open enrollment information? I must change insurance this year and need the information to make decisions. No information is available on One Exchange website.
Great question. OPERS open enrollment materials are currently being mailed, so please continue to check your mailbox. Your packet will include information on plan selections with OneExchange; however, if you are currently enrolled in a Medicare plan through the OPERS Medicare Connector, your current carrier should be mailing you plan information including any upcoming changes.
OneExchange will post plan information to their website as information becomes available from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS). If you have any questions, please call OneExchange and they will be happy to help. If you do choose to call OneExchange, please know that during this time of year, Mondays tend to be the busiest. The best time to call is late in the afternoon or later in the week. Open Enrollment ends on Dec. 7.
If you have more questions, please give call us at 1-800-222-7377 and we will be happy to help and direct you to the proper resource if needed.
Julie, OPERS