Premium receipts on the way
Medicare retirees able to file early for 2018 recurring reimbursements
By Heather Drago, Ohio Public Employees Retirement System
Dec. 15, 2017 – Retirees who enrolled in a plan through the OPERS Medicare Connector need to access a health care premium receipt from OPERS that reflects the amount deducted from their pension benefit for health care. This receipt is needed to file for a recurring reimbursement of those deductions from their Health Reimbursement Arrangement accounts.
Last year we were unable to generate these receipts until early January. We’ve got good news: Based on your feedback, we worked throughout the year to change this process, and we’re happy to report this year’s premium receipts are automatically mailing this week to all Medicare retirees with an HRA.
During this time, OneExchange will mail personalized recurring reimbursement forms. Put the two mailings together, and file now for your reimbursements for 2018.
Also, participants enrolled in a medical plan through the Connector will receive their annual $300 deposit into their HRAs on Jan. 2.
So in January 2018 we will receive a extra 300.oo dollars.Beside the regular payment we receive amonth?
Yes. Participants enrolled in a medical plan through the Connector will receive their annual $300 deposit into their HRAs on Jan. 2.
Is this the last year for the January $300 deposit?
Yes, you are correct. January 2018 is the last extra $300 deposit into your HRA account.
Julie
Why do we have to do this every year?
Thank you for your question. Medicare-eligible plan participants who enrolled in a plan through the OPERS Medicare Connector are able to set up and receive recurring OPERS premium plan reimbursement for the vision, dental and OPERS Retiree Health Plan. While OPERS cannot submit for reimbursement on your behalf, we are able to provide documentation listing eligible premium amounts deducted from last year’s pension benefit to help with the recurring reimbursement process.
If I recall correctly for 2017 we did not have to file any paperwork for the dental and vision purchased thru OPERS, I am not sure I am understanding this update. Possibly I don’t understand because it does not pertain to me….but for 2018 are we required to submit paperwork showing that we want the charges for dental and vision reimbursed as it was in 2017?
If eligible, you should have received last year’s OPERS premium receipt seeking 2016 recurring reimbursement in January 2017. In regards to 2017 OPERS recurring plan premiums, we were able to adjust our systems to mail the Premium Receipt this month. The Heath Care Premium Receipt is specific to OPERS premiums (vision, dental, OPERS Retiree Health Plan) deducted from your pension benefit. When coupled with the recently mailed personalized OneExchange Recurring Reimbursement form, Medicare-eligible plan participants who selected a plan through the OPERS Medicare Connector are able to seek recurring reimbursement for these eligible expenses.
I am confused . Last year and year before the people who chose auto pay did not need to do anything it was auto deduct or is this something else? Are You talking about the insurance premium for medicare. Usually I am pretty good at understanding butnot this time and its probably simple but its not sinking in for me
The Heath Care Premium Receipt is specific to OPERS premiums (vision, dental, OPERS Retiree Health Plan) deducted from your pension benefit and is separate from the medical plan selected through the OPERS Medicare Connector.
When coupled with the recently mailed personalized OneExchange Recurring Reimbursement form, Medicare-eligible participants who selected a plan through the OPERS Medicare Connector are able to seek recurring reimbursement for these eligible expenses.
Heather, OPERS
Since any insurance signed up through One Exchange is automatically reimbursed monthly, I’m assuming by “premium receipts” you are talking about our recurring dental and vision that is deducted from our monthly benefit?
Thanks for asking! To provide some background, the OPERS Health Care Premium Receipt was sent to Medicare retirees with an HRA and is part of the documentation needed to set up 2018 recurring reimbursement. You are correct that the deductions listed on the OPERS Health Care Premium Receipt are considered eligible expenses that can be reimbursed from the HRA, specifically OPERS vision/dental and OPERS Retiree Health Plan premiums.
While separate, I’d like to provide some clarity for readers in that not all medical plans selected through the Connector had the ability to for automatic reimbursement; if this was the case, a manual option was offered.
Thank you again for reaching out!
Heather, OPERS
Do I still have to do all this if I have not made any changes to my healthcare coverage for 2018?
Yes. Premiums change from year to year and you need to renew each year.
I recently tried to file a recurring medicare Part B premium claim for next year. PayFlex would not allow me to submit the claim online. I called OneExchange and they told me that the funding for next year was not set up yet. They advised me to wait and try later in the month.
Mr. Bell,
It sounds like it was too soon. When you receive the Health Care Premium Receipt letter (mailing this week), follow the instructions for Medicare Part B reimbursement. If you have more questions or concerns after that, give OneExchange another call, visit medicare.oneexchange.com/opers or contact OPERS and we will do our best to assist.
Julie, OPERS
I have never received the recurring form – did get a form for medicare and the other reimbursement form requested the recurring one advised it would be sent still not here – when will they be sent out
The personalized Recurring Reimbursement Form will arrive through the mail from OneExchange this month. If you have not already received it, the form should be available through your online OneExchange account for download.
I still have not received the recurring forms I have requested them two times now and told they will send them out – can not print forms out on my computer so could you please send them
Ms. Wilmer,
OPERS does not have the ability to print personalized reimbursement forms. Please call OneExchange to verify that they have your correct address on file and request another copy.
Julie, OPERS
Will my spouse who is not eligible any longer for HRA, but continues to have insurance through the connector get a receipt from the connector so I can set up his reinbursment from my HRA?
Thank you!
A letter will accompany your Health Care Premium Receipt and will explain in further detail. Please know that the Health Care Premium Receipt from OPERS is specific to OPERS premiums (vision, dental, OPERS Retiree Health Plan) deducted from your pension benefit and is separate from the medical plan selected through the OPERS Medicare Connector.
If you log in to your OneExchange online account, you should be able to download your personalized Standard Reimbursement Form, Medicare Part B Reimbursement Form and Recurring Reimbursement Form. When coupled with the recently mailed personalized OneExchange Recurring Reimbursement form, Medicare-eligible participants who selected a plan through the OPERS Medicare Connector are able to seek recurring reimbursement for these eligible expenses. For specific questions related to your HRA, please call OneExchange, 1-844-287-9945.
I thought the Insurance company filed the payment with the Connector. The reimbursement I filed was for Dental Insurance out of payroll OPERS.
A letter will accompany your Health Care Premium Receipt and will explain in further detail. Please know that the Health Care Premium Receipt from OPERS is specific to OPERS premiums (vision, dental, OPERS Retiree Health Plan) deducted from your pension benefit and is separate from the medical plan selected through the OPERS Medicare Connector.
I have never received these in the past. How do I get the ones for previous years. My medical insurance is automatic, but not vision and dental.
The Health Care Premium Receipt, from OPERS, is specific to OPERS premiums (vision, dental, OPERS Retiree Health Plan) deducted from your pension benefit and is separate from the medical plan selected through the OPERS Medicare Connector. Give us a call at 1-800-222-7377 or email the OPERS customer service team through your secure, online account regarding account specific questions and we will be sure to help you.
Heather, OPERS
The receipts for previous years are available in the documents section of you OPERS on line account. Just download them. I have submitted them every year.
thank you for the info. Can you also file the reoccurring reimbursement from our Medicare, Part B if we have a doc from social security?
A letter will accompany your Health Care Premium Receipt and will explain in further detail. If you have more questions after reading it, please call us at 1-800-222-7377 and a Member Services representative can help you you. If you’d prefer not to wait on the phone, use our Virtual Hold system to schedule a time for us to call you back. You also can use your online account to send us a secure message, and an OPERS Member Services representative will get back to you
Heather, OPERS
Yes. You can use your social security award letter, if you get social security and pay your Part B premium out of your social security. If you pay quarterly for Part B, you can submit the statement that social security sends you with a copy of your check/payment. I use the first method for myself and the second for my wife.
Ref One Exchange mailing personalized recurring reimbursement forms. I contacted One Exchange on Friday, 12/15/17 and was advised they did not know when these forms would be available to mail out and to use the old forms until they got the personalized forms printed.
I do not start medicare until Feb 1, 2018. Will I still receive the $300 HRA?
Yes, you will receive the $300 lump sum regardless of when you enroll.
Hi, I have not yet received the personnalize recurring form to file for the reacurring dental and vision premium.,nor have i received the Health Care Premium receipt for vision and dental. Will i get that soon?
You should have received a new, personalized recurring reimbursement form from OneExchange last month. Please contact OneExchange if you did not receive this form in the mail.
Julie, OPERS
I never received my PERSONALIZED recurring reimbursement forms from One Exchange.
When going on the one Exchange website, I can only access a PERSONALIZED recurring reimbursement form for my monthly Medicare premium. No such forms for dental or vision. :-(. I ended up having to submit 4 forms on-line for my husband and my premiums.
OPERS was so on top of things by getting my dental and vision receipt to me in mid-December. Too bad One Exchange appears to be unorganized.
Marlene,
Thank you for reaching out to us with this question. Since the new, personalized recurring reimbursement forms come from OneExchange, you’ll need to contact them to add your middle initial. You may want to ask them for confirmation as to when this change will take place to ensure it’s completed.
Julie, OPERS
A “Recurring Premium Reimbursement Request” form does not exist in the mailout or the OneExchange website. I am going to do the following:
Copy the personal “Recurring Medicare Part B Reimbursement Request” form.
White-out the words Medicare Part B where ever they exist.
Make a fresh copy of the edited copy.
In the title write the word “Premium” next to Recurring.
Fill in the blanks as per What I Need To Do:.
Make a final copy, add the Health Care Premium Receipt. Send it to OneExchange.
RPM
Customizing your own form will cause issues during processing and may result in your claim being denied. Your personalized Recurring Premium Reimbursement Form can be found in your online OneExchange account. You can also call OneExchange and request that one be mailed to you if you would prefer that method instead.
Julie, OPERS
A recurring premium reimbursement form does not exist on line either. I just looked. I could not tell if One Exchange expected you to use the standard form for recurring expenses. The standard form does not have a column for end date as the Part B form does. I use the online service and filing for a recurring expense is easy there.
Mr. Bell,
Your personalized Recurring Premium Reimbursement form can be found in your online OneExchange account. You can also call OneExchange and request that one be mailed to you if you would prefer that method instead.
Julie, OPERS
Here it what is available on line:
Standard Reimbursement Request
Your former employer provides funding through an account to help reimburse you for eligible health care expenses. A standard reimbursement request will reimburse you for those eligible health care expenses. You will pay for your health care expenses, retain your receipts and supporting documentation, submit your reimbursement request form, and will be reimbursed for eligible expenses from those funds.
View Form
Recurring Medicare Part B Reimbursement Request
The recurring Medicare Part B reimbursement is for those who want to be automatically reimbursed monthly for their premiums deducted from their Social Security benefit check. Submit one Recurring Medicare Part B Reimbursement Request Form to set up recurring reimbursement for the rest of the year. There will be no need to file a reimbursement request for Medicare Part B until the beginning of the following year.
In the latest issue of PERI newsletter, under updates, they stated “OPERS mailed the 1099-R and 1095-B at the end of January. Your 1099-R did not provide your health care deductions for 2018. This information is available by signing in to your OPERS online account and accessing your 208 OPERS Health Care Premium Receipt.”
I am not computer savvy, and I could not find this information. I am not sure what this actually is, and if I need it to file my 2018 tax return. I would greatly appreciate your help and if possible having this receipt e-mailed to me.
Mr. Knisley,
Please call us at 1-800-222-7377 and a member of our staff will be happy to help you.
Julie, OPERS
I need copies of health care premium receipts from 1/1/16 20 to 1/1/19
The health care premium receipt can printed from the online account Homepage under the Requestable Documents panel. If you do not have access to the online account you can contact us at 800-222-7377 to request the health care premium receipt be mailed to you. Thanks M.S