Review your info, preferences in online account
The Ohio Public Employees Retirement System recently sent notices to some of our active and inactive members who have not updated their beneficiaries in five or more years.
This is a good reminder for all OPERS members to update all of their individual information if there have been any recent changes.
The easiest way to do so is to log into your online account.
If you click on “My Profile,” you can change items such as your address, correspondence preferences, beneficiary information or other family-related information. You also can update your phone number and email address, and change passwords and privacy questions. (In some cases, it is not possible to update beneficiary information via the online account. In such case, we provide a link to download the correct form to complete to request the beneficiary update.)
Your online account contains current data on account and service credit values, beneficiary designations and many other valuable items. If you don’t have an account already, it’s simple to set one up. Just go to the home page of opers.org. Or, you can click on this link. We guide you through the entire process.
There are plenty of helpful tools in your online account, like our Benefit Estimator and Health Care Estimator. Another tool is the ability to sign up for seminars and counseling. We’ve recently set up our Connector “Get Ready With OneExchange” seminars for online sign-up. Go to “Tools and Reference,” “Seminars and Counseling” and then “Schedule Seminar” to see a listings of available educational sessions.
All of the forms that we use to process transactions and requests are online. In fact, the initial application for retirement is there, and we recommend that our members fill it out online to begin the retirement process.
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.
I am nearly deaf and can’t hear very well on phone.can I setup a face to facemeeting to set up my insurance change over with the connector,if so how do I go about it.
Roy,
We have a TTY phone number. It’s 1-844-287-9945 (TTY: 711). Another option is to have a family member or friend participate in the call.
–Ohio PERS
I need to change my password and other items in my profile, but I can’t find my profile to do so
David,
Call our Member Services department at 800-222-7377, and they can help you.
I have just come from a PERI chapter meeting where we were told by our district rep, who had went to an opers meeting. She stated it was announced that a $2.50 transaction fee will be charged each month for One Exchange to handle our insurance transaction. Also the time frame for reimbursement has still not been worked out. Is this true? If so why the fee and why would you not have these details worked out??
Diane,
OPERS has worked out the time frame for Connector reimbursement. We’ve communicated it to members in the recent Connector kit. Here’s how it will work: If you submit a manual claim via mail, fax or our website, it will be processed within a week as long as it’s complete. You also can process claims by auto-reimbursement. This process will take 6-8 weeks to begin working, but then you will automatically receive reimbursement of your monthly premium. We recommend participants to manually submit their first two insurance premiums to ensure auto-reimbursement is set up.
Also, the monthly administrative fee that OneExchange will charge for processing your reimbursement claims will be $2.33.
–Ohio PERS
Is the $2.33 a one time per month per retiree or is it per claim. 1 medical insurance claim for me, one for my husband, one part D claim for me, one for my husband for a total of 4 claims per month? I wonder why this fee has not been published in any of our connector info?
Diane,
It’s an administrative fee, not a transaction fee. So it will be charge only once per month per account.
–Ohio PERS
I wasn’t sure where to post this, but this blog is as good a place as any.
My wife is on a Tier 5 drug (Humira) and, as she is not 65 yet, is still on the OPERS-sponsored drug plan through Express-Scripts. The retail cost of this medication is approximately $79,500.00 annually. With a discount from Abbott Laboratories, she is paying only $5.00 a month/$60.00 a year. So . . what a blessing that has been!!!
Now, she will be 65 in October and will be on the Express-Scripts-Medicare plan until the end of 2015. Guess what happens to the cost of that medication come January, 2016, when we will chose a Part D drug plan from OneExchange?? I did a search on http://www.ehealthmedicareplans.com to compare costs of different plans (2015 prices), and of the plans that even cover this medication, her January, 2016 cost for this drug (again, 2015 prices) will be $2,577.00. She will be in and out of the “donut hole” (coverage gap) in 1 month. Her annual cost, out-of-pocket, for just this 1 medication will be $6,221.00!!! Unfortunately, we do not have the resources to continue this medication, and will be forced to do without, whatever that brings.
I’m not complaining, or boo-hoo-ing on anyone’s shoulder, but I wanted to share a bitter reality of losing our OPERS-sponsored plan. While I understand the economic necessity for dropping the plan, I just wanted folks to know that this decision, while likely beneficial to most, will have disastrous effects on some.
Tom,
Thanks for your comment. We will be producing a blog and video on the effects of pharmaceutical prices later this summer. One item of note is that Medicare catastrophic limits kick in after participants pay $4,700 in out-of-pocket expenses. That means they pay only a small coinsurance amount, or copayment for covered drugs, for the rest of the year.
–Ohio PERS
–Ohio PERS
I am a member of OCSEA. How do I have my signing bonus set up to go into OPERS? Also, I had an account set up several years ago, and I emptied the account. At this time, I am thinking of starting up another account. How do I go about doing that again? I am in a more stable situation now than I was previously. I need to get some extra money set aside.
Susan,
We have guidelines on what is and what isn’t earnable salary — not every amount of income is. Your employer should be aware of that and can guide you on specifics. We’re not sure what you are referring to by having “an account” set up in the past. If you have any questions, give us a call at 800-222-7377.
The Connector Fee of $ 2.33 per transaction means for my wife and myself 1 doctors visit = 2 , 2 prescriptions each =4 that would equal approx. $14.00 6x$2.33 per mo. or $168.00 per yr. …Will that be reimbursed ??
B,
It’s not per transaction. It’s a monthly administrative fee.
–Ohio PERS
I just finished selection of my new coverage for 2016 thru the Connector. They were very helpful and made it easy. I was advised that we could keep our current dental/vision thru PERS. Advised to call 800-222-3737. I have tried for several days but as I am put on hold the line goes to a busy signal. What do I need to do to notify request for continued coverage of Aetna Vision/MetLife Dental for myself and my son for 2016. Thank you.
Regina,
Nothing, if it’s a continuation of the coverage you have this year.
–Ohio PERS
Where can I look to get my PERS ID#….I need a form that the bank has asked for that shows my PERS income…
After you click on the Account Login box, click on the “Forgot User ID or Password?” link. Please call us at 1-800-222-7377 if you would like some assistance.
Hello Michael,
Forgot my password. Got to the prompt that says a number will be sent to my email address. I no longer have access to cmdetwiler@ysu.com. It needs to be changed to cmdetwiler@icloud.com
Your help is requested. Will be turning 65 in a matter of months and require information transitioning to Medicare.
Thank you, Christine M. Detwiler
Christine,
We can help. Please send a message to benefitquestions@opers.org if you are locked out of your account or are having trouble accessing your information. Be aware that this is not a secure email address, so don’t send personal information.
We have webinars available with information about transitioning to Medicare. Please go to https://www.opers.org/retirees/education/index.shtml to see what is offered.
Julie, OPERS
Hello, I was trying to log into my OPERS account, and upon trying to log in, I noticed the email address is incorrect, because of this I can not log in completely to change my email or update my password. Is there any way around this??
For assistance with the online account please contact OPERS Member Services Center at 1-800-222-7377.
how to change your email address
Your email address that is on file with OPERS can be changed through your member online account under the My Profile tab or you can contact us at 800-222-7377. Thank you MS
i’ve change my checking and need to up date my information,haven’t been on my account for awhile
The banking information can be updated by completing the Change Request form (form code F-50 ) that can be printed from our websites Forms and Documents section. If you are not able to access the online account please contact us at (800)-222-7377.
How do i change my email address to get a print out?
Marilyn,
The email address can be updated through your online account by selecting the My Profile tab then select Email/Phone Update. If you need further assistance please contact our member service center at 1-800-222-7377.
Thanks MS
I can not sign on to the online services because I can not remember my password. My email address on file is no longer available so it can’t send the info to that email address to update my file.
Georgia,
Please contact OPERS at 800-222-7377 for further assistance.
Thanks,
MS
I forgot my username and password, received message account was disabled. Please help me to get in touch with someone at opers. Can’t get in touch with anyone. No one answers phone?
Aveeavis,
Please forward your request through OPERS general email benefitquestions@opers.org for further assistance.
Thanks, MS