Fuzzy math at STRS? Where's the REST of the picture??

Well, looks like the WAR has begun -- OSBA vs. retirees

From John Curry
To Laura Ecklar, STRS
10/19/2005

Laura, it's nice to see that you finally admit that active teachers "aren't prepared for the costs they'll face upon retirement." (see the article below)

Why has STRS waited so long to tell the troops the truth? While we're talking about the truth, let's check out another statement attributed to STRS in the same press release: " But officials from the retirement system say its 115,000 retirees have had to shoulder more of their health care costs, which have increased by about 10 percent a year since 2000."

Let's do a little math here, Laura. I retired in June of 2000. Right now, I'm looking at my first STRS retirement check stub. It says $61 for retiree (monthly) and $94 for spouse(monthly) for this retiree's total health care premium of $155

Now, 2005, the same monthly premiums are (for the same Aetna 80/20 plan with higher deductables than in the year 2000) $170 for retiree and $506 for retiree's spouse for a monthly total of $676!

Lets's see: $155 for the year 2000 to $676 for the year 2005. My calculator says that the increase since I've been retired amounts to 336% in six years. This news release says, and I quote, "..retirees have had to shoulder more of their health care costs, which have increased by about 10 percent a year since 2000." !!!

Is someone at STRS using "fuzzy math?"

I know that you are just the spokesperson for STRS, but please don't forget about the thousands of retirees who are and will be insuring their spouses. The public deserves to know the total picture.

John Curry, a Proud CORE member

Posted on Wed, Oct. 19, 2005
Akron Beacon Journal
School boards girding for fight from teachers over benefits
Associated Press

COLUMBUS, Ohio - School boards are promising to defeat a coalition of teachers' unions and pension funds that wants to increase contributions from teachers and their employers toward health care benefits for retirees.

The teachers' group, led by the State Teachers Retirement System of Ohio, has scheduled meetings in 14 cities starting next week to discuss legislation that would raise such contributions 2.5 percent over five years.

"We will go public and start a war no one wants to fight," said John Brandt, executive director of the Ohio School Boards Association.

Teachers now contribute 10 percent of their salaries into the state's second-largest public retirement system. Employers such as school boards and colleges contribute 14 percent.

Brandt said increases are unnecessary. But officials from the retirement system say its 115,000 retirees have had to shoulder more of their health care costs, which have increased by about 10 percent a year since 2000. The system's 213,000 active members aren't prepared for the costs they'll face upon retirement, either, spokeswoman Laura Ecklar said.

Most of the state's retirement systems are contributing the maximum amount to retirees.

The coalition will meet with teachers through Nov. 17. It will go forward with a legislative proposal only if it has strong support, Ecklar said.