Molly enlightens John Brandt

Mr. Brandt, You call this move unnecessary. My health care costs have gone from 0 to $148 and my spouse from $33 to $486 from 1999 to 2005 with increases coming in 2006. I receive a COL increase of 3% each year based on my first year of teaching. I am far behind with increasing losses of my pension each year. We range up to 800% increases in the last few years when you consider these premiums increases as well as 100% coverages taken down to 80% and deductibles increased from $100 up to $500 each. Then there are RX's which go from $30-$100 each which will go down to $20 each for generic instead of the $30. The average retiree home has 20 RX's x those figures. Where does anyone get 10% increases from these numbers?????????

NOW let us consider that: 1. Ohio is ranked among the bottom states for contributions of only 14% and Ohio is always ranked among the bottom regarding anything education funding wise. 2. 14% has been locked in for at least 20 if not 30 yrs. with NO increase for inflation.

COMPARE the other states and their employer contributions who have been better at staying with inflation. Increasing contributions IS THE ONLY RECOURSE OHIO EDUCATORS HAVE to secure a retirement with health care and again, THERE IS NO RETIREMENT WITHOUT HC!

.5% a year for 5 years in incremental and needs to help make up for long years of stagnant figures IF YOU WANT TO ATTRACT EDUCATORS TO OHIO AND TO STAY IN OHIO! Educators receive lower pay but count on retirement being secure with health care. THERE IS NO RETIREMENT WITHOUT HEALTHCARE! Nearly every able bodied retiree has to work in some capacity to pay for health premiums and costs. Some have sold homes and lost financial security. Others refuse medical treatment and meds because they cannot afford them. THIS IS ALL VERIFIABLE. BUT YOU WISH TO DECLARE WAR!

What is your suggestion, Sir to attract and keep educators in OHIO? Who will want to work in Ohio as an educator facing no benefits with retirement? No one can save enough to pay for their healthcare! NO ONE!

Yes, STRS is a mutibillion system with a 42 year unfunded liability. Without increases, current and future retirees will be put on catastrophic only coverage until that becomes unaffordable and then no HC at all. ONLY someone who does not have to worry about HC would wage war against the educators that we need to teach our children and begin to bring OHIO out of this dismal educational abyss.

You have made a most unreasonable, uncompromising, unfeeling and and uniformed statement. Just NO! Who cares about educators and their current and future retirements.

Molly Janczyk
STRS Retiree Actively working on this problem since 2002.
10/19/05

And more......

We need to generate money from a dedicated stream of revenue and this is THE only way to do so-increased contributions like other states have done. I would LOVE to have been told years ago that a few dollars a month now would preserve and secure retirement with health care. That .5% of my 3.5% raise would be taken to practically guarantee health care in my retirement instead of being told all was fine and retiring and then being being unfairly punished with 800% increases over several years I could not afford after my irrevocable decision to retire. Current retirees have had up to 800% increases over several years with 3% simple COLAS based on our first year of retirement. Therefore if you receive $70 clear one year that is the most you will ever hope to receive. Actives get raises every year and step increases so they will get COL increases and school districts need increase the 14% which has stayed stagnant for 20-30 years not allowing for inflation of health care at all. HOW ARE WE TO PAY FOR IT? HOW CAN FUTURE RETIREES EXPECT ANY HEALTH BENEFITS? Actives will not have health care at all unless funding is found. WHO CAN AFFORD TO SAVE FOR THEIR HC AND THEIR SPOUSE'S HC AT TODAY'S COSTS AND ESCALATING? WHAT IDEAS DOES BRANDT PROPOSE? NONE! JUST GIVES A TOTAL FOR STSR FUNDS. Pensions have to come from those funds, Mr. Brandt, and we are 42 years to the deficit: 12 years beyond what the state asks which is 30 yrs. STRS states it cannot contribute to HC unless STRS is at 30 yrs. unfunded liability according to what the State of Ohio asks which is why we need a constant source of revenue for HC.

(Written in response to another retiree):
Our prescription alone has risen 800% and out healthcare is much more than 10% You have to consider spouses and children. Who is Brandt kidding? Where did the OSBA get their figures. O.K. if they don't want an increase, they should demand a forensic audit so we can see where the money did and does go.