Molly Janczyk to Sandy Knoesel re: Who gets insured by STRS

From Molly Janczyk, December 12, 2008
Subject: QUES:: Sandy: STRS Question

HOW much do folks in this position pay for premiums? How long is their eligibility? WHY is this SPOUSE allowed to enroll a husband? Neither were educators. One is a spouse and only benefits to her should be considered as written. Since when do we get to bring others into our shareholders? I have some relations and friends who could use some help? Can I enroll them?

Subject: Sandy: STRS Question
Date: Fri, 12 Dec 2008

This is outrageous, if true. Is the below true: The below came from another source:

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"I'm not sure if you know the answer to my question but maybe you know someone that could answer it. Got a call from a friend today and she told something that really made me mad. This can't be true can it? The friend is a widow of a teacher. She couldn't collect benefits right after his death because she was only in her mid forties. A few years later she became eligible for his retirement benefits as a survivor. She later remarried a man that worked for a company outside of STRS. Due to problems, the husband's insurance benefits have been cut drastically at his company outside of STRS. The friend contacted STRS and was told she could get benefits for her and her husband through STRS. They even told her that if she pre-deceases her second husband that he will be able to continue his insurance through STRS. If this is true how the hell can STRS justify insuring two people who spent not one day in education. If this is true we need to get somebody to pursue getting it changed pronto. I didn't spend 35 years paying into STRS to have them insure people that didn't contribute a dime. Let me know if you can find out the answer. Thanks!!"