Taken right off the STRS website..." a common misperception?"
From John Curry, February 23, 2009
Ms. Knoesel,
The paragraph below was taken from the STRS website today and states the following...and I quote:
"Why do participants in OPERS’ health care program pay less for their health care premiums than STRS Ohio retirees?
This is a common misperception.(my emphasis) OPERS is also facing a funding challenge for its health care program. As a result, it implemented a Health Care Preservation Plan in January 2007. This plan divides its membership into three groups, based on when an individual is eligible to retire and/or when they were first hired. The initial health care premium subsidy for each of these groups varies depending on whether the enrollee is a retiree or a dependent and years of service. Annual increases in the subsidy are based on general cost inflation, not medical and drug trends. Further, the percentage of this subsidy decreases over time. So, for example: A 30-year OPERS retiree in 2007 pays a $0 premium that first year. However, that premium could increase to $264 per month in just five years."
This is a common misperception.(my emphasis) OPERS is also facing a funding challenge for its health care program. As a result, it implemented a Health Care Preservation Plan in January 2007. This plan divides its membership into three groups, based on when an individual is eligible to retire and/or when they were first hired. The initial health care premium subsidy for each of these groups varies depending on whether the enrollee is a retiree or a dependent and years of service. Annual increases in the subsidy are based on general cost inflation, not medical and drug trends. Further, the percentage of this subsidy decreases over time. So, for example: A 30-year OPERS retiree in 2007 pays a $0 premium that first year. However, that premium could increase to $264 per month in just five years."
A common "misperception?"
Well, let's see now. I retired in 2000 with exactly 30 years of teaching in Ohio's public schools and have yet to reach age 65 to be Medicare eligible. According to STRS's hc insurance table my monthly premium for a Medical Mutual 80/20 PPO for my spouse and myself would be (I'm currently working for a private employer and taking their hc insurance as it is much more affordable) $967 per month (see current STRS table below....$760 for spouse + $207 for myself): 
A friend and fellow retiree under the OPERS system who also retired in the same year (2000) also had 30 years service paid into OPERS. His 2009 monthly premiums for hc insurance through OPERS...the same Medical Mutual 80/20 PPO for both himself and his spouse, is (and has been) $80 per month ($0 for him and $80 for his wife).
A friend and fellow retiree under the OPERS system who also retired in the same year (2000) also had 30 years service paid into OPERS. His 2009 monthly premiums for hc insurance through OPERS...the same Medical Mutual 80/20 PPO for both himself and his spouse, is (and has been) $80 per month ($0 for him and $80 for his wife).
Sandy...am I misperceiving on the dollar amounts that I stated above ($967 vs. $80 for monthly premiums) or was the statement, "This is a common misperception," a misstatement?
John Curry
posted by Kathie Bracy at 9:33 AM
<< Home