Shirlee Zerkel: All involved should have to give, too; it's only fair

From Shirlee Zerkel, October 30, 2009
Subject: Re: just a thought..and another way for STRS to save money...lots of it!

Dear Retirees,

I would like to add to John Curry's suggestion that the STRS associates should also have to give some when it comes to health benefits.

I realize that the staff is not on the self-insured plan that we retirees are, but they do get subsidies for both an individual plan and for a family plan. We retirees do not even have a family plan. We get a subsidy for ourselves but not for our spouses. STRS retirees who also work teaching at a public school in Ohio can not get insurance from STRS, they must get it from their present school system.

I would like to go one step further than John. He suggests that if an associate's spouse is employed, then the spouse must get his/her health insurance there. I agree with him, but STRS could save even more money if they did not subsidize the premium for any of the spouses. A family plan could be offered to the associate, just as a spousal plan is offered to the retirees who then must pay the full cost for their spouse. STRS could make plans available to the staff with only a subsidy for the staff member.

We are the reason that the associates have jobs. Now, when times are tough, it should not be just the retiree who gives us something. All involved should have to give too. That is only fair!

Shirlee Zerkel