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Question:
I am an OPERS Medicare retiree and will be
losing my group health insurance in 2016. I have questions
abo
ut m
o
v
i
ng
to
M
e
di
c
are
and usi
ng
an O
P
ERS C
o
nne
c
to
r.
Can an OSHIIP volunteer help me review my options? I
received a 2016 OPERS Connector Readiness kit and I am
c
o
nf
use
d.
Answer:
Yes. An OSHIIP volunteer can help you
understand your Medicare options. First, let’s review what is
happening with OPERS Medicare retirees.
As of 2016, OPERS retirees over the age of 65 must
shift to the Medicare system. OPERS will no longer offer
customized plans, so the retiree will select their plans from
th
e
M
e
di
c
are
o
p
ti
o
ns.
OPERS will fund a Health Reimbursement Account
(HRA), that provides tax free reimbursement for qualified
medical expenses. The HRA allowance will be given to
retirees, eligible for health care and enrolled in Medicare
Parts A and B. The average allowance, (if retired before
January 1, 2015), will be $337/month.
OPERS has contracted with a third party,
OneExchange, to provide phone support
for the retiree. The OneExchange advisors, referred to
as Connectors, will help retirees select a medical plan,
re
so
l
v
e
c
l
ai
m
s i
ssue
s and c
h
ang
e
M
e
di
c
are
p
l
ans.
Retirees MUST USE THE CONNECTOR to sign up during
Open Enrollment 2015 in order to receive their allowance.
The Connector can help a spouse, however, the spousal
allowance will not be available beginning in 2018.
OPERS has partnered with OSHIIP to educate the OSHIIP
Volunteers on the 2016 changes to help OPERS retirees
become Connector Ready. OSHIIP is working closely
with OPERS and as volunteers we have the availability
of webinar training and access to the online Connector
Readiness tool kit that is available for OPERS retirees.
The OSHIIP volunteers at Serving Our Seniors will answer
your questions and help you so that you are informed of
M
e
di
c
are
o
p
ti
o
ns and are
p
re
p
are
d f
o
r yo
ur C
o
nne
c
to
r
ap
p
o
i
ntm
e
nt.
GOT MEDICARE??? ASK Patricia….
B
y Patricia W
hited-
Stinem
an, OSHI
I
P Medicare Counselor & V
olunteer for Serving Our Seniors
