Originally posted Nov. 1, 2007

November Marks Health Care Program Open-Enrollment Period

STRS Ohio is currently in its health care open-enrollment period, which runs from Nov. 1–30, 2007. During the open-enrollment period, STRS Ohio benefit recipients and their eligible dependents may change their health care plan for 2008 or join a plan if they are not currently enrolled.

All health care plans available to eligible benefit recipients and their dependents in 2007 are available again in 2008. There are no changes in medical or prescription drug coverage for 2008 in the Kaiser and AultCare plans. However, an enhancement was made to the prescription drug coverage available through the Basic Plan offered by Aetna and Medical Mutual (click here to see all health care program changes for 2008). Also, enrollees in the Aetna and Medical Mutual Plus and Basic Plans and the Paramount health care plans will have a new pharmacy benefits manager, Express Scripts, for their prescription drug coverage beginning on Jan. 1, 2008. You can find out today how this change affects you by visiting https://member.express-scripts.com/preview/strs. Use this site to learn how your drug costs may change, which pharmacies will be the most convenient for you, and how to save money by using generic drugs and receiving your prescriptions through the Express Scripts Home Delivery Program. Express Scripts also offers a voluntary tablet-splitting program. For more information about this program click here.

Things to Consider When Evaluating Your Plan Options
The Basic Plan available through Aetna and Medical Mutual offers lower monthly premiums for benefit recipients and their family members in exchange for a higher annual deductible and out-of-pocket maximum for each enrollee. The Basic Plan can be a good alternative for individuals who are generally healthy. Be sure to note its preventive services coverage and enhanced prescription drug coverage for 2008.

If you’re currently enrolled in either the Aetna Plus or Basic Plans and not eligible for Medicare, you should compare your monthly premiums for 2008 with Medical Mutual’s Plus and Basic Plans for enrollees without Medicare, enrollees with Medicare Parts A & B and enrollees with Medicare Part B only. The in-network providers (e.g., physicians and hospitals) for the Aetna and Medical Mutual plans are very similar. However, due to a difference in provider discount levels between the plans, Medical Mutual’s premiums for 2008 for non-Medicare enrollees are lower. For example, if a 30-year retiree in the Aetna Plus Plan switched to the Medical Mutual Plus Plan, the monthly premium would actually go down from the current level of $217 in 2007 to $181 in 2008. Additionally, the monthly spouse premium for the Medical Mutual Plus Plan will be $669 in 2008 versus $717 for the Aetna Plus Plan. If you are considering a change, check with the plans to be sure you know what providers are available to you.

If you’re enrolled in Medicare and an STRS Ohio-sponsored health care plan, you do not need to enroll in a separate Medicare Part D prescription drug plan for 2008. STRS Ohio will continue to offer prescription drug coverage that is as good as or better than the standard Medicare Part D coverage.

Additional Information is Available
If you are currently enrolled in an STRS Ohio-sponsored health care plan, you should have received a packet of personalized materials that outlines your 2008 plan options, monthly premiums, coverage features and any plan changes. If you want to remain in your current plan for 2008, you do not need to contact STRS Ohio. However, if you want to change your health care plan for next year, call STRS Ohio toll-free at 1-888-227-7877 by Nov. 30, 2007. You may also use the STRS Ohio Web site to change plans. Click here for more information.

If you are not currently enrolled in the STRS Ohio Health Care Program, but would like information about your options for 2008, contact STRS Ohio as early as possible before the Nov. 30, 2007, open-enrollment deadline to allow time to receive your personalized materials and to select a plan. No health care plan change will be accepted after Friday, Nov. 30, 2007.

For additional information about changes, view the August 2007 special edition newsletter.

Detailed information on the 2008 STRS Ohio Health Care Program.

Contact STRS Ohio