Access to Optional Health Care Coverage

Members who retire on or after Jan 1, 2004, must have at least 15 years of service credit to have access to the STRS Ohio Health Care Program. Health care plans in the program require you to pay a portion of the total cost. Premiums are currently based on your years of service credit, Medicare status and health care plan selected.

You can also enroll your spouse, eligible children and other eligible dependents, but you pay the full cost of their monthly health care premium.

Health care premiums will be automatically deducted from your monthly benefit. If your monthly benefit payment is not large enough to cover the premiums, STRS Ohio will bill you.

You will pay the full health care cost if you:

• Purchase the following service to qualify for retirement:

— Non-Ohio valued credit (credit purchased to obtain retirement eligibility),

— Waived Ohio public service, or

— Service as an Ohio public school board member.

• Have retirement incentive credit purchased by your employer and need that credit to qualify for retirement.

Upon reaching retirement eligibility without the purchased credit identified above, the premium will be based on the total years of service credit excluding non-Ohio valued credit. If you are purchasing any of the service listed above or your employer is purchasing credit through a retirement incentive plan, it is important that you speak to an STRS Ohio benefits counselor.

Health Care coverage and premiums are subject to change. For current information, please see the optional health care section.

Depending on the plan of payment you select, your beneficiary may also have access to health care coverage.

Single Life Annuity
If your dependents are enrolled in the STRS Ohio Health Care Program at the time of your death, they may convert to a personal policy at a higher monthly cost. Proof of insurability is not required to convert to the commercial plan.

Joint and Survivor Annuity
Upon your death, your single primary beneficiary or multiple primary beneficiaries may continue health care coverage or enroll in the STRS Ohio Health Care Program if you had access to the program. If a secondary beneficiary is receiving monthly benefits during the guaranteed period, that beneficiary may participate in the STRS Ohio Health Care Program.

If the secondary beneficiary is enrolled in the STRS Ohio Health Care Program at the time the guaranteed period ends, he or she may convert to a personal policy at a higher monthly cost. Proof of insurability is not required to convert to the commercial plan.

Annuity Certain
If your death occurs before the guaranteed period ends, your beneficiary may continue coverage or enroll in the STRS Ohio Health Care Program if you had access to the program. If your beneficiary is enrolled in the STRS Ohio Health Care Program when the guaranteed period ends, he or she may convert to a personal policy at a higher monthly cost. Proof of insurability is not required to convert to the commercial plan.

If your death occurs after the guaranteed periods ends, your dependents who are enrolled in the STRS Ohio Health Care Program at the time of your death may convert to a personal policy at a higher monthly cost. Proof of insurability is not required to convert to the commercial plan.

Optional Dental and Vision Coverage
STRS Ohio offers optional dental and vision plans to benefit recipients and their eligible dependents. Individuals who enroll in one or both of these plans are responsible for paying the premiums through deductions from their monthly benefit payment. If your monthly benefit payment is not large enough to cover the premiums, STRS Ohio will bill you.

Enrollment in an STRS Ohio health care plan is not a requirement to enroll in the dental or vision plans. Both plans provide participating provider and nonparticipating provider benefits. For more information about these plans, call us toll-free at 1-888-227-7877.

For more information see the optional health care section.