STRS Ohio News for Benefit Recipients
July 2008

Print a copy of March newsletter.

Print a copy of the July newsletter.

• Michael Nehf Named STRS Ohio’s Ninth Executive Director
• House Bill 315 Discussions Continue
• Investments and Financial News Update
• Important Information for Your Beneficiary
• STRS Ohio Health Care Program News
• Spring Reports Show High Marks From Members and a No. 1 Ranking
• Questions Frequently Asked by STRS Ohio Members
• Want to Protect Your Retirement Income? Attend the Retiree Series
• Help With Health Care Open Enrollment Available This Fall
• Myers Wins Retirement Board Election, New Officers Announced

Michael Nehf Named STRS Ohio’s Ninth Executive Director
During its June 19, 2008, meeting, the State Teachers Retirement Board voted unanimously to name Michael (Mike) J. Nehf as STRS Ohio’s ninth executive director. He took over the leadership of STRS Ohio on July 1, succeeding Damon Asbury, who retired. Nehf had been serving as the executive director of the Employees’ Retirement System of Georgia (ERSGA), where he was responsible for the administration of 11 different benefit plans with total assets of $16 billion.

Before joining ERSGA in January 2005, Nehf was with the Public School Teachers’ Pension & Retirement Fund of Chicago for 10 years, serving as its executive director from 1997 through 2004. He also served as an elected school board member for eight years in Illinois. Other past positions include serving as comptroller for the Municipal Employees’ Annuity & Benefit Fund of Chicago, and accounting and finance positions primarily in the life and health insurance sectors.

In announcing the Retirement Board’s decision, Jeffrey Chapman, board chair, noted, “Mike brings a wealth of public pension fund experience to STRS Ohio. He is knowledgeable about the challenges facing public retirement systems and he is committed to applying that knowledge to address the issues that are of most importance to our members — namely secure health care and continued pension solvency. His past experience working with public plans, including a teachers’ fund, and his demonstrated commitment to defined benefit plans will serve us well.

“As we reflected on what we wanted in our next executive director, my board colleagues and I certainly wanted someone who would continue to maintain the trust and confidence of our members and the strengthened dialogue we have with the members of Ohio’s General Assembly. Mike is that individual. He’ll be a ‘hands on’ leader who knows how to build consensus on tough issues, whether he’s working with members, legislators, the board or our STRS Ohio associates.”

As Nehf begins his new role at STRS Ohio, he has four objectives in mind for the near term. “I want to develop initiatives to improve the funding of the health care program so it remains available to retirees. We must also continue to generate excellent investment returns due to the significant impact they have on our pension funding. I also want to implement operating improvements and efficiencies to continue the positive trends in member satisfaction and cost control. Finally, I want to enhance our relationships at the state and federal levels with key policymakers that affect public pension and health care issues.

“In the coming months, one of the things I look most forward to is meeting and talking with our members. We are faced with many challenges. But there will be no surprises; I believe in communication — early and often.

“I see this as an exciting opportunity to lead one of the premier retirement systems in the country and to continue to instill confidence and credibility to the system. Even the longest journey begins with a first step. Together with our Retirement Board and associates, I embrace that first step and the many more to follow. I’m looking forward to leading STRS Ohio to becoming the best-managed retirement system in the country.”

Nehf is a certified public accountant (CPA). He received his bachelor’s degree in accounting from Western Illinois University and his master of management degree from the J. L. Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University. He and his wife, Kathy, have grown children who reside in the Chicago, Rochester, Minn., and Atlanta areas. His wife is a Reading Recovery teacher.

House Bill 315 Discussions Continue
Since April 2008, Rep. Scott Oelslager (R–North Canton) has hosted several meetings of the various stakeholders in House Bill 315, with more meetings planned over the summer. This bill would provide an ongoing, dedicated revenue stream for the STRS Ohio Health Care Program through increased contributions from active teachers and their employers. Those present at the table include representatives from STRS Ohio and the Health Care Advocates for STRS, along with several employer groups. As the sponsor of the bill, Rep. Oelslager is interested in seeing if the group can find common ground that will allow the legislation to move forward. It remains to be seen if any hearings on the bill will be held during the lame-duck session after the fall elections — or if this will occur under a new bill number in the 2009–2010 General Assembly session.

STRS Ohio members are encouraged to share their position on this bill with candidates for the Ohio House and Senate. By talking to these individuals in the coming months, you help keep this topic at the forefront and pave the way for productive conversations when these legislators take office in January.

STRS Ohio members can keep track of H.B. 315 and other bills and events at the Ohio Statehouse and in Washington, D.C., through the monthly Legislative News posted on STRS Ohio’s Web site. This newsletter, which is published by STRS Ohio’s Governmental Relations staff, can be accessed under “Quick Links” on the right-hand side of the home page. If you prefer to receive a print copy in the mail, contact the Governmental Relations office at (614) 277-2913.

Investments and Financial News Update
Preliminary Returns for Fiscal Year Reflect Market Turmoil; Better Returns Projected for 2009
A very tumultuous year in the worldwide equity markets took their toll on STRS Ohio’s investment fund for fiscal year 2008 (July 1, 2007–June 30, 2008). While the final numbers haven’t been determined at the time of this printing, preliminary results show that the total fund return on STRS Ohio’s investment assets was about –5.4%. All the asset classes except domestic equities did beat their respective benchmarks for the year, and it appears the total fund beat the total fund benchmark for the sixth consecutive year. Factors such as the housing downturn, high oil and gas prices, and a credit crunch affected economies worldwide — and almost every component of the investment universe in which STRS Ohio participates.

The returns for fiscal year 2008 are in sharp contrast to the results posted in the previous three fiscal years. Returns for fiscal years 2005, 2006 and 2007 were 12.3%, 13.7% and 20.7%, respectively. As this illustrates, investment returns can fluctuate significantly from year to year, depending in large part on market conditions. As a result, public retirement systems across the country, including STRS Ohio, use an approved accounting and actuarial technique called “smoothing” to spread this volatility over several years when recording investment returns as part of the annual actuarial valuation process. STRS Ohio uses a four-year smoothing period. With four-year smoothing, each year’s gains and losses are recognized evenly over the current and subsequent three years: 25% per year. This calculation is done every year, on a rolling-forward basis. Consequently, when STRS Ohio’s actuary reports the funding period for STRS Ohio as of July 1, 2008, later this year, the funding period will reflect only a portion of this year’s loss, as well as gains that were deferred from the previous three years. However, this also means the negative return recorded in fiscal year 2008 will be reflected in actuarial valuations through July 1, 2011.

As STRS Ohio begins fiscal year 2009, Investment Department staff members are predicting better returns, as detailed in the Annual Investment Plan they presented to the State Teachers Retirement Board at its June 2008 meeting. This plan outlines staff’s investment strategy for each asset class — liquidity reserves, fixed income, domestic and international equities, real estate and alternative investments.

STRS Ohio staff expects the U.S. economy to rebound to more normal levels in the second half of fiscal year 2009 (January–June 2009), and core inflation (excluding food and energy) to remain moderate. Overall, staff projects the total investment fund return to at least match the system’s long-term actuarial assumed rate of return of 8% in fiscal year 2009.

Retirement Board Adopts Budgets for Fiscal Year 2009
At its June 2008 meeting, the State Teachers Retirement Board adopted system budgets for fiscal year 2009 (July 1, 2008–June 30, 2009). The operating budget totals $98,822,500, which represents a $2.8 million, or 2.9%, increase over last year’s budget. The capital budget for fiscal 2009 totals $2,242,500. Additionally, the system expects to spend $4,883,100 on the project that is under way to replace STRS Ohio’s outdated pension management computer system.

In building the budget each year, staff looks at both needed increases, as well as opportunities for cost savings. Like any service organization, the majority of STRS Ohio’s operating budget goes toward expenditures for salaries and benefits. To ensure that STRS Ohio can attract and retain qualified investment professionals, it provides a cash compensation package to these associates that includes a base salary plus a Performance-Based Incentive (PBI) component. The PBI enables eligible Investment associates to receive an additional percentage of their base salary, depending on both total investment fund performance and their individual goals. STRS Ohio associates internally manage a significant portion of the system’s assets — about 80% — versus using outside money managers. Third-party studies have shown that this practice is extremely cost-effective for STRS Ohio. Just as an example, internal management saved STRS Ohio $88.4 million in fees in calendar year 2006 alone.

The goal of the Retirement Board is to maintain the total compensation (base salary plus PBI) for eligible Investment associates at the 25th percentile of private market levels. Thus, the fiscal year 2009 budget includes a 4% merit and promotional increase for eligible associates, plus an additional adjustment to Investment associate compensation to maintain the 25th percentile level. Merit and promotional increases are awarded based on each individual associate’s performance. STRS Ohio associates do not receive step increases nor annual cost-of-living increases.

Other factors contributing to the fiscal year 2009 budget include: higher postage and fuel costs; additional planned field counseling for active members; new software purchases; due diligence travel; costs related to conducting two board elections; building maintenance; and increases in existing contracts for such items as copier service and maintenance and professional service contracts. Five new associate positions are included in the budget, but due to other personnel changes during fiscal year 2008, the total staff size has decreased to 618 full- and part-time associates from 637.

The budget also reflects significant reductions in such areas as actuary fees, contract services for the Information Technology Services Department, custodial banking fees, disaster recovery, consulting services and outside printing.

STRS Ohio members who are interested in more detailed information about the budget can view the amounts allocated to each line item and monthly expenditures on the system’s Web site. Just click on “Retirement Board” on the left-hand side of the home page; administrative expenses can be viewed under “Related Links” on the board page.

Important Information for Your Beneficiary
STRS Ohio is often contacted by individuals requesting information about how to report the death of a member, benefit recipient or beneficiary and, more specifically, what documentation is needed to close an account or establish continuing benefits to a surviving spouse or other beneficiary. Because we understand how difficult it is to lose a loved one, STRS Ohio is providing this information now for you to keep on file in case of such an event. The clip-and-save article below provides everything your beneficiary needs to know to contact STRS Ohio and begin the process to close an account or continue benefits.

Important Information for Beneficiaries Upon the Death of an STRS Ohio Member or Benefit Recipient
STRS Ohio extends its condolences for your loss. Listed below are step-by-step instructions detailing what you need to do to report the death to us and begin the process of closing the account or establish continuing benefits. We hope this information will assist you during this difficult time.

• To report a death, contact the STRS Ohio Member Services Center toll-free at 1-888-227-7877 or send an e-mail to ContactUs@strsoh.org. A member service representative will take the information, explain the process to you and answer any questions.

• Once the information is reported, you and any other beneficiaries will be mailed the necessary paperwork to request a lump-sum payment or continuing benefit payments or to close the account.

• Depending on your specific situation, you may receive the following from STRS Ohio:

  Typical paperwork sent to a beneficiary

  • A benefit summary detailing benefit, beneficiary and health care information;

  • One or more applications to be completed by the beneficiary to receive continuing monthly benefit payments or a final lump-sum payment;

  • A list of required documents, such as a copy of the death certificate; and

  • STRS Ohio Health Care Program enrollment information (for eligible beneficiaries receiving continuing benefits).
    

  
  Typical paperwork needed to process benefits or close an account

  • One or more applications for payment of benefits;

  • Return of monthly benefits paid after the decedent’s death;

  • A copy of the decedent’s death certificate;

  • Executor papers or release from administration documents, along with a tax ID number to make payments to an estate; and

  • A signed affidavit identifying surviving beneficiaries or family members

STRS Ohio Health Care Program News
2009 Health Care Premiums Mirror National Trends
At its June 2008 meeting, the State Teachers Retirement Board approved the premiums for calendar year 2009 for all of the health care plans offered through the STRS Ohio Health Care Program. The same factors that affect health care costs nationwide also affect STRS Ohio’s members. Medical and drug trend rates continue to outpace the CPI (Consumer Price Index). Contributing to these high trend rates is the continuing introduction of new medical technologies and high-cost services, as well as new prescription drugs. New biomedical and specialty drugs, such as oral cancer medications in particular, are exponentially adding to costs. Year-over-year cost increases are projected to be 20% to 30% for these types of medicines. For STRS Ohio, these drugs could increase to 25% from 10% of the total amount spent on all prescription drugs in just the next two to three years.

Another factor considered in calculating STRS Ohio’s premiums is the claims experience for each of the health care plans’ risk pools (e.g., non-Medicare benefit recipients enrolled in Medical Mutual and non-Medicare spouses enrolled in Medical Mutual). Unfortunately, it is difficult to moderate premium increases significantly without making major changes in health care coverage. For example, to reduce a 30-year benefit recipient’s premiums by just $1 per month requires more than $5 million in annual health care plan cost reductions. The 2009 premiums also reflect the board’s continuation of its contribution strategy of providing a premium subsidy based on years of service for eligible benefit recipients, and requiring spouses and dependents to pay 100% of applicable rates.

Complete lists of premiums for all health care plans are available on STRS Ohio’s Web site or by calling STRS Ohio’s Member Services Center toll-free at 1-888-227-7877.

The Retirement Board and staff will be looking at potential changes to the health care program to manage cost trend rates as part of a health care strategic planning process that begins this fall. The development and successful implementation of a strategic plan helps ensure that the added contributions that would be generated by the passage of House Bill 315 will provide the necessary funding to preserve the health care program for years to come. (See accompanying story above.)

One of the factors that will influence these discussions will be the project that STRS Ohio has entered into with three other Ohio retirement systems to collaborate as a purchasing group for administrative services for health care plans. Collectively, STRS Ohio, the Ohio Public Employees Retirement System, the School Employees Retirement System and the Highway Patrol Retirement System have more than 375,000 health care enrollees resulting in more than $1 billion in medical expenditures for 2007 alone. In STRS Ohio’s case, Aetna and Medical Mutual are currently serving as the administrators for the self-insured portion of the STRS Ohio Health Care Program. Economies of scale and vendor competition on price and service will help manage increasing cost trends.

No Plan Changes for 2009; Open-Enrollment Dates Set for Health Care, Dental and Vision Plans
While premiums for most enrollees in the STRS Ohio Health Care Program will change for calendar year 2009, there are no changes to health care coverage (i.e., copayments, deductibles, coverage limits, etc.) for any of the STRS Ohio health care plans. Open enrollment will run from Nov. 1–Nov. 25. During this time, eligible benefit recipients and their dependents may change their current health care plan or join a plan if they are not currently enrolled. Personalized information packets will be mailed to those who are currently enrolled one week before the start of open enrollment.

Nov. 1–Nov. 25 also marks the time for open enrollment for the optional dental and vision plans that STRS Ohio is offering for the two-year period, Jan. 1, 2009–Dec. 31, 2010. Information about these plans will be sent to all benefit recipients in October in a separate packet from the health care open-enrollment materials.

New Rule Requires Mandatory Response from Non-Medicare Retirees Enrolled in Health Care Program; 2009 Coverage Could Be Terminated
As explained in previous newsletters, the State Teachers Retirement Board approved a change in August 2006 to limit coverage from the STRS Ohio Health Care Program beginning Jan. 1, 2009, for STRS Ohio retirees who are reemployed in public or private positions. Retirees who are eligible for Medicare are not affected by this rule.

As a result, in late July all non-Medicare retirees who are enrolled in the STRS Ohio Health Care Program will receive a packet containing a form asking them to verify their anticipated employment status for 2009. This verification of employment form must be completed and returned to STRS Ohio — whether or not the retiree will be employed in 2009 — to continue STRS Ohio health care coverage in 2009. The deadline to return verification forms is Sept. 1, 2008. It is important to note that retirees who do not respond by this deadline will have their health care coverage terminated on Dec. 31, 2008, for 2009. Detailed information will be included in the July packet. Members who have questions should call the Member Services Center toll-free at 1-888-227-7877.

Board Addresses Health Care Program for Survivors and Beneficiaries
For several months, the Retirement Board discussed the impending changes affecting STRS Ohio Health Care Program premiums for a number of survivors and beneficiaries in 2009.

Beginning on Jan. 1, 2004, subsidies for survivors and beneficiaries toward their health care plan premium, based on the deceased member’s years of service at the date of death, were limited to five years. At the end of this five-year period, these individuals are still eligible to participate in the health care program, but their premium increases to the applicable non-subsidized benefit recipient rate. Survivors and beneficiaries whose benefits began before Jan. 1, 2004, were also given the five-year period, which ends on Jan. 1, 2009. About 6,700 of the current 8,000 survivors and beneficiaries will be impacted by this change next year.

Recognizing that premiums will increase significantly for some of these survivors and beneficiaries on Jan. 1, 2009, the Retirement Board approved the expansion of the Health Care Assistance Plan (HCAP) to create a safety net for the low-income enrollees in this group. Beginning Jan. 1, 2009, those eligible for the program will include all beneficiaries of retired teachers with 25 years or more of service, and all survivors of disabled and active teachers. Eligibility for the program is based on an annual family income limit of $23,800 and a household liquid asset limit of $23,800. (A home is not considered a liquid asset.) The HCAP offers a $0 monthly premium for the eligible survivor or beneficiary. Family members of qualifying enrollees pay the full cost of their health care coverage. The board also approved the continuation of the current premium program with a five-year subsidy period for survivors and beneficiaries. Recognizing the importance of not adding additional costs to the health care program, the board noted that it will assure the cost-neutrality of expanding HCAP to additional participants as part of the health care strategic planning process that begins this fall.

Special Series: Making Sense of Medicare
The complexities of Medicare and how this federal health insurance program interrelates with the STRS Ohio Health Care Program can be difficult to understand. With this in mind, we are continuing our special series of articles that highlight aspects of Medicare that are of particular importance to our members — especially those enrolled in the health care program.

New Medicare Coordination of Benefits Program Offers $0 Copayments
Beginning Aug. 1, 2008, the STRS Ohio Health Care Program will offer a $0 copayment for designated Medicare Part B-covered drugs and supplies that are coordinated with Medicare. At its June 2008 meeting, the Retirement Board approved this program change for individuals who receive their prescription drugs through Express Scripts (enrollees in the Aetna and Medical Mutual health care plans). The $0 copayment will apply to specific Medicare Part B drugs and supplies that are dispensed by a participating Medicare retail pharmacy or through Express Scripts’ Medicare Part B mail-order pharmacy, NationsHealth.

Select medications in the following therapeutic classes are eligible for coordination under Medicare Part B: diabetic testing supplies; respiratory medications and nebulizers; and immunosuppressive, oral anticancer and oral antiemetic medications. When a pharmacy claim for one of these eligible drugs or supplies is coordinated with Medicare Part B, it means that the claim is submitted to Medicare first for primary payment and then to Express Scripts for secondary payment. This process is known as coordination of benefits.

Detailed information about this new program was mailed to all impacted health care plan enrollees in July. For additional information, please call Express Scripts toll-free at 1-866-685-2792.

Spring Reports Show High Marks From Members and a No. 1 Ranking
This spring, the State Teachers Retirement Board received results from two important annual studies — the member research project conducted through telephone surveys of active and retired members, and the international benchmarking study conducted by CEM of Toronto, Canada.

Mirroring last year’s results, this year’s telephone surveys showed that nine out of 10 active and retired STRS Ohio members continue to have favorable impressions of STRS Ohio, as shown in the accompanying chart. A similarly high number of members are satisfied with the services they receive from STRS Ohio.

This commitment to service, which has been a hallmark of STRS Ohio since its founding in 1920, was confirmed by the most recent CEM study, which includes 38 U.S. systems as well as systems from Canada, Australia and the Netherlands. STRS Ohio now holds the No. 1 spot among 74 leading global pension systems for its service to members. STRS Ohio’s service level score was 87 compared to a median score of 73 for all systems. Service level is based on a weighted score of 15 different activities — ranging from paying pensions, benefits counseling and answering member calls to member education programs, Web sites, newsletters and member statements. STRS Ohio has been the highest-rated system in service levels for eight of the 10 years of the benchmarking survey conducted by CEM and rated second in the other two years.

In addition to assessing overall impressions about the system and service levels, STRS Ohio’s annual telephone surveys measure members’ impressions and attitudes about their pension benefits, health care coverage, member communications and the work of the Retirement Board. This year’s surveys were conducted in February and March 2008. The 608 participants (304 active members and 304 retired members) were randomly selected. All survey work and the compilation of the results was done by the Columbus-based research firm, Saperstein Associates.

The research showed that the positive impressions of STRS Ohio noted above extend to the Retirement Board and to pension benefits and are caused primarily by three factors: (1) excellent service to members, (2) good investment returns and (3) improved communications. However, as indicated in past surveys, health care continues to be an issue of concern among retirees and, to a lesser extent, among active members. Retirees are primarily concerned about cost, while active members want more information about health care. And, both active and retired members continue to show majority support for House Bill 315, which would create an ongoing, dedicated revenue stream for the STRS Ohio Health Care Program.

Concerns about the cost of health care coverage in retirement are also impacting the future retirement plans of STRS Ohio’s active educators. More than two out of five expect to teach longer than originally planned — primarily because of health care costs and/or the need for the higher pension created by the enhanced benefit formula for service beyond 30 years. Three out of 10 active educators expect to retire with at least 35 years of service credit. These expected changes in retirement patterns have been borne out by STRS Ohio’s own retirement statistics. As the accompanying chart shows, there has been a significant shift in the age at which most educators are retiring in just the past seven years. In conjunction with this pattern, 35% of the active teachers who retired in fiscal year 2007 had 35 or more years of service versus only 9% at the end of fiscal year 2000.

When asked what the Retirement Board’s top three priorities should be, STRS Ohio members reiterated that the board should continue to focus its attention on: (1) preserving health care coverage, (2) managing investments and expenses responsibly; and (3) maintaining or improving pension benefits.

The data provided by these telephone surveys supplement information gathered year-round through surveys distributed at speaking engagements and member education programs, as well as from members’ opinions voiced through letters, phone calls, e-mails and meetings. Continual review of survey data and anecdotal information ensures the Retirement Board and STRS Ohio associates are addressing the issues of relevance and concern to the membership.

Questions Frequently Asked by STRS Ohio Members
Q: Why can’t Express Scripts offer $4 prescriptions like retailers such as WalMart and Target?
A: The key word in the answer to this question is retailers. In the retail business, there’s a tactic known as “loss leader strategy.” The concept works like this: a business will offer a product or service at a price that may not be profitable for the opportunity to sell another product at a greater profit or to attract new customers. In the case of WalMart and Target, those retailers are pricing certain prescription drugs at a low cost in hopes of more than making up that loss on other products you might purchase while in the store.

Pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) such as Express Scripts (for enrollees in the Aetna, Medical Mutual and Paramount health care plans) are not retailers — the role of a PBM is to administer prescription drug coverage for individual groups. Therefore, no provision exists in the PBM business model for the types of discount drug programs offered by retailers. However, PBMs do process the claims submitted by retail pharmacies providing discount drug programs. In fact, it’s important that these retail pharmacies submit these types of claims under your prescription drug coverage because Express Scripts maintains your medication history — regardless of which pharmacy you use.

These discount drug programs are available to everyone — with or without prescription drug coverage — and regardless of income level. In addition, please remember that these programs do not offer discounts on all prescription medications. While many medications are included in these retail programs, the most common drugs are generic medications. You can find out if your medication is included in a retailer’s discount drug program by visiting the store’s Web site or contacting the pharmacy directly.

STRS Ohio wants its members to save money whenever possible. It is important that you always present your prescription drug card when obtaining medications offered under your retail pharmacy’s generic discount drug program. The cost to you will not be more than the $4 charged by the retail drug store. Remember, if you don’t use your Express Scripts card …

• Your payment of $4 won’t be reported to Express Scripts by the pharmacy. Again, this is critical for Express Scripts to maintain an accurate medication profile for you.

• You may actually spend more money. Some medications cost less than the $4 discount price if you’re an Express Scripts member. For example, an Express Scripts enrollee will pay only $2.10 — not $4 — for a 30-day supply of furosemide because that drug is on the Express Scripts formulary.

Also, if you use your Express Scripts card and the drug is on the retail pharmacy’s discount list, then any amount you pay is credited toward your $2,000 out-of-pocket maximum. This applies only to enrollees in the Aetna and Medical Mutual Plus Plans, and Paramount health care plans. For an enrollee in the Aetna or Medical Mutual Basic Plan, there is no charge against the enrollee’s $10,000 cap since the enrollee is paying the entire cost of the drug.

Want to Protect Your Retirement Income? Attend the Retiree Series
If you want to stay abreast of important information that can help you maximize and protect your retirement income, consider attending a Retiree Series meeting. The Retiree Series is a three-hour program with regularly changing topics of interest to the STRS Ohio retired member. The current program focuses on the topic of Estate Planning. Join featured speaker and attorney Russell Golowin, as he explains wills, trusts, durable powers of attorney, health care directive documents, and probate and estate taxes. Those attending will also learn how to manage their health care costs and protect their assets from lawsuits.

Upcoming programs are scheduled from 1 to 4 p.m. in the following cities:

You may register beginning one month before the date of the seminar. To sign up, call STRS Ohio toll-free at 1-888-227-7877 or register online. After registering, you will receive a confirmation letter with further details.

Help With Health Care Open Enrollment Available This Fall
Beginning Oct. 1, STRS Ohio will begin accepting registrations for the Health Care Program Highlights Meeting being held on multiple dates throughout Ohio in November. This meeting is designed for members who are trying to gain a better understanding of the health care plans offered under the STRS Ohio Health Care Program, as they decide which plan best meets their current health care needs.

During each two-hour session, STRS Ohio representatives will review the 2009 health care premium information and cost-saving measures. All STRS Ohio health care plans available in the area are discussed, and attendees are given the opportunity to ask questions at the meeting’s conclusion. Advance registration is required; to register, call toll-free at 1-888-227-7877, or register online (where directions are also available). After registering, you will receive a confirmation letter with further details. Space is limited; one guest per member, please.

Meetings will be offered at 1 p.m. and 6 p.m. on each date; dates and locations are as follows:

Registration begins Oct. 1, 2008.

Myers Wins Retirement Board Election, New Officers Announced
Tim Myers will take his seat on the State Teachers Retirement Board on Sept. 1, 2008, having won this year’s election for the contributing member seat currently held by John Lazares. Myers provides computer training for middle school students in the Elida Local Schools, where he has worked for 28 years. He was also a special education teacher for one year with the Columbus Grove Local Schools. His term on the Retirement Board extends through Aug. 31, 2012.

On Sept. 1, board officers will also change. During its June meeting, the board members elected Mark Meuser as their vice chair for the coming year. According to Board Policies, Mary Ann Quilter Cervantes, who is currently serving as vice chair, automatically moves into the position of chair.