New Health Care Eligibility Rules Apply for Reemployed Retirees
Effective Jan. 1, 2009, STRS Ohio will provide only secondary health care coverage to any reemployed retiree — not eligible for Medicare — who is employed in a public or private position and the reemployed retiree or employees in other comparable positions is eligible for health care coverage through an employer. This provision applies if: (1) the employer provides coverage to other employees in comparable positions at a cost no more than the cost of coverage offered to full-time employees; and (2) the plan provides medical and prescription drug coverage.
STRS Ohio recently mailed an informational packet to impacted members about how to comply with requirements of the rule change. The materials enclosed in the packet include: a detailed cover letter (click here to view a sample of the letter), a Verification of Employment and Employer Health Care Access form and eligibility examples. Impacted individuals who do not respond to this mailing will have their STRS Ohio health care coverage terminated on Dec. 31, 2008. If you any questions, please call STRS Ohio’s Member Services Center toll-free at 1-888-227-7877. |
Reemployment in a public position in Ohio after retirement is restricted during
the first two months following retirement. If you are employed by only one public
employer at the time of retirement, you must wait two months after your date
of retirement to return to public employment. Violating the two-month waiting
period will result in the loss of one or two months of retirement benefits.
If you are employed at the time of retirement by more than one employer covered
by STRS Ohio, OPERS or SERS, you may retire with the highest paying (primary)
employer and continue to work with no waiting period with one or all of the
lower paying (secondary) employers for which compensation is received in the
month before and the month of service retirement. You must wait two months before
returning to any other public employment.
Ohio law may require public notice if you are returning to a position with your former employer.
Please contact your employer for details.
Members continuing public employment after retirement and their employers
contribute to the applicable Ohio public retirement system. These contributions
fund a benefit that is payable the first of the month following the last day
of reemployment.
The following rules apply to a member employed in an STRS Ohio-covered position after retirement:
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If you elect a benefit before age 65, you will receive your
contributions and interest on those contributions. This benefit is paid as a
lump-sum. Click here to view a PDF version of the Application for Lump-Sum Payment form.
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If you elect a benefit at age 65 or after, you will receive your
contributions and interest on those contributions plus a matching amount and interest. Member contributions made before July 1,
2005, are matched at 100%. Contributions made July 1, 2005, and after are matched at 50%. You may elect to receive the benefit as a lump-sum payment
or a monthly annuity, provided the monthly annuity is $25 or greater. (The matching amount is subject to change.) Click here to view a PDF version of the Application for Monthly Annuity or Lump-Sum Payment form.
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Before benefits are payable, employment must be terminated.
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Upon your death, survivors receive any unpaid funds if you did not receive a lump-sum payment or monthly annuity payments equal to the lump-sum payment.
- Individuals continuing employment after retirement are not eligible for any benefits other than those described above.
