For members enrolled in the: DB Defined Benefit Plan CO Combined Plan

Open-Enrollment Resource Center

Open enrollment for STRS Ohio medical, dental and vision coverage is Nov. 1–26, 2024. During this time, eligible benefit recipients and their family members can make changes to their 2025 plan enrollment or enroll in a plan for the first time. Coverage begins on Jan. 1, 2025, for plans selected during open enrollment.

Important notices

All enrollment changes must be submitted by Nov. 26, 2024.
Dental and vision plan enrollment is effective through Dec. 31, 2026. Early contract cancellation is not permitted unless eligibility requirements are no longer met.

Resources

Guides

Premiums

Additional resources

Key dates and reminders

Nov. 1, 2024: Open enrollment for medical, dental and vision plans begins.
Nov. 26, 2024: Last day to add coverage, change plans as a Medicare enrollee or cancel your enrollment for 2025. All requests must be submitted by this date.
Jan. 1, 2025: Coverage begins for plans selected during open enrollment.

This open-enrollment period is for medical, dental and vision coverage effective Jan. 1, 2025.
All eligible benefit recipients will receive dental and vision plan materials at the end of October. Medical plan information will also be included for current medical plan enrollees. If you signed up for the paperless option, you can view your materials in your Online Personal Account. (You will not receive materials in the mail.)
If you want to continue with the plans listed on the front of your personalized letter, there is nothing more you need to do. Your enrollment as listed in the chart at the bottom of the letter is confirmed. If you want to make changes, submit your request through your Online Personal Account by Nov. 26.
STRS Ohio’s medical plans include hospital, medical and prescription coverage. The plans also include savings and discounts on fitness and weight management services, vision care and hearing products and services.
Dental and vision coverage is offered under separate plans. Separate monthly premiums apply for medical, dental and vision coverage.
The two-year enrollment contract period for the dental and vision plans is effective through Dec. 31, 2026. Early contract cancellation is not permitted unless eligibility requirements are no longer met.
You can add coverage, change plans as a Medicare enrollee or cancel your enrollment through your Online Personal Account.
If you are not currently enrolled in a plan and are interested in coverage, call us at 888‑227‑7877 (toll-free) or send us an email.

Health care plan changes for 2025

There is one change to the SilverScript Medicare Part D prescription plan in 2025. For Medicare enrollees, the maximum out-of-pocket limit for prescription medications will decrease to $2,000. The limit for non-Medicare enrollees will remain $4,000.

Other medical and prescription plan features will remain the same.

Medical/prescription coverage

Which plans are available to you?

Refer to your personalized open-enrollment letter from STRS Ohio or log in to your Online Personal Account for your 2025 plan options and premiums.

Your plan options are determined by your Medicare status on file with STRS Ohio. If your most recent eligibility is not on file, your plan options may differ from those listed in your letter.

Individuals eligible for Medicare can choose the Aetna Medicare Plan or Aetna Basic Plan. (The Aetna Medicare plan has lower premiums and out-of-pocket costs than the Aetna Basic Plan.)
The only plan option for individuals not eligible for Medicare is the Aetna Basic Plan.

If you enroll in Medicare after you receive your open-enrollment materials, you will be eligible for the Aetna Medicare Plan after you submit your Medicare information to STRS Ohio through your Online Personal Account.

Making your plan selection

To make enrollment changes, log in to your Online Personal Account, click the “Health Care” tab and then click “Enroll, Cancel or Change Medical Plan” under the Open Enrollment section. All enrollment changes must be submitted by Nov. 26, 2024.

Current enrollees

Your 2025 plan enrollment is listed in the chart on the front of your personalized letter.

If you want to be enrolled in the plan listed on the front of your letter, you don’t need to do anything to confirm your plan selection. You will automatically be covered by the plan effective Jan. 1, 2025.
To cancel coverage or change plans as a Medicare enrollee, log in to your Online Personal Account, click the “Health Care” tab and then click “Enroll, Cancel or Change Medical Plan” under the Open Enrollment section.

If you are age 65 or will turn age 65 during the coming year, Medicare enrollment is required to maintain eligibility for STRS Ohio coverage. You will be enrolled in the Aetna Medicare Plan after Medicare enrollment is confirmed. If you do not want the Aetna Medicare Plan, you may opt-out of this plan and select the Aetna Basic Plan when you submit proof of Medicare enrollment. STRS Ohio must receive proof of Medicare enrollment by the 15^th of the month to begin your participation in the plan the first of the following month.

New enrollees

To enroll yourself and any eligible dependents in a plan, enroll through your Online Personal Account. The enrollment request must be submitted by the deadline to be eligible to enroll during the open-enrollment period. Remember, to enroll an eligible dependent, the benefit recipient must also enroll in a plan. If applicable, provide each individual’s Medicare information in the application.

If you or any dependents are eligible for Medicare, your plan selection cannot be processed until STRS Ohio receives proof of Medicare enrollment. Any delay in submitting this proof will delay your enrollment in the plan.
If you are selecting the Aetna Medicare Plan, you will not be officially enrolled in the plan until Medicare approves your enrollment request. Additionally, once enrolled, you must not subsequently sign up for another Medicare Advantage plan. If you do, your STRS Ohio coverage will be canceled by Medicare.

Medicare enrollment is required

If you are age 65 or will turn age 65 during the coming year, Medicare enrollment is required. You will receive a notice from STRS Ohio when it’s time to enroll in Medicare.

What is Medicare?

Medicare is a federal health insurance program for people age 65 or older, some people with disabilities under age 65 and people with end-stage renal disease or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). You are eligible for Medicare when you turn age 65 even if you are not eligible for Social Security retirement benefits.

What is required?

STRS Ohio requires all medical plan participants to be enrolled in Medicare when eligible. Medicare Part B is required for all enrollees. Medicare Part A is also required if it is available to you at no cost (premium free). If you decline Medicare Part B or premium-free Part A, you will no longer be eligible for STRS Ohio medical coverage.

If you believe you are not eligible for Medicare, STRS Ohio will require a letter from your local Social Security office confirming ineligibility.

How Medicare works with your STRS Ohio coverage

Medicare Parts A & B do not replace your STRS Ohio coverage. Instead, Medicare works with your STRS Ohio plan to provide maximum hospital and medical coverage. In general, when you enroll in Medicare Parts A & B, Medicare becomes the primary payer of your hospital and medical expenses; STRS Ohio becomes the secondary payer. If you are enrolled in the Aetna Medicare Plan, the plan assumes responsibility for paying for covered services and receives payment from Medicare.

After you enroll in Medicare, you must pay two separate monthly premiums: a premium for STRS Ohio coverage (paid to STRS Ohio) and a premium for Medicare Part B coverage (paid to Medicare).

Key reminders

STRS Ohio requires all eligible medical plan participants to enroll in Medicare. If you decline Medicare coverage, you will no longer be eligible for an STRS Ohio medical plan.
Pay your Medicare Part B premiums. Your Medicare Part B premium is not included in your monthly STRS Ohio premium. It is a separate premium that must be paid to Medicare, not to STRS Ohio.
Do not enroll in any other Medicare Part D prescription plan. As a Medicare enrollee, the prescription coverage included with your STRS Ohio plan is provided under a Medicare Part D prescription plan. Medicare does not allow enrollment in more than one Medicare Part D plan. If you enroll in another Medicare Part D plan, your STRS Ohio medical and prescription coverage will be canceled.
Extra help may be available for prescription costs. Medicare offers a low-income subsidy program (also called Extra Help) to qualified participants in a Medicare Part D prescription plan. If you qualify, you will receive a letter from SilverScript informing you about the program.

Dental and vision coverage

Two-year enrollment contract period

Coverage is effective for two years from Jan. 1, 2025, through Dec. 31, 2026. Once you are enrolled in the dental and/or vision plan, you must remain enrolled through Dec. 31, 2026, and pay monthly premiums even if you no longer need or use the services under the plan (e.g., you get dentures, laser vision correction or other insurance). Early contract cancellation is not permitted unless eligibility requirements are no longer met.

Making your plan selection

You can choose coverage under either the dental or vision plan, or both plans. All dental and vision plan changes will be effective Jan. 1, 2025.

To add coverage or cancel your enrollment, log in to your Online Personal Account, click the “Health Care” tab and then click “Enroll or Cancel Dental/Vision Plan” under the Open Enrollment section. All enrollment changes must be submitted by Nov. 26, 2024.

Current enrollees

To remain enrolled in the dental and/or vision plan for 2025–2026, you do not need to contact STRS Ohio or do anything to continue your enrollment. Your plan enrollment will extend automatically through Dec. 31, 2026.
If you do not want to remain enrolled in the dental and/or vision plan for 2025–2026, cancel your enrollment through your Online Personal Account by Nov. 26. Your coverage will then end on Dec. 31, 2024. If you do not cancel your enrollment by the deadline, your coverage will extend automatically through Dec. 31, 2026.

New enrollees

To add dental and/or vision coverage for yourself and any eligible dependents, enroll through your Online Personal Account. Eligible dependents only qualify for coverage if the benefit recipient is also enrolled in the plan.