Benefits

4 Unit Benefits Report Feb. 1, 2012

The Ohio Police & Fire Pension Fund closed at $11.89 Billion on January 24, 2012

  • Legislative report:

The ORSC meets this week and the candidates for the new ORSC Director have been narrowed to 4. The appointment should be soon.

OP&F may have a 30-Year Funding bill introduced in the Ohio Senate in February or March. . The OP&F Trustees are not waiting on the actuarial report being compiled by the ORSC and this will be a stand-alone bill for OP&F.

Buck ActuarialConsultants presented new 30 Year Funding numbers to the OP&F Trustees and they will meet again in early February to finalize parts of the proposal. The changes to the DROP interest rate, a decrease in the employer’s contribution rate to the Health Care Stabilization Fund and the time span to increase the active member’s contribution rate to 12.25% from the current 10% are the final parts to resolve.

Disability Committee report:

  1. The committee heard 21 Cases and approved 18. Two death fund benefits were approved and eight appeals were presented to the committee.
  2. The committee acted on a complaint of possible fraud by a member on disability. The DEP physician recommends the member be re-examined and the committee is ordering a re-exam of the member. The committee discussed the disability termination workflow chart and requested that when a disabled member is being notified that their file is being reviewed, that they also be notified they will be subject to re-examination.
  3. The Code of Conduct for all involved in the disability process was discussed.
  • Health Care Committee report:
  1. UHC presented updated figures about the open enrollment seminars:
  1. 675 attended the 7 seminars, 63 participated in the teleconference and 118 had the health screenings.
  2. 25,248 kits were mailed to members, 3,710 members had changes, and 25,312 confirmation letters were mailed.
  3. 120 dependants were terminated because required forms were not returned to UHC.
  4. UHC received 7,680 phone calls to the OP&F team in Westerville Ohio.
  1. UHC is investigating possible incentives to improve participation in the Diabetes Health Plan. 47% of enrolled members did not comply with requirements of the plan and the remaining 53% did some compliance. 376 new enrollees in the plan brought total participation to 1,911. This is the only year everyone is grandfathered in the plan.
  2. Members are receiving Wellness emails from UHC. Members can opt out if desired.
  3. Members may receive calls from a UHC Nurse as a follow up to certain treatments and procedures. Members received a post card in August about the program.
  4. The full board voted unanimously to send out an RFI for OP&F health care coverage after 2013.
  5. UHC will present an update and timeline in March to OP&F about the transition to an in-house UHC Rx plan.
  6. Certain preventive procedures without co-pay can become diagnostic procedures and have co-pay.
  • Benefits Committee report:
  1. The committee tabled the discussion on the DROP interest rate on Tuesday till after Buck’s Report on Wednesday.
  2. The Benefits Committee received an update on DROP numbers;
  1. Currently 3,563 members are enrolled in DROP.
  2. 908 members terminated in 2011.
  3. 662 enrolled in DROP in 2011.
  4. The average time in DROP is 6.39 years.
  • Administration Committee
  1. The OP&F Trustee election materials were approved and will be made available in February.
  • Commentary

Bill Deighton again represented retirees when severe cuts to the contributions going into the Health Care Stabilization fund were proposed and this time the other board members supported him and are looking at other cuts to maintain the fund at 15 years.

Introducing a 30-year funding bill in the senate doesn’t mean the house will approve it, but it’s a start from the do nothing attitude of the legislature for the last 7 years.

The board and staff responded to questions from us about keeping a supplemental Medicare B plan versus an Advantage Plan. They said this is a more cost effective plan for our members.

 

________________________________________________________________

President:  Gary Siniff
Vice President:  Charles Burkhart
Recording Secretary: Terry Hetzer
Membership Secretary/Treasurer: Jerry Mason
Sgt. at Arms:  Mike Peery
Trustees:  George Popovich, John Sherman and Carl Lawhorn
Chaplain:  Larry Baker
 
 

4 UNIT BENEFITS COMMITTEE

SURVIVORS INFORMATION AND RECOMENDATIONS

 

¨     NOTIFY THE OHIO POLICE & FIRE PENSION FUND AT 1-888-860-9599. THE PENSION FUND WILL SEND A SURVIVORS PACKET. THEY WILL REQUIRE A DEATH CERTIFICATE, MARRIAGE CERTIFCATE, AND IF THERE ARE OTHER DEPENDENTS, PROOF OF DEPENDANCY WILL BE REQUIRED. UNITED HEALTHCARE WILL SEND HEALTHCARE ENROLLMENT FORMS.THE PENSION SYSTEM ALSO WILL SEND OUT A HOST MEMBER (IF THE FAMILY REQUESTS) TO HELP FILL OUT THE PAPERWORK NEEDED BY THE PENSION SYSTEM AND UNITED HEALTHCARE.

 

¨     NOTIFY THE SOCIAL SECURITY OFFICE AT 1-800-772-1213. THE SOCIAL SECURITY SYSTEM WILL PAY A $255.00 BURIAL BENEFIT IF THERE IS A SURVIVING SPOUSE.

 

¨     NOTIFY THE RETIREES FIRE DEPARTMENT. THE RETIREE MAY STILL BE INTITLED TO BENEFITS.   ALSO IN THE EVENT AN HONOR GUARD OR PALLBEARERS ARE REQUESTED.

 

¨     NOTIFY THE RETIREES LOCAL UNION. SOME BENEFITS MAY BE AVAILABLE TO THE RETIREE’S SURVIVORS. (EXAMPLE-LIFE INSURANCE)

¨     IF THE RETIREE WAS A VETERAN NOTIFY THE VETERANS ADMINISTRATION AT 1-800-827-1000. YOU WILL NEED THE RETIREES HONORABLE DISCHARGE OR A DD-214.

 

¨     NOTIFY THE CREDIT UNION, BANKS, INSURANCE COMPANIES, DEFERED COMP. FUND AND ANY OTHER FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS.

 

¨     NOTIFY YOUR ATTORNEY.

 

THE BENEFITS COMMITTEE RECOMENDS THE NOTIFICATIONS BE MADE IN THE ORDER THE SURVIVORS DEEM NECESSARY, AND IF DEEMED NECESSARY. WE HOPE THAT THE RETIREE TOOK TIME TO FILL OUT THE PICKLE JAR LIST OR A LIST OF LOCATIONS AND CONTENTS OF IMPORTANT INFORMATION. YOU WILL NEED CERTIFIED COPIES OF THE DEATH CERTIFICATE FOR ALL THE ENITIES THAT MAY PAY BENEFITS. ALSO COPIES OF YOUR MARRIAGE CERTIFICATE AND BIRTH CERTIFICATES IF THERE ARE DEPENDANT CHILDREN MAY BE REQUIRED.

THE POLICE AND FIRE PENSION FUND WILL PAY A $1000.00 LUMP SUM PAYMENT.  THE SURVIVING SPOUSE WILL ALSO RECEIVE $743.60 PER MONTH, PLUS THE SURVIVING SPOUSE WILL RECEIVE A YEARLY COST OF LIVING INCREASE EVERY JULY 1st OF $16.50 PER MONTH. SURVIVING CHILDREN WILL RECEIVE $202.80 PER MONTH WITH A YEARLY COST OF LIVING RAISE OF $4.50 PER MONTH EACH JULY 1st.

IF DEATH WAS FROM A LINE OF DUTY INJURY OR DISEASE MORE BENEFITS MAY BE DUE TO THE SURVIVIORS. IT IS THE SURVIVIORS RESPONSABILITY TO APPLY FOR THESE BENEFITS.

IF A RETIREE WAS COLLECTING WORKMANS COMPENSATION THERE MAY BE WORKMAN COMPENSATION BENEFITS DUE SURVIVIORS.

 

THE VETERANS ADMINISTRATION WILL SUPPLY A GRAVE MARKER FOR VETERANS IF THERE IS NO OTHER GRAVE MARKER. THE RETIREES SERVICE BRANCH WILL ALSO SEND TWO ACTIVE DUTY SERVICE PEOPLE FOR THE FLAG FOLDING AND PRESENTATION.

4 UNIT BENEFITS COMMITTEE

BERNIE NANCE CHAIRMAN JEANNE NANCE ____1-740-927-7115

EMAIL  BERNAJ@EMBARQMAIL.COM

GARY SINIFF  ______________1-614-771-5785

EMAIL GSINIFF@COLUMBUS.RR.COM

CHARLIE BURKHART ______ 1-740-964-3506

EMAIL SAUNDRACRAIG@AOL.COM

TOM CHRIST_______________1-614-279-6996

EMAIL  TOMANDMEL@COLUMBUS.RR.COM

RICH NIEMANN_____________1-614-491-5875

EMAIL  RNIEMANN_53@YAHOO.COM

BOB KEEFER_______________ 1-614-496-2030

EMAIL  BKEEFER42@AOL.COM

________________________________________________________________

 

TMPICKLE JAR LIST

Remember when your spouse asked for your help to open things? This is the last thing you can open to help those left behind after the PT to 5 Unit. Called the Pickle Jar or Cookie Jar List for years this list is the information needed for those left behind to move on after your final transfer.

Make a list of family and friends to be notified and update this yearly with current phone numbers.

Notify your clergyman: _________________________

Phone #_______________________________

Notify the Fire/Police Department:

Phone #_______________________________

Notify the Retirees Association:

Phone #_______________________________

Notify branch of service, if retired from the military, active duty or reserve, at Defense Finance and Accounting Service Casualty Assistance Branch at: 1-800-269-5170

Notify all service/civic organizations that you maintained memberships in.

(Legion, VFW, FOP, Elks, Moose, Lions, Etc.)

Phone #______________________________

Phone #______________________________

Phone #______________________________

 

Phone #______________________________

Notify the Pension Board at 1-800-860-9599. They will start the paperwork process and provide for interim medical coverage and prescription service. They will also provide you with local assistance in the form of a volunteer HOST to come to your home and assist you with the paperwork. You just need to ask for this service it’s free!

Make a list of pallbearers you wish to have. If a list is not available or you have never discussed this with your spouse, please make your family aware that most times the Fire/Police departments or the retirees group will provide pallbearers for you. Contact the Chaplain or President of the retirees group at:

Phone #________________________

Veterans with an honorable discharge are entitled to basic military funeral honors ceremony. This consists of the folding and presenting of the flag, and the playing of Taps. An honors detail consists of two or more uniformed members of the Armed Forces, with at least one member from the service in which the deceased veteran served. This is requested through the funeral director by calling 1-877-MIL-HONOR.

Now we have covered the first 24 hours, so let’s make the next few weeks as easy as humanly possible, after all if you act NOW and not put off this little chore, you will be remembered as the most, thoughtful person that ever lived. Keep reading and writing, you family will appreciate your time.

Notify the Social Security Administration:

Phone #___________________________

Notify the Veterans Administration: (If Applicable)

Phone #___________________________

Notify your Credit Union and Banks:

Name: _____________________________Phone #_______________________

Name: _____________________________Phone #_______________________

Name: _____________________________Phone #_______________________

Name: _____________________________Phone #_______________________

Notify your Attorney:

Name: _____________________________Phone #_______________________

Notify ALL Life Insurance Companies (Agents):

Name: _____________________________Phone #_______________________

Name: _____________________________Phone #_______________________

Name: _____________________________Phone #_______________________

Name: ____________________________ Phone # _______________________

Notify your Physicians Offices:

Name: ____________________________ Phone # ______________________

Name: ____________________________ Phone # ______________________

Name: ____________________________ Phone # ______________________

Name: ____________________________ Phone # ______________________

 

THE FOLLOWING IS A LIST OF THINGS THAT YOU CAN DO NOW, TOGETHER, THAT WILL MAKE THINGS A LITTLE EASIER LATER ON.

Collect forms and make copies of important papers that will be needed such as your certificates, DD-214, proof of job-related injuries, deeds for any cemetery plots, etc.

DD-214’s are available by contacting National Personnel Record Center, 9700 Page Ave., St. Louis, MO 63132, and ATTN: (Branch of Service)

Requests for records are processed in four to six months. Include Social Security Number, date of birth, and dates of service.

Make a Will, or update an existing one to reflect any changes in your life such as recent marriage, divorce, births or deaths of existing beneficiaries.

Write a Living Will and Durable Power of Attorney.

Make sure that all of your bank accounts, credit union accounts, mutual funds, IRA’s stocks and real estate are listed “Joint Tenancy with Right of Survivorship.” This makes all assets available to survivor without waiting for Probate Court.

Locate all insurance policies and make sure the correct beneficiaries are named.

If you so desire, now would be your time to write your own obituary, forms are available from your local newspaper.

LIST ALL BANK ACCOUNTS:

Bank: ____________________________ Acct. # ______________________

Bank: ____________________________ Acct. # ______________________

Bank: ____________________________ Acct. # ______________________

Bank: ____________________________ Acct. # ______________________

LIST ALL CERTIFICATES OF DEPOSIT AND LOCATIONS:

Cert. # __________________________

Cert. # __________________________

Cert. # __________________________

LIST SECURITIES, IRA’S ANNUITIES, MUTUAL FUNDS AND THEIR LOCATIONS:

LIST ALL SAFE DEPOSIT BOXES, LOCATION, AND WHERE KEYS ARE KEPT.

LIST REAL ESTATE HOLDINGS AND LOCATION OF DEEDS AND TITLES. (Including cemetery plots.)

LIST LOCATION OF ALL TITLES: (Cars, trucks, campers, boats, trailers, motorcycles, airplanes, etc.)

LIST YOUR ATTORNEYS, ACCOUNTANTS, AND OTHER TRUSTED ADVISORS:

Name: _____________________________ Phone # ______________________

Name: _____________________________ Phone # ______________________

Name: _____________________________ Phone # ______________________

KEEP ALL OF THESE DOCUMENTS AND INFORMATION LISTED IN ONE

PLACE SO YOU WILL BE ABLE TO FIND THEM WHEN NEEDED. IT IS ALSO GOOD TO ADVISE ANOTHER FAMILY MEMBER OF THIS LOCATION, WE ALL FORGET SOMETIMES.