SPRING | MARCH 2019

SCHOOL EMPLOYEES RETIREMENT SYSTEM OF OHIO | SERVING THE PEOPLE WHO SERVE OUR SCHOOLS®

Page 4Golden Buckeye

Card

Page 3Keep in Touch

Page 3Feel Down?

Get Up!

Page 3Board Election

News

Page 2Your 1099-R

Forms Are Online

Page 2SERS Financial

Information

Payment Information and ScheduleDid you notice a change in your net monthlypayment amount effective January 1, 2019?

This change could be related to your taxwithholding and/or your health care premiums.

No Need to ReportBecause neither of these changes increased ordecreased your monthly gross paymentamount, you do not need to report this changeto Social Security.

• Tax WithholdingIn December 2018, the Internal RevenueService (IRS) updated the income-taxwithholding tables for 2019.

The updated percentage method tables reflectchanges in tax rates and tax brackets, andwere effective on your January 1, 2019 check.

The withholding information is posted onwww.IRS.gov.

How Does This Affect Me?Depending on your tax bracket and number ofallowances you designated, your monthlypayment may be more or less than previousmonths.

• Health Care PremiumsPremiums decreased for most enrollees in theAetna Medicare Plan (PPO) in 2019.Premiums for some Aetna enrollees withMedicare Part B only, remained the same.Premiums decreased for enrollees in theParamount Elite Medicare and PrimeTimeplans.

Our health care vendors submitted lowerrates for 2019, which allowed SERS to passalong those savings to enrollees. PositiveMedicare revenue, lower increases forprescription drugs, along with good claimsexperience, all contributed to lower premiums.

ReminderIf you receive a Social Security benefit based ona spouse, ex-spouse, or deceased spouse’swork record, you need to report increases toyour monthly gross payment amount to SocialSecurity.

You receive a payment stub every quarter, and

whenever there is a change in your benefit. ■

Payment Schedule

March March 1, 2019

April April 1, 2019

May May 1, 2019

June May 31, 2019

Your 1099-R Forms Available OnlineSERS mailed more than 105,0001099-R Forms in January. Can’t findyours? Don’t worry. It’s easy to get anew one with an online account.

If you have not yet set up an online account, it’seasy. To ensure your information is secure,contact our office at 800-878-5853 to begin theregistration process. Next, go to our website atwww.ohsers.org, click on the Retirees login

button, and follow the step-by-step instructionsto register.

Once you have an online account, you will beable to instantly access all your personalretirement information, including your annual1099-R Form.

If you need help setting up an online account, orneed to have a reprint of your 1099-R mailed toyou, call us toll-free at 800-878-5853. ■

SERS Financial Information SERS publishes two documents that summarize the financial health,investment performance, and keyaccomplishments of the last fiscal

year (July 1-June 30): the ComprehensiveAnnual Financial Report (CAFR), and theSummary Annual Financial Report (SAFR). Both are available on the SERS website atwww.ohsers.org.

CAFR ‒ Detailed financial statements with an in-depth explanation of the numbers.

SAFR ‒ Overview of the year’s financialhighlights, basic descriptions of investments,pension funding, membership, and health care. ■

Published by the School Employees Retirement System of Ohio300 E. Broad St., Suite 100, Columbus, OH 43215-3746 ■ 614-222-5853 ■ Toll-Free 800-878-5853 ■ www.ohsers.org

RETIREMENT BOARD

Jeffrey T. DeLeoneAppointed MemberHugh Garside, Jr.Employee-Member

James H. HallerEmployee-MemberChristine D. HollandEmployee-Member

Barbra M. PhillipsEmployee-MemberDaniel L. WilsonAppointed Member

Beverly A. WoolridgeRetiree-MemberRichard StensrudExecutive Director

James A. Rossler, Jr.Chair, Appointed MemberCatherine P. MossVice-Chair, Retiree-Member

For the average SERS retiree, his or her 10%contributions pay retirement benefits for about3.5 years, and the 14% contributions from his orher employer pay benefits for about 4.5 years.The rest is up to SERS.

For the average SERS retiree who spends 20years in retirement, 60% (or 12 years) of benefit

payments are funded by SERS’ investmentreturn.

SERS received the Public Pension CoordinatingCouncil’s Public Pension Standards Award formeeting professional standards for plan fundingand administration among state and local publicretirement systems in 2017. ■

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Keep in TouchWhen you write to SERS, please makesure to give your full name and the lastfour digits of your Social Securitynumber, or your full name and

complete Member ID number.

Change of AddressAlso, make sure you advise SERS of anychange in address.

Even if SERS deposits your check directly intoyour bank account, we still need your current

home address. If you move and do not notifySERS, your benefits can be suspended.

You can easily update your address using theMy Profile section of Account Login.

Change of CircumstancesYou also must notify us when circumstanceschange, such as the death of a spouse if thespouse was covered by our health plan, or if youchose a Joint Life plan of payment. ■

On December 17, the Secretary ofState certified that current Boardmember Hugh Garside submittedsufficient petitions to be certified as

a qualified candidate for one of the two four-year employee-member seat terms that beginJuly 1, 2019. Under Ohio law, because onlyone candidate qualified for the two open

employee-member seats, and no candidatequalified for the open retiree-member seat,no election will be held. Because no onequalified for the other open employee-member seat or the open retiree-memberseat, the Board will declare those seats openin July and begin the process of choosingtemporary replacements. ■

Board Election News

Feel Down? Get Up! Exercising has Emotional BenefitsAccording to the National Instituteon Aging, research has shown thatthe benefits of exercise go beyondjust physical well-being.

Exercise helps support emotional and mentalhealth too.

Next time you’re feeling down, anxious, orstressed, get up and start moving.

Physical activity can help:• Reduce feelings of depression and stress,

while improving your mood and overallemotional well-being.

• Increase your energy level.

• Improve sleep.

• Empower you to feel more in control.

In addition, exercise and physical activity maypossibly improve or maintain some aspects of

cognitive function, such as your ability to shiftquickly between tasks, plan an activity, andignore irrelevant information.

Lift your mood with:• Walking, bicycling, or dancing. Endurance

activities increase yourbreathing, get your heartpumping, and also boostchemicals in your body thatmay improve mood.

• Yoga. A mind and bodypractice that typicallycombines physical postures, breathingexercises, and relaxation.

• Tai Chi. A “moving meditation” that involvesshifting the body slowly, gently, andprecisely, while breathing deeply. ■

Golden Buckeye Card Helps Ohio Seniors SaveThe Golden Buckeye program hasbeen helping older Ohioans for morethan four decades.

The program is a service of the OhioDepartment of Aging, which offers the GoldenBuckeye Discount Card.

Ask anywhere you spend money if they acceptthe card.

An Ohio resident who holds a current OhioDriver License or State ID card will automaticallyreceive a Golden Buckeye card in the month ofhis or her 60th birthday.

Individuals who do not have a current license orState ID, as well as people under age 60 whoare eligible due to disability, or who otherwise donot receive their card automatically, may applyfor a card at most public libraries and seniorcenters. ■

Just a NumberNow that you are just lyingaround in that hammockenjoying the retirement youworked so hard to achieve—wait—many of you areactually spending yourretirements climbingmountains, hiking trails,

traveling the world, scuba diving, and teachingclasses.

Many SERS retirees find that retirement is justanother adventure on the road of life. So agereally is just a number. What you do with thatnumber is up to you. Be inspired by fellowSERS retirees as well as others who retired onlyto get busy again. Make that number count.

According to www.ranker.com:

Grandma Moses: 76Grandma Moses became one of thecountry's most famous painters. She paintedher first painting at the age of 76. She tookup painting because arthritis had crippled herhands so that she no longer couldembroider. Three years later, her art washanging at the Museum of Modern Art inNew York.

Peter Roget: 73Roget began keeping lists of words as ayoung man, but didn’t publish the thesaurusuntil he was 73.

Momofuku Ando: 61Ando was a Taiwanese-Japanesebusinessman who founded Nissin FoodProducts Co., Ltd., becoming one of theinventors of instant ramen, and CupNoodles. His invention of Cup Noodles in1971 helped spark the popularity of instantnoodles overseas.

Nelson Mandela: 75Mandela was elected president of SouthAfrica in 1993. He was the first non-whitehead of state in South Africa's history, as wellas the first to take office following thedismantling of apartheid and the introductionof multiracial democracy. He was also theoldest head of state in South Africa's history.

John Pemberton: 55Pemberton was an American pharmacistwho, at the age of 55, came up with theformula for Coca-Cola. ■

Partners IN HEALTH & WELLNESS ®

Vevia and Bruce Enix of Tipp City enjoyed the TaiChi classes at their local senior center so muchthat when training classes were offered, theybecame instructors.

Tai Chi (pronounced tie-chee) is an ancientChinese practice that started as a martial art andmeans of self-defense. Over time, it has beenmodified and is practiced by all ages for healthbenefits, such as stress relief and improvedbalance.

“You’ve got to keep breathing and moving,” saysVevia, a former Huber Heights City Schoolsemployee who worked in theschool’s Nutrition ServicesDepartment for 28 years.

The couple teaches GoldenQi (pronounced chee), aseated form of Tai Chi,every Tuesday at theVandalia Senior Center.

“We have a nice group thatwe’ve gotten to know,” said Vevia.“It’s good to have people come to your class whoenjoy it.”

“It’s become a combination of workout and socialclass,” said Bruce.

Toni Williams, the center’s program coordinator,said the Golden Qi class has a devoted andgrowing group of participants. “I think the draw forcoming to this class is anyone can come, whetherin a walker or wheelchair,” said Williams.

Vevia knows what it means to have physicallimitations.

Due to knee problems, “I could not stand for longperiods,” said Vevia. Before retiring, she had twototal knee replacements.

Being able to move freely and without painmotivates Vevia to help others through the GoldenQi classes.

During the typical class, there’s a short warm-upfollowed by a series of 18 movements, which aredone from a seated position.

The exercises have names, such as “flyingpigeon,” “scooping the sea while looking at thesky,” and “separating the clouds,” which mimicmovements and are created with one’s arms.

On occasion, the Enixes pass out large fans to thegroup. The action needed to open and close thefan for the choreographed movements work adifferent set of muscles. The opening and closingof the fans require quick flicks of the wrist.

The core set of exercises are repeated weekly, sothat they can be repeated at home. A person witharthritic hands could do the hand exercise toloosen the joints each morning while still lying inbed, said Vevia.

One class member who had a fall that resulted in ashort stay at a rehab center didn’t let that stop herfrom practicing what she had learned in the GoldenQi class. “The physical therapist was veryimpressed that she was still trying to do things shehad learned in class,” said Vevia.

Among the regular attendees are the Hagens.

Larry Hagen had a reverse shoulder replacement.His wife, Sandy, said that coming to the classhelped him improve his range of motion. She saidthat Golden Qi also required more concentrationthan other types of exercise classes because themovements were slower and more controlled.

The word about the class and its volunteer leadersis spreading.

This past December, the couple was asked by thelocal Lioness Club to do a 30-minute presentationon Golden Qi.

“We’ve enjoyed it,” says Bruce of the weekly class.“It’s a great group of people.” ■

March 1, 2019

SERS Retiree and Husband Enjoy Teaching Golden Qi Classes

Find Activities in Your CommunityMany senior centers offer a variety of health

and wellness programs, lifelong learningopportunities, and social events. Call toll-free

1-866-243-5678 to be connected to the Area Agency on Aging serving your community.

Have messages been left on your answeringmachine on behalf of Aetna and School EmployeesRetirement System about scheduling an in-homehealth evaluation? Medicare regulations requirethat Aetna attempt to contact new and existing planparticipants annually.

The service is offered at no extra cost to you.

Answer the Call Even if you do not want to receive an in-home visit,please answer the call and decline directly.Medicare requires that the plan continue to makeattempts to reach you until you answer.

In-home VisitsWhen you agree to the in-home health evaluation,a licensed care professional will conduct a briefphysical examination and answer any questionsabout the medications you take or any health-related questions you have. The evaluation takesabout an hour to complete.

Based on your history, the care professional maysuggest one or more preventative screening tests

at no additional cost. The screenings focus ondiabetes care, colorectal cancer, and osteoporosis.These tests can be performed while the careprofessional is at your home. The care professionalcan also perform a risk assessment for falls.

Agreeing to an in-home health evaluation alsohelps determine Medicare reimbursement rates,which in turn helps SERS.

There are no consequences if you decline toparticipate.

Assessments by PhoneIf you do not answer calls about the in-home healthevaluation, Aetna is required to contact you aboutcompleting a Health Risk Assessment over thetelephone. The assessment allows Aetna to havethe most up-to-date information about your health.

The in-home health evaluation and telephonichealth risk assessments are not intended to replaceyour regular doctor visits.

Your results can be mailed to your primary carephysician. ■

Are You a Medicare Advantage Member? Why You May Be Receiving Phone Calls

SERS retirees who are new toMedicare often question whythey need to remain enrolled inMedicare Part B (medical) whenthey have SERS’ health carecoverage.

Most people choose to sign upfor a Medicare Advantage Planor Medigap plan becauseMedicare Part B only coversabout 80% of medical costs.

To have Medicare Advantage orMedigap coverage, you must firstenroll in Medicare Part B andremain enrolled. This requiresyou to pay a monthly Part Bpremium. For most newenrollees, the Part B premium is$135.50 per month. Either thepremium is deductedautomatically from a SocialSecurity check, or you are billedquarterly by Medicare.

SERS cannot deduct theMedicare Part B premium fromyour pension payment. However,we can add $45.50 per month toyour SERS payment to helpoffset the cost of Part B.

To receive this benefit, thosenew to Medicare must also beenrolled in a SERS’ Medicare

Advantage plan. Spouses anddependents are not eligible forthis additional reimbursement.

It is important to contact SocialSecurity if you receive a lettersaying your Part B is beingcancelled. Cancellation oftenoccurs due to non-payment ofMedicare Part B premiums, but ifyou don’t know the reason, youneed to ask.

If your Medicare Part B coverageis cancelled, your out-of-pocketcosts for medical services willincrease. You becomeresponsible for paying 100% ofdoctor visits, X-rays, and otherservices normally covered underPart B. Medicare will also tellyour Medicare Advantage orMedigap plan to cancel yourcoverage with them since you nolonger have Medicare Part B.

Did you decline SERShealth care coverage? If you were eligible for SERShealth care coverage atretirement but chose not to signup, you have an opportunity tosign up as you approach your65th birthday. You can enroll inSERS’ coverage within 90 days

of becoming eligible forMedicare.

Call SERS toll-free at 800-878-5853 to find out what your SERSMedicare Advantage premiumwill be, and to ask that anapplication and plan informationbe mailed to you.

Enrolling in our coverage makesyou eligible to receive the SERSMedicare B reimbursement of$45.50 per month.

Already enrolled in SERSnon-Medicare coverage? If you are enrolled in SERS’ non-Medicare coverage, an“Approaching 65” packet will bemailed to you three monthsbefore your 65th birthday.

SERS will automatically switchyou to SERS MedicareAdvantage plan with Part Dprescription coverage once yousend us proof of your MedicarePart B enrollment.

SERS will deduct your MedicareAdvantage plan premium fromyour pension payment.

Remember, you must still paythe Part B premium directly toMedicare. ■

New to Medicare? Enroll in Medicare Part B and Remain Enrolled

SCHOOL EMPLOYEES RETIREMENT SYSTEM OF OHIO

We want to hear from you. Please send comments or story suggestions to: SERS Health Care Services, 300 E. Broad St., Suite 100, Columbus,Ohio, 43215-3746 or email: healthcare@ohsers.org. The information in this newsletter is intended to complement – not take the place of – yourhealth care provider’s recommendations. Consult your physician before making major changes in your lifestyle or health care regimen.