Health Care Open enrollment Begins tomorrow, runs through May 25
This year’s Health Care open enrollment runs from Thursday, May 12 to Wednesday, May 25, (by 11:59 p.m.) for the benefit year beginning July 1, 2022.
The good news is this year there will be no changes to employees’ out-of-pocket costs for their current health care plan, according to the Joint Health Care Committee (JHCC). This includes NO premium increase. There will also be major increases in the Take Charge! Live Well! incentives for OCSEA bargaining unit members, and a new narrow network can help some OCSEA members save money in out-of-pocket costs.
The State Health Care benefit is overseen by a joint committee made up of rank-and-file leaders from all state employee Unions and State agencies.
This year, OCSEA members can receive up to $1,500 in new health and wellness incentives, a $950 increase from last year. The spousal incentive will remain the same at up to $550.
The new Ohio Med NN (Narrow Network) is an additional health care plan now being offered in addition to the standard Ohio Med PPO plan and the Ohio Med high-deductible plan. The Narrow Network can lower contributions and some costs for members who are able to use only in-network providers. Learn more about the narrow network HERE. OCSEA also recently signed a Letter of Agreement that reverses a ban on certain medications to treat significant obesity where there are other health issues. Go HERE to see the agreement.
For more information about open enrollment and to download the MyBenefits Guide, please go to the NEW DAS Open Enrollment website HERE. In addition, OCSEA Chapter Presidents are a great source of information about your health care benefit, so make sure to reach out to them with any questions.
Eligible OCSEA members should visit the Union Benefits Trust (UBT) website at BenefitsTrust.org to enroll in, review and/or update their dental and vision benefits coverage. The UBT dental and vision enrollment form is available on the website. UBT coverage is premium free, thanks to the OCSEA contract, and maintained by the union.
CMCA Conference is May 20; Today is last day to request release time
OCSEA's Minority and Community Affairs (CMCA) Conference is quickly approaching. It will take place on Friday, May 20 on Zoom. This event is 100% virtual. Today is the last day to register for the event in order to request release time (work-approved time off to attend the event). If you do not need release time, you can register up until the day of the event, however, it's important to register soon in case any conference materials need to be mailed out to attendees. REGISTER HERE.
Special guests will include Dionne Smith, PhD, and Billy White. Smith, of Cincinnati, is a licensed, independent chemical dependency counselor-supervisor and a Substance Abuse Professional (SAP) with MHAS. Her focuses include women’s wellness, substance use and addiction support, cultural/racial stress/trauma healing, and treatment for assaulted and injured mental health/health care workers. White, a tattoo artist and owner of Red Rose Tattoo in Zanesville, Ohio, will talk about the importance of being involved and giving back to our communities. View the full agenda at OCSEA.org/CMCA.
Freedom Foundation getting desperate with million dollar mailers
Freedom Foundation, the national anti-union billionaire group, is at it again, harassing OCSEA members at home with more deceptive mailers full of lies about unions. With a seemingly unlimited bank account, it's estimated the group spent over $100,000 on mailers in just one week to OCSEA members alone! That doesn't include the mailers they sent out earlier this year and last year or the work emails they use to harass our members on the job.
Add on all the Ohio teachers, firefighters, city workers, bus drivers and more they've harassed by mail recently, and the Freedom Foundation has easily spent over a $1 million bucks this month to try to destroy public unions in Ohio. That's on top of similar campaigns in state's like Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, California and Washington. It begs the question: why are they spending so much money?
"Sounds like bad business to me, a terrible return on investment, and extremely desperate," said OCSEA President Chris Mabe, whose name and return address is always included on the deceptive postcards as if they're from the union. "They're spending millions of dollars on a losing campaign. Our members are sticking together and making collective change where it matters," exclaimed Mabe. "These guys are spreading bold faced lies about unions and disguising themselves as union reps," said Mabe. "I guess they can't win if they don't cheat. But even cheating isn't working in this case," he said.
Mabe says the group's REAL agenda is clear. Freedom Foundation and the billionaires who fund it have been very open about their real goals: destroy public sector unions, cut public payrolls and benefits, dismantle and privatize public services, and deplete public pensions that let our members retire with dignity. "They not only hate unions but they hate public workers and government in general. They know that unions are the last defense to protect public workers and their benefits," said Mabe.
The mailers are just the tip of the annoyance. As the weather warms up, Opt Out Today/Freedom Foundation's paid union busters could be showing up at your home or work. We know they have our members' cell phone numbers and home addresses, which they got from a shady data mining company. They were also given work emails and other work-related information about you by management.
If you hear about them in your neighborhood or your workplace, please report them. If you receive any more harassing mailers, calls or more, write to UnionYes@ocsea.org and let us know about it. Go HERE to read some of the letters of union support Ohio union members are sending directly to Opt Out Today. Learn more at OCSEA.org/StopFreedomFoundation.
RSVP for June 10 Virtual Women's Action Committee Conference
Registration is open for the OCSEA Women's Action Committee (WAC) Conference. The conference will take place on Zoom on Friday, June 10. The conference is from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. All members are welcome to register and attend the virtual event. Register on Zoom at THIS LINK. Learn more about the event at OCSEA.org/WAC.
OCSEA members get Half-Off admission to Zoombezi Bay
Summer is nearly here, so why not get a head start on plans to beat the heat and cool off with some water park fun at Zoombezi Bay water park. OCSEA members get half-off on Zoombezi Bay tickets NOW through June 3, 2022. Save now! Splash later! discount tickets are valid June 1-June 30, 2022!
Please note: This offer can be purchased online only. Tickets will not be offered at the gate for purchase and are subject to availability. No refunds or exchanges. Not for resale.
Purchase tickets and learn more about all the summer deals through OCSEA.org/FamilyFun Get year-round deals at OCSEA.org/Extras. Login is required.