Benefit open enrollment runs May 11-24. Make sure your benefits are current!
It's almost open enrollment time! The State of Ohio benefits open enrollment period runs May 11-24. This includes enrollment in and updates to health care coverage for state employees and those family members covered under their plan. Open enrollment for Union Benefits Trust (UBT) coverage for union-represented employees also runs during this time for dental, vision, the legal service plan, voluntary benefits, basic and supplemental life insurance.
Don't have any changes to make? You don’t have to do anything at all, but, as a word of advice, it's always important to double check to make sure your coverage is correct and up-to-date. This also includes checking that beneficiaries are up to date.
Health Care
Learn more about state health care open enrollment at DAS.Ohio.gov. Highlights include new and expanded medical benefits and a new Ohio EAP benefit manager, ComPsych. Employees can also enroll in or update the following coverages: prescription drug, behavioral health and wellness (Take Charge | Live Well) benefits. Employees will soon receive their MyBenefit Guide in the mail or can access it online HERE.
Beginning Thursday, May 11: Enroll/update quickly and easily online:
- Log in to myOhio.gov.
- Click My Workspace.
- Under Self Service Quick Access, click MyBenefits.
- Click Benefits Enrollment.
Dental, vision and life
OCSEA union members are eligible for premium-free dental, vision and life insurance through the union-negotiated Union Benefits Trust*. Don't let this benefit pass you by. Enroll or update by May 24. Get all you need to know about open enrollment at benefitstrust.org. Also, look for your UBT Benefits Guide coming in the mail soon.
* Please note, OCSEA union members who are new to state service are eligible for enrollment in UBT benefits on the first of the month following their one-year hire anniversary date.
Your Joint Health Care Committee
Angela Traylor is the newest member of the Joint Health Care Committee (JHCC), a labor and management committee that ensures State of Ohio health care is robust and affordable. Angela is an OCSEA member at the Southwest Developmental Center in Batavia, Ohio, and volunteers on the JHCC to make sure OCSEA union members have a voice about their health care.
Big win at the Statehouse. Day of Action results in delay of ant-democracy bills
Labor turned out in a big way yesterday at the Ohio Statehouse for a monumental win in the fight to protect democracy and citizen-led initiatives in Ohio. More than 700 activists, including union members from across Ohio, marched on the Statehouse resulting in a yet another delay of a vote on House Joint Resolution 1/ Senate Resolution 2 that would allow minority rule at the ballot box. The march also resulted in a very important delay vote on Senate Bill 92 to hold an unnecessary and very costly special election in August.
Read more about yesterday's event and the showdown at the Statehouse HERE.
Yesterday's legislative wins were encouraging, but there is still work to do. In the Ohio Capital Journal article cited above, Jen Miller of the Ohio League of Women Voters said the following: “We are heartened that the House session and related committees were canceled...It’s my sincere hope that Ohio lawmakers will actually put the rights of everyday Ohioans over the bidding of special interests and out of state billionaires.” Miller says that the coalition of over 240 organizations, including OCSEA and the Ohio AFL-CIO, "will continue to do everything in our power to defeat this in the House or at the ballot box if we must.”
Stay tuned to these email for any further news and updates on actions.
OCSEA members were among the 700 concerned Ohioans who marched the Statehouse demanding democracy in our citizen-led initiatives. This included Christina Wilcox, an activist with DAS Chap. 2570, and Corrections activists Bill Homer and Brian Miller.
Spring union magazine is headed your way
The spring edition of the OCSEA magazine, the Public Employee Quarterly, has been mailed to all members and should be arriving soon, if it hasn't already arrived. Look for it in your home mailbox.
We're excited to tell some really great member stories including one about three union super women who are active in their union, taking on their workplace issues, and being a voice for all. We also can't wait for you to read the Never Quit spotlight all about our frontline Meat Inspectors who are working hard daily to keep our food safe.
And make sure to check out the Value In Our Union flyer on Page 7. Cut it out, copy it if you feel like it and share with members in your workplace. There’s so much value in being a union member, not just in our daily lives but over our lifetimes. And, we’re not just talking about take home pay and benefits (while that’s nice too). There’s also a lot of immeasurable value that comes with being a union member.
The spring edition is also the magazine's kick off to the OCSEA Biennial Convention. You will find information about the August convention, including this year's theme. You can also find candidate statements for those running for statewide office as well as some delegate election dates so that chapter members can elect those representing them at convention.
Want to read the PEQ now? No problem. Head over to OCSEA.org/PEQ to read or download the spring edition.
Public Employee Recognition Week: Tell your story!
Next week is the annual Public Service Recognition Week, and we look forward to recognizing all the great OCSEA public employees who make Ohio a better place each and every day. Between now and May 7, we're asking you to tell your public service story. Tell us through video, email or photo what motivated you to become a public employee and how you make Ohio great! Email videos, photos with descriptions or just your written story to communications@ocsea.org. You can also post your story with video and photos using hashtags #PSRW #OCSEA.
Local chapters are also encouraged to hold Public Service Recognition Week events next week to say thanks to their sisters and brothers in public service.
Make your summer plans with Working Advantage
As we welcome May, we know many members are starting to make their summer plans. And your member-only perks through Working Advantage can help! Get great savings on everything you need to plan for summer now including flights, hotels, rental cars, and more. And, don’t forget! Mother’s Day is May 14 and graduations are quickly approaching. Save on gift baskets, flowers, and sweet treats to help celebrate.
Download the May Highlights Flyer.
If you haven’t signed up yet, click to become a member at workingadvantage.com and enter our company code: OCSEAPERKS
Register for the Steward Conference
CLICK to register for the OCSEA Steward Conference.
Please note: Hotel rooms for this event are filling up quickly. There are only a few rooms left at the OCSEA block rate. For those needing an overnight, book your room as soon as possible before the rooms are gone.