Eligibility & Enrollment

To find out if you are eligible to enroll in an STRS Ohio plan, check out our Eligibility and Enrollment Guidelines for Health Care Coverage.

If eligibility requirements are met, you may enroll in a health care plan when you apply for STRS Ohio monthly benefits, if you experience a qualifying event or during open enrollment.

Enrolling as a new benefit recipient

Before you begin receiving service retirement or disability benefits, you must complete a pension benefit application. A section of this application asks whether you want to enroll in an STRS Ohio health care plan. If you indicate you want to enroll, health care information will be mailed to you after your benefit application has been processed.

If you did not previously select a plan on your pension benefit application, you must call us at 888‑227‑7877 (toll-free) to select your plan. If you do not specify a plan or submit required Medicare information, you will be enrolled in the Aetna Basic Plan.

Qualifying events after monthly benefits begin

Eligible benefit recipients and their eligible dependents may request enrollment if they have experienced a qualifying event. For more details, check out our Eligibility and Enrollment Guidelines for Health Care Coverage.

An enrollment application is required and must be received within 31 days of the qualifying event. You can submit your enrollment application through your Online Personal Account (preferred) or submit an enrollment application to STRS Ohio along required documentation.

Open enrollment

Open enrollment is offered in November each year for medical plans and once every two years for dental and vision plans.

Online enrollment applications are accepted Nov. 1 through the Tuesday before Thanksgiving. Coverage will begin Jan. 1 following open enrollment.

Coverage considerations

Main coverage considerations are listed below. For additional considerations, including changes in eligibility, changing plans after enrollment and canceling coverage, check out our STRS Ohio Health Care Program Guide.

Residency requirement

To be eligible and remain eligible for coverage, the individual must reside physically in the United States with a permanent residence in one of the U.S. 50 states or U.S. territories.

Medicare coverage

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. For more information, check out our Medicare Enrollment page.

Coverage under more than one account or retirement system

If you are eligible for medical coverage under more than one STRS Ohio account, you are limited to coverage under only one account. Additionally, if you are eligible for medical coverage through more than one Ohio public retirement system, guidelines determine which system is responsible for your coverage. Contact us for details.

Limited coverage for employed non-Medicare enrollees

STRS Ohio medical coverage for employed individuals not eligible for Medicare is limited to secondary coverage under STRS Ohio’s Aetna Basic Plan when they: (1) are eligible for medical and prescription coverage through their employer, or (2) hold a position for which other similarly situated employees are eligible for medical or prescription coverage. The rule applies to all employed enrollees who are not eligible for Medicare, regardless of hire date or type of employment. If you think you might be affected, contact us.

Prescription coverage

CVS administers the prescription coverage included with STRS Ohio’s medical plans. Enrollees with Medicare are covered by SilverScript, a Medicare Part D plan. SilverScript is an affiliate of CVS. Non-Medicare enrollees are covered by CVS.

Foreign travel

Coverage outside the United States is very limited. Before traveling to a foreign country, check with your medical and prescription plan administrators to learn how your coverage will be affected while you are abroad.