Thousands of members of state's largest pension fund will see changes to their health care benefits.
The Ohio Public Employees Retirement System is changing how retirees receive health care, and a portion will have to find their own plan. Ohio Public Radio's Andy Chow reports.
The change eliminates what's known as the group plan for OPERS retirees under 65 and will instead give them a stipend for their own plan.
Retirees over the age of 65 on Medicare will receive less aid intended to fill in the gaps in coverage.
OPERS Spokesperson Mike Pramik says right now there's no more money going into the health care assistance fund.
Pramik: "What we're trying to do is to preserve health care long enough, sort of extend it long enough to the point where we can start funding it again."
OPERS, which has provided health care coverage but isn’t legally required to, has also asked the legislature to approve a cost of living adjustment freeze for retirees in order to reduce a $24 billion unfunded liability.