Who gets the SERS Part B reimbursement
SERS's Member Health Care Guide (effective January 1, 2027) describes the reimbursement this way:
- Eligible: service and disability benefit recipients enrolled in SERS health care coverage and Medicare Part B.
- Not eligible: spouses and children; people who get Part B at no cost; anyone whose Part B premium is reimbursed by another source (you must tell SERS).
- How it's paid: SERS adds it to your monthly pension to help offset the Part B premium you owe Medicare ($202.90 for most people in 2026).
SERS publishes the current amount in the guide. Retiree health care isn't guaranteed by Ohio law, and the SERS board can change it.
SERS's Medicare rules
| Medicare part | SERS rule |
|---|---|
| Part A | Enroll if it's premium-free. If Social Security says you'd owe a premium and you're enrolling in SERS Medicare coverage, SERS says don't sign up: its Medicare Advantage plan covers Part A services. |
| Part B | Everyone must enroll, and everyone pays a monthly premium. Missing it at 65 (or after employer coverage ends), or dropping it later, ends SERS eligibility. |
| Part D | Included in SERS's plan. If Part D lapses, most often because of unpaid Part D IRMAA, SERS coverage ends. |
SERS's Medicare coverage is one group Medicare Advantage PPO plan with drug coverage, available across the U.S. You pay one SERS premium (based on years of service and subsidy eligibility) plus Part B to Medicare.
How to get the reimbursement
- Enroll in Part B on time. Use your Initial Enrollment Period at 65, or a Special Enrollment Period if you're still covered by an employer.
- Send SERS proof of Medicare. A copy of your Medicare card or entitlement letter showing your Part B start date. SERS coverage starts the first of the month after SERS gets it.
- Report other Part B help. If Ohio Medicaid or anyone else starts paying your Part B premium, tell SERS to avoid an overpayment.
Pay IRMAA bills on time. SERS warns that losing Part D over unpaid IRMAA ends SERS coverage. If your income dropped after retiring, see how to appeal IRMAA.
Questions? Call SERS at 800-878-5853. More in our guide to SERS and Medicare.
Related questions
Does OPERS pay for Medicare Part B?
OPERS stopped in 2016.
Do STRS Ohio retirees need Part B?
The STRS Ohio premium credit.
Do Ohio teachers have to pay for Part A?
Premium-free Part A explained.
Sources
- SERS — Member Health Care Guide (effective January 1, 2027)
- Ohio Revised Code 3309.69 — SERS health care program
- Medicare.gov — Medicare Savings Programs
- CMS — 2026 Medicare Parts A & B premiums and deductibles
More questions in this guide
- Can STRS Ohio retirees join a different Part D plan?
- Do federal retirees in Ohio need Medicare Part B with FEHB?
- Do Ohio teachers have to pay for Medicare Part A?
- Do OPERS retirees have to enroll in Medicare?
- Do postal retirees in Ohio need Medicare Part B for PSHB?
- Do STRS Ohio retirees need Medicare Part B?
- Does OPERS pay for Medicare Part B?
- Does the Social Security Fairness Act change Medicare for Ohio public retirees?
- How does HPRS retiree health care work with Medicare?
- How does the OPERS Medicare Connector work?
- What happens to OP&F retiree health care when I turn 65?
Part of the guide: Ohio's public retirement systems and Medicare · All questions
Frequently asked questions
Will a Medicare Savings Program stop my SERS Part B reimbursement?
Likely, yes. SERS says people who get Part B at no cost aren't entitled to the reimbursement, and enrollees must tell SERS if another source reimburses their Part B premium. A Medicare Savings Program, which has Ohio Medicaid pay the premium, is such a source, so tell SERS if you're approved.
How much is the SERS Part B reimbursement?
SERS sets the amount and publishes it in its Member Health Care Guide. It's paid under Ohio Revised Code 3309.69, which lets the SERS board set health care benefits, so it can change.
Do I have to enroll in Part B to keep SERS coverage?
Yes. SERS says eligibility for its health care coverage ends if you don't enroll in Part B during your Initial Enrollment Period at 65, or your Special Enrollment Period after employer coverage ends, or if you don't keep Part B.
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