Monday, January 24, 2011

Dear Ohio Plan Members:

As we look back upon 2010, it was another year of progress and change for the Ohio Plan Risk Management and the Ohio Plan Healthcare Consortium. As both programs continue to experience steady growth, the Board of Trustees of Ohio Plan, Inc. continue our pledge to provide Plan members products and services designed specifically to address the unique issues and budgetary challenges that face public sector entities throughout Ohio. Here are some of the highlights from this past year.

With seed money provided through Ohio Plan Risk Management, Inc. (OPRM), and with the assistance of public safety professionals from a number of member jurisdictions, beginning in January, 2011, Ohio Plan members will have access to police policy manuals and training opportunities developed by Lexipol, Inc. - America's leading source of risk management resources for public safety organizations. Ohio Plan members who decide to contract with Lexipol will receive subsidies and discounts through the Ohio Plan. Additional information on the benefits of contracting with Lexipol will be forthcoming in the near future. 

On the subject of risk management, and in order to assist our members in keeping current with issues and legal requirements impacting employee benefits and other aspects of employment, OPRM has contracted with a team of attorneys to create sample employee handbooks and manuals to meet the unique needs of all Ohio Plan members. These free sample manuals will be available to Plan members during the first quarter of 2011.

Originally established in 2005, the Seminar/Education Reimbursement program has been renamed the Ohio Plan Safety Allowance. Through this program, members can be reimbursed up to $300 per year for a whole host of training-related expenses including, but not limited to: seminar and continuing education reimbursement; CDL drug testing; conference fees; and, Drug-Free workplace testing. If you haven't participated in this program in the past, please contact your agent for more information or visit the Ohio Plan's website, www.ohioplan.org.

The Ohio Healthcare Consortium, Inc. celebrated its three year anniversary in 2010 and in order to better meet our members' needs, Hylant Administrative Services assumed administration of the consortium in mid-year. The Board of Trustees believe that having a single administrator responsible for both the property and casualty and  health insurance components of the program will immediately benefit our members by offering a single source provider for both property and casualty and healthcare needs. As of the end of the year, the healthcare consortium, which provides benefit options through Medical Mutual of Ohio, has 84 member jurisdictions and is collecting approximately $12,000,000 in annual premiums. Work is currently underway on developing a number of value-added programs to benefit consortium members. 

In closing, 2010 has been another productive year for the Ohio Plan and its members. Going forward, your Board of Trustees remain committed to continuing to provide members with useful programs supported by exceptional service from our plan administrator and affiliated agents. In 2011, we will continue to explore ways in which we can further enhance the products and services available to our most important constituents - Ohio Plan members.

On behalf of all the Ohio Plan Trustees, best wishes for 2011.

Sincerely,

Jay A. Weiskircher
Chairman
Ohio Plan, Inc.
Board of Trustees