The union is profoundly aware that State employees are very concerned about the increased costs of their health care premiums that hit on July 1, 2025. At the same time, the State of Ohio unilaterally eliminated coverage of GLP1s for weight loss. That’s why the union representatives on your Joint Health Care Committee (JHCC) have been working diligently on both issues and want to set the record straight on how we got to this point.
First, the union was not made aware of the premium increases before state employees were notified. What caused the spike in premiums? The State of Ohio and health care providers say a significant increase in insurance claims has resulted in a shortfall to the fund that pays for the claims. It is the union’s stance, however, that the State of Ohio did not fulfill its duties nor take appropriate steps to deal with the shortfall sooner.
“The concerns were not brought before our joint health care committee in a timely manner. That’s mismanagement and poor forecasting by the State of Ohio, plain and simple, and now employees are paying the price,” said OCSEA President Chris Mabe.
“A big reason public employees enter public service for good pensions and good benefits. The State needs to step up their game, because the union certainly has,” said Mabe. For 20 years, since July 2005, the union has successfully kept the employees share of the premium to only 15%. And because of that, the member impact of this rate increase is not what it could have been for employees had the union not been tough at the bargaining table. Ultimately, this union-negotiated benefit is among the best in the country with low deductibles, copays, and out-of-pocket maxes, said Mabe. “The union has worked to protect and grow this benefit and minimize costs for decades despite increases nationally,” he said.
When DAS announced the increase, which was emailed to employees and impacted unions concurrently, OCSEA immediately joined forces with other Ohio public employee unions to file Unfair Labor Practices (ULP) charges against the State. The seven unions also filed a "Demand for Impact Bargaining," which was immediately denied by the State. A second ULP charge has been filed regarding this denial to discuss the proposed health care hike.
Additionally, President Mabe called on Marianne Steger, a longtime health care expert and former OCSEA JHCC labor co-chair, to lead the committee’s efforts on these issues. Steger worked for OCSEA from 1987 to 2007 and later became the director of health care for the Ohio Public Employees Retirement System (OPERS). She brings a wealth of health care experience, including a Certified Employee Benefit Specialist (CEBS) designation.
Steger and the JHCC have been meeting nonstop since May to hold the State accountable for its financial obligations to its employees regarding their health care benefits. This also includes holding provider’s feet to the fire about rising costs and reporting. “Certainly, we understand that businesses and employers around the country are struggling with skyrocketing health care costs. But why weren’t these concerns brought up before May? It’s like they threw any obligation of transparency and good faith right out the window,” said Steger.
The JHCC also continues to have open dialogues about coverage of GLP1s for weight loss, which ended July 1. While the State initially began covering them, it soon found that the employee benefits fund could not sustain the costs associated with them. The State continues to cover them for those with diabetes.