HOW MUCH MORE? Health-care costs

The State Teachers Retirement System of Ohio has approved changes to health-care benefits for retirees, effective Jan. 1, 2004. Among changes:
Premium costs will range from $57 to $541 for retirees and $133 to $427 for their spouses. Current premium rates range from $33 to $326 for retirees and $132 to $395 for spouses. Variations are based on how much experience the retiree has and whether the retiree receives Medicare.
One example: Under the regular plan (not a catastrophic plan), non-Medicare retirees with 30 years of service will see premiums rise from $66 to $135 for themselves and $198 to $427 for their spouses.
Deductibles will rise from $300 to a range of $500 to $4,000, and out-of-pocket maximums will increase from a range of $800 to $6,000 to a range of $1,500 to $10,000. Variations are because of differences in plans offered, ranges between single and family coverage, and costs for in-network vs. out-of-network services.
Generic drug costs, now $10 or $20, will be $15 for a 30-day supply, or $30 for 90 days. Brand-name drugs, now $15, $30 or $60, will rise to 50 percent per medication up to $100 for 30 days' supply and 50 percent up to $200 for 90 days' supply. In one plan, maximum annual costs are $2,500. In another plan, the STRS pays up to $1,500 before the enrollee is responsible for 100 percent of the rest
Sources: STRS Web site, www.strsoh.org,and the Ohio Retired Teachers Association