Pension changes could cost retired Ohio first responders their healthcare.
The Ohio Police and Fire Pension Fund will eliminate healthcare benefits and encourage those who are old enough to apply for Medicare. Those who aren't will be provided a stipend for private medical care, but have until the end of Saturday to apply. Many retirees are concerned the stipend has to be used through a managed platform company called Aon, which provides few choices of doctors or hospitals.Fund director John Gallagher blames the changes on the need for the fund to remain solvent, and on partisan bickering Washington over the Affordable Care Act.
