SF 822

as introduced - 84th Legislature (2005 - 2006) Posted on 12/15/2009 12:00am

A bill for an act
relating to retiree health insurance coverage;
providing for the inclusion of certain former
University of Minnesota steam plant employees in the
state health insurance group; amending Minnesota
Statutes 2004, section 43A.27, subdivision 3.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 43A.27,
subdivision 3, is amended to read:

Subd. 3.

Retired employees.

(a) A person may elect to
purchase at personal expense individual and dependent hospital,
medical, and dental coverages if the person is:

(1) a retired employee of the state or an organization
listed in subdivision 2 or section 43A.24, subdivision 2, who,
at separation of service:

(i) is immediately eligible to receive a retirement benefit
under chapter 354B or an annuity under a retirement program
sponsored by the state or such organization of the state;

(ii) immediately meets the age and service requirements in
section 352.115, subdivision 1; and

(iii) has five years of service or meets the service
requirement of the collective bargaining agreement or plan,
whichever is greater; or

(2) a retired employee of the state who is at least 50
years of age and has at least 15 years of state service.

(b) new text begin A person also may elect, on July 1, 2005, or on the
first day of the month occurring 18 months after the person
terminates employment with Foster Wheeler Twin Cities, Inc.,
whichever is later, to purchase at personal expense individual
and dependent hospital, medical, and dental coverage if the
person was an employee of the University of Minnesota before
July 1, 1992, who was employed at the university heating plant
facilities, who was transferred to Foster Wheeler Twin Cities,
Inc., and who continued in general state employees retirement
plan coverage for employment after June 30, 1992, under section
352.01, subdivision 2a, paragraph (a), clause (15).
new text end

new text begin (c) new text end The commissioner shall offer at least one plan which is
actuarially equivalent to those made available through
collective bargaining agreements or plans established under
section 43A.18 to employees in positions equivalent to that from
which retired.

deleted text begin (c) deleted text end new text begin (d) new text end A spouse of a person eligible under paragraph (a)
new text begin or (b) new text end may purchase the coverage listed in this subdivision if
the spouse was a dependent under the retired employee's coverage
at the time of the retiree's death.

deleted text begin (d) deleted text end new text begin (e) new text end Coverages must be coordinated with relevant health
insurance benefits provided through the federally sponsored
Medicare program. Until the retired employee reaches age 65,
the retired employee and dependents must be pooled in the same
group as active employees for purposes of establishing premiums
and coverage for hospital, medical, and dental insurance.
Coverage for retired employees and their dependents may not
discriminate on the basis of evidence of insurability or
preexisting conditions unless identical conditions are imposed
on active employees in the group that the employee left.
Appointing authorities shall provide notice to employees no
later than the effective date of their retirement of the right
to exercise the option provided in this subdivision. The
retired employee must notify the commissioner or designee of the
commissioner within 30 days after the effective date of the
retirement of intent to exercise this option.

Sec. 2. new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE.
new text end

new text begin Section 1 is effective the day following final enactment.
new text end