Minnesota Session Laws - 2001, Regular Session

                            CHAPTER 166-S.F.No. 1124 
                  An act relating to retirement; providing continued 
                  insurance coverage for spouses of certain retirees. 
        BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
           Section 1.  [SPOUSE INSURANCE COVERAGE.] 
           (a) If the spouse of a retired employee who received 
        employer-paid hospital, medical, and dental benefits under Laws 
        1993, chapter 224, article 8, section 18, was covered as a 
        dependent of the retired employee when the employee retired, the 
        spouse may continue coverage under the retired employee's group 
        until the latter of the time the spouse or the retired employee 
        attains the age of 65.  The spouse must pay for coverage after 
        the retired employee attains the age of 65.  Eligibility is 
        subject to changes in coverage and payment amounts that apply to 
        employees in positions from which the retired employee retired.  
        This section does not apply if the retired employee terminated 
        coverage because the employee became eligible for employer-paid 
        health insurance from a new employer. 
           (b) A spouse whose coverage had been discontinued before 
        the effective date of this section because the retired employee 
        attained the age of 65 may receive coverage for which the spouse 
        becomes eligible under paragraph (a) only if the spouse notifies 
        the former employer within 180 days of the effective date of 
        this act. 
           Sec. 2.  [EFFECTIVE DATE.] 
           Section 1 is effective the day following final enactment.  
        In addition to application to a spouse of a retired employee 
        when the retired employee attains the age of 65 after the 
        effective date, the section also applies to a spouse who was 
        terminated from coverage before the effective date because the 
        retired employee attained the age of 65. 
           Presented to the governor May 21, 2001 
           Signed by the governor May 24, 2001, 1:51 p.m.