1997 Minnesota Statutes

     299A.465 Continued health insurance coverage to disabled.

    Subdivision 1.    Officer or firefighter disabled in line 
 of duty.  (a) This subdivision applies when a peace officer or 
 firefighter suffers a disabling injury that: 

    (1) results in the officer's or firefighter's retirement or 
 separation from service; 

    (2) occurs while the officer or firefighter is acting in 
 the course and scope of duties as a peace officer or 
 firefighter; and 

    (3) the officer or firefighter has been approved to receive 
 the officer's or firefighter's duty-related disability pension. 

    (b) The officer's or firefighter's employer shall continue 
 to provide health coverage for: 

    (1) the officer or firefighter; and 

    (2) the officer's or firefighter's dependents if the 
 officer or firefighter was receiving dependent coverage at the 
 time of the injury under the employer's group health plan. 

    (c) The employer is responsible for the continued payment 
 of the employer's contribution for coverage of the officer or 
 firefighter and, if applicable, the officer's or firefighter's 
 dependents.  Coverage must continue for the officer or 
 firefighter and, if applicable, the officer's or firefighter's 
 dependents until the officer or firefighter reaches the age of 
 65.  However, coverage for dependents does not have to be 
 continued after the person is no longer a dependent.  

    Subd. 2.    Officer or firefighter killed in line of duty. 
  (a) This subdivision applies when a peace officer or 
 firefighter is killed while on duty and discharging the 
 officer's or firefighter's duties as a peace officer or 
 firefighter. 

    (b) The officer's or firefighter's employer shall continue 
 to cover the deceased officer's or firefighter's dependents if 
 the officer or firefighter was receiving dependent coverage at 
 the time of the officer's or firefighter's death under the 
 employer's group health plan. 

    (c) The employer is responsible for the employer's 
 contribution for the coverage of the officer's or firefighter's 
 dependents.  Coverage must continue for a dependent of the 
 officer or firefighter for the period of time that the person is 
 a dependent up to the age of 65. 

    Subd. 3.    Coordination of benefits.  Health insurance 
 benefits payable to the officer or firefighter and the officer's 
 or firefighter's dependents from any other source provide the 
 primary coverage, and coverage available under this section is 
 secondary. 

    Subd. 4.    Public employer reimbursement.  A public 
 employer subject to this section may annually apply to the 
 commissioner of public safety for reimbursement of its costs of 
 complying with this section.  The commissioner shall provide 
 reimbursement to the public employer out of the public safety 
 officer's benefit account. 

    Subd. 5.    Definition.  For purposes of this section: 

    (a) "Peace officer" or "officer" has the meaning given in 
 section 626.84, subdivision 1, paragraph (c). 

    (b) "Dependent" means a person who meets the definition of 
 dependent in section 62L.02, subdivision 11, at the time of the 
 officer's or firefighter's injury or death.  A person is not a 
 dependent for purposes of this section during the period of time 
 the person is covered under another group health plan.  

    (c) "Firefighter" has the meaning given in section 424.03, 
 but does not include volunteer firefighters. 

    HIST: 1997 c 239 art 8 s 6