SB1556 97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB097 09499 JDS 49636 b

97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2011 and 2012
SB1556

Introduced 2/9/2011, by Sen. William R. Haine

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

5 ILCS 375/3	from Ch. 127, par. 523
5 ILCS 375/8	from Ch. 127, par. 528

Amends the State Employees Group Insurance Act of 1971. Provides that in order to be eligible for group insurance benefits under a retirement system: (i) each annuitant or retired employee must meet the vesting requirements of the applicable retirement system and (ii) each survivor must establish that the deceased employee, annuitant, or retired employee upon whom the annuity is based was eligible to participate in the group insurance system under the applicable retirement system. Specifies that certain persons do not qualify as community college dependent beneficiaries or TRS dependent beneficiaries. Provides that only employees (rather than employees, annuitants, retired employees, and survivors) and their elected dependents are eligible and covered for all benefits available under the Act's programs. Provides that annuitants, survivors, and retired employees and their elected dependents are immediately eligible for the group health benefits program and that the coverage of those persons is effective immediately upon the completion of the required forms. Requires, however, each survivor who is seeking coverage under that program to establish that he or she would have been eligible for coverage under the deceased member upon whom the survivor's annuity is based.

FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning government.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The State Employees Group Insurance Act of 1971 is amended by changing Sections 3 and 8 as follows:

(5 ILCS 375/3) (from Ch. 127, par. 523)

Sec. 3. Definitions. Unless the context otherwise requires, the following words and phrases as used in this Act shall have the following meanings. The Department may define these and other words and phrases separately for the purpose of implementing specific programs providing benefits under this Act.

(a) "Administrative service organization" means any person, firm or corporation experienced in the handling of claims which is fully qualified, financially sound and capable of meeting the service requirements of a contract of administration executed with the Department.

(b) "Annuitant" means (1) an employee who retires, or has retired, on or after January 1, 1966 on an immediate annuity under the provisions of Articles 2, 14 (including an employee who has elected to receive an alternative retirement cancellation payment under Section 14-108.5 of the Illinois Pension Code in lieu of an annuity), 15 (including an employee who has retired under the optional retirement program established under Section 15-158.2), paragraphs (2), (3), or (5) of Section 16-106, or Article 18 of the Illinois Pension Code; (2) any person who was receiving group insurance coverage under this Act as of March 31, 1978 by reason of his status as an annuitant, even though the annuity in relation to which such coverage was provided is a proportional annuity based on less than the minimum period of service required for a retirement annuity in the system involved; (3) any person not otherwise covered by this Act who has retired as a participating member under Article 2 of the Illinois Pension Code but is ineligible for the retirement annuity under Section 2-119 of the Illinois Pension Code; (4) the spouse of any person who is receiving a retirement annuity under Article 18 of the Illinois Pension Code and who is covered under a group health insurance program sponsored by a governmental employer other than the State of Illinois and who has irrevocably elected to waive his or her coverage under this Act and to have his or her spouse considered as the "annuitant" under this Act and not as a "dependent"; or (5) an employee who retires, or has retired, from a qualified position, as determined according to rules promulgated by the Director, under a qualified local government, a qualified rehabilitation facility, a qualified domestic violence shelter or service, or a qualified child advocacy center. (For definition of "retired employee", see (p) post).

(b-5) "New SERS annuitant" means a person who, on or after January 1, 1998, becomes an annuitant, as defined in subsection (b), by virtue of beginning to receive a retirement annuity under Article 14 of the Illinois Pension Code (including an employee who has elected to receive an alternative retirement cancellation payment under Section 14-108.5 of that Code in lieu of an annuity), and is eligible to participate in the basic program of group health benefits provided for annuitants under this Act.

(b-6) "New SURS annuitant" means a person who (1) on or after January 1, 1998, becomes an annuitant, as defined in subsection (b), by virtue of beginning to receive a retirement annuity under Article 15 of the Illinois Pension Code, (2) has not made the election authorized under Section 15-135.1 of the Illinois Pension Code, and (3) is eligible to participate in the basic program of group health benefits provided for annuitants under this Act.

(b-7) "New TRS State annuitant" means a person who, on or after July 1, 1998, becomes an annuitant, as defined in subsection (b), by virtue of beginning to receive a retirement annuity under Article 16 of the Illinois Pension Code based on service as a teacher as defined in paragraph (2), (3), or (5) of Section 16-106 of that Code, and is eligible to participate in the basic program of group health benefits provided for annuitants under this Act.

(c) "Carrier" means (1) an insurance company, a corporation organized under the Limited Health Service Organization Act or the Voluntary Health Services Plan Act, a partnership, or other nongovernmental organization, which is authorized to do group life or group health insurance business in Illinois, or (2) the State of Illinois as a self-insurer.

(d) "Compensation" means salary or wages payable on a regular payroll by the State Treasurer on a warrant of the State Comptroller out of any State, trust or federal fund, or by the Governor of the State through a disbursing officer of the State out of a trust or out of federal funds, or by any Department out of State, trust, federal or other funds held by the State Treasurer or the Department, to any person for personal services currently performed, and ordinary or accidental disability benefits under Articles 2, 14, 15 (including ordinary or accidental disability benefits under the optional retirement program established under Section 15-158.2), paragraphs (2), (3), or (5) of Section 16-106, or Article 18 of the Illinois Pension Code, for disability incurred after January 1, 1966, or benefits payable under the Workers' Compensation or Occupational Diseases Act or benefits payable under a sick pay plan established in accordance with Section 36 of the State Finance Act. "Compensation" also means salary or wages paid to an employee of any qualified local government, qualified rehabilitation facility, qualified domestic violence shelter or service, or qualified child advocacy center.

(e) "Commission" means the State Employees Group Insurance Advisory Commission authorized by this Act. Commencing July 1, 1984, "Commission" as used in this Act means the Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability as established by the Legislative Commission Reorganization Act of 1984.

(f) "Contributory", when referred to as contributory coverage, shall mean optional coverages or benefits elected by the member toward the cost of which such member makes contribution, or which are funded in whole or in part through the acceptance of a reduction in earnings or the foregoing of an increase in earnings by an employee, as distinguished from noncontributory coverage or benefits which are paid entirely by the State of Illinois without reduction of the member's salary.

(g) "Department" means any department, institution, board, commission, officer, court or any agency of the State government receiving appropriations and having power to certify payrolls to the Comptroller authorizing payments of salary and wages against such appropriations as are made by the General Assembly from any State fund, or against trust funds held by the State Treasurer and includes boards of trustees of the retirement systems created by Articles 2, 14, 15, 16 and 18 of the Illinois Pension Code. "Department" also includes the Illinois Comprehensive Health Insurance Board, the Board of Examiners established under the Illinois Public Accounting Act, and the Illinois Finance Authority.

(h) "Dependent", when the term is used in the context of the health and life plan, means a member's spouse and any unmarried child (1) from birth to age 19 including an adopted child, a child who lives with the member from the time of the filing of a petition for adoption until entry of an order of adoption, a stepchild or recognized child who lives with the member in a parent-child relationship, or a child who lives with the member if such member is a court appointed guardian of the child, (2) age 19 to 24 enrolled as a full-time student in any accredited school, financially dependent upon the member, and eligible to be claimed as a dependent for income tax purposes, (2.1) age 19 to 24 on a medical leave of absence as described in Section 356z.11 of the Illinois Insurance Code (215 ILCS 5/356z.11), or (3) age 19 or over who is mentally or physically handicapped. For the purposes of item (2), an unmarried child age 19 to 24 who is a member of the United States Armed Services, including the Illinois National Guard, and is mobilized to active duty shall qualify as a dependent beyond the age of 24 and until the age of 25 and while a full-time student for the amount of time spent on active duty between the ages of 19 and 24. The individual attempting to qualify for this additional time must submit written documentation of active duty service to the Director. The changes made by this amendatory Act of the 94th General Assembly apply only to individuals mobilized to active duty in the United States Armed Services, including the Illinois National Guard, on or after January 1, 2002. For the health plan only, the term "dependent" also includes any person enrolled prior to the effective date of this Section who is dependent upon the member to the extent that the member may claim such person as a dependent for income tax deduction purposes; no other such person may be enrolled. For the health plan only, the term "dependent" also includes any person who has received after June 30, 2000 an organ transplant and who is financially dependent upon the member and eligible to be claimed as a dependent for income tax purposes.

(i) "Director" means the Director of the Illinois Department of Central Management Services or of any successor agency designated to administer this Act.

(j) "Eligibility period" means the period of time a member has to elect enrollment in programs or to select benefits without regard to age, sex or health.

(k) "Employee" means and includes each officer or employee in the service of a department who (1) receives his compensation for service rendered to the department on a warrant issued pursuant to a payroll certified by a department or on a warrant or check issued and drawn by a department upon a trust, federal or other fund or on a warrant issued pursuant to a payroll certified by an elected or duly appointed officer of the State or who receives payment of the performance of personal services on a warrant issued pursuant to a payroll certified by a Department and drawn by the Comptroller upon the State Treasurer against appropriations made by the General Assembly from any fund or against trust funds held by the State Treasurer, and (2) is employed full-time or part-time in a position normally requiring actual performance of duty during not less than 1/2 of a normal work period, as established by the Director in cooperation with each department, except that persons elected by popular vote will be considered employees during the entire term for which they are elected regardless of hours devoted to the service of the State, and (3) except that "employee" does not include any person who is not eligible by reason of such person's employment to participate in one of the State retirement systems under Articles 2, 14, 15 (either the regular Article 15 system or the optional retirement program established under Section 15-158.2) or 18, or under paragraph (2), (3), or (5) of Section 16-106, of the Illinois Pension Code, but such term does include persons who are employed during the 6 month qualifying period under Article 14 of the Illinois Pension Code. Such term also includes any person who (1) after January 1, 1966, is receiving ordinary or accidental disability benefits under Articles 2, 14, 15 (including ordinary or accidental disability benefits under the optional retirement program established under Section 15-158.2), paragraphs (2), (3), or (5) of Section 16-106, or Article 18 of the Illinois Pension Code, for disability incurred after January 1, 1966, (2) receives total permanent or total temporary disability under the Workers' Compensation Act or Occupational Disease Act as a result of injuries sustained or illness contracted in the course of employment with the State of Illinois, or (3) is not otherwise covered under this Act and has retired as a participating member under Article 2 of the Illinois Pension Code but is ineligible for the retirement annuity under Section 2-119 of the Illinois Pension Code. However, a person who satisfies the criteria of the foregoing definition of "employee" except that such person is made ineligible to participate in the State Universities Retirement System by clause (4) of subsection (a) of Section 15-107 of the Illinois Pension Code is also an "employee" for the purposes of this Act. "Employee" also includes any person receiving or eligible for benefits under a sick pay plan established in accordance with Section 36 of the State Finance Act. "Employee" also includes (i) each officer or employee in the service of a qualified local government, including persons appointed as trustees of sanitary districts regardless of hours devoted to the service of the sanitary district, (ii) each employee in the service of a qualified rehabilitation facility, (iii) each full-time employee in the service of a qualified domestic violence shelter or service, and (iv) each full-time employee in the service of a qualified child advocacy center, as determined according to rules promulgated by the Director.

(l) "Member" means an employee, annuitant, retired employee or survivor. In the case of an annuitant or retired employee, the individual must meet the minimum vesting requirements of the applicable retirement system in order to be eligible for group insurance benefits under that system. In the case of a survivor, the deceased employee, annuitant, or retired employee upon whom the annuity is based must have been eligible to participate in the group insurance system under the applicable retirement system in order for the survivor to be eligible for group insurance benefits under that system.

(m) "Optional coverages or benefits" means those coverages or benefits available to the member on his or her voluntary election, and at his or her own expense.

(n) "Program" means the group life insurance, health benefits and other employee benefits designed and contracted for by the Director under this Act.

(o) "Health plan" means a health benefits program offered by the State of Illinois for persons eligible for the plan.

(p) "Retired employee" means any person who would be an annuitant as that term is defined herein but for the fact that such person retired prior to January 1, 1966. Such term also includes any person formerly employed by the University of Illinois in the Cooperative Extension Service who would be an annuitant but for the fact that such person was made ineligible to participate in the State Universities Retirement System by clause (4) of subsection (a) of Section 15-107 of the Illinois Pension Code.

(q) "Survivor" means a person receiving an annuity as a survivor of an employee or of an annuitant. "Survivor" also includes: (1) the surviving dependent of a person who satisfies the definition of "employee" except that such person is made ineligible to participate in the State Universities Retirement System by clause (4) of subsection (a) of Section 15-107 of the Illinois Pension Code; (2) the surviving dependent of any person formerly employed by the University of Illinois in the Cooperative Extension Service who would be an annuitant except for the fact that such person was made ineligible to participate in the State Universities Retirement System by clause (4) of subsection (a) of Section 15-107 of the Illinois Pension Code; and (3) the surviving dependent of a person who was an annuitant under this Act by virtue of receiving an alternative retirement cancellation payment under Section 14-108.5 of the Illinois Pension Code.

(q-2) "SERS" means the State Employees' Retirement System of Illinois, created under Article 14 of the Illinois Pension Code.

(q-3) "SURS" means the State Universities Retirement System, created under Article 15 of the Illinois Pension Code.

(q-4) "TRS" means the Teachers' Retirement System of the State of Illinois, created under Article 16 of the Illinois Pension Code.

(q-5) "New SERS survivor" means a survivor, as defined in subsection (q), whose annuity is paid under Article 14 of the Illinois Pension Code and is based on the death of (i) an employee whose death occurs on or after January 1, 1998, or (ii) a new SERS annuitant as defined in subsection (b-5). "New SERS survivor" includes the surviving dependent of a person who was an annuitant under this Act by virtue of receiving an alternative retirement cancellation payment under Section 14-108.5 of the Illinois Pension Code.

(q-6) "New SURS survivor" means a survivor, as defined in subsection (q), whose annuity is paid under Article 15 of the Illinois Pension Code and is based on the death of (i) an employee whose death occurs on or after January 1, 1998, or (ii) a new SURS annuitant as defined in subsection (b-6).

(q-7) "New TRS State survivor" means a survivor, as defined in subsection (q), whose annuity is paid under Article 16 of the Illinois Pension Code and is based on the death of (i) an employee who is a teacher as defined in paragraph (2), (3), or (5) of Section 16-106 of that Code and whose death occurs on or after July 1, 1998, or (ii) a new TRS State annuitant as defined in subsection (b-7).

(r) "Medical services" means the services provided within the scope of their licenses by practitioners in all categories licensed under the Medical Practice Act of 1987.

(s) "Unit of local government" means any county, municipality, township, school district (including a combination of school districts under the Intergovernmental Cooperation Act), special district or other unit, designated as a unit of local government by law, which exercises limited governmental powers or powers in respect to limited governmental subjects, any not-for-profit association with a membership that primarily includes townships and township officials, that has duties that include provision of research service, dissemination of information, and other acts for the purpose of improving township government, and that is funded wholly or partly in accordance with Section 85-15 of the Township Code; any not-for-profit corporation or association, with a membership consisting primarily of municipalities, that operates its own utility system, and provides research, training, dissemination of information, or other acts to promote cooperation between and among municipalities that provide utility services and for the advancement of the goals and purposes of its membership; the Southern Illinois Collegiate Common Market, which is a consortium of higher education institutions in Southern Illinois; the Illinois Association of Park Districts; and any hospital provider that is owned by a county that has 100 or fewer hospital beds and has not already joined the program. "Qualified local government" means a unit of local government approved by the Director and participating in a program created under subsection (i) of Section 10 of this Act.

(t) "Qualified rehabilitation facility" means any not-for-profit organization that is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities or certified by the Department of Human Services (as successor to the Department of Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities) to provide services to persons with disabilities and which receives funds from the State of Illinois for providing those services, approved by the Director and participating in a program created under subsection (j) of Section 10 of this Act.

(u) "Qualified domestic violence shelter or service" means any Illinois domestic violence shelter or service and its administrative offices funded by the Department of Human Services (as successor to the Illinois Department of Public Aid), approved by the Director and participating in a program created under subsection (k) of Section 10.

(v) "TRS benefit recipient" means a person who:

(1) is not a "member" as defined in this Section; and

(2) is receiving a monthly benefit or retirement annuity under Article 16 of the Illinois Pension Code; and

(3) either (i) has at least 8 years of creditable service under Article 16 of the Illinois Pension Code, or (ii) was enrolled in the health insurance program offered under that Article on January 1, 1996, or (iii) is the survivor of a benefit recipient who had at least 8 years of creditable service under Article 16 of the Illinois Pension Code or was enrolled in the health insurance program offered under that Article on the effective date of this amendatory Act of 1995, or (iv) is a recipient or survivor of a recipient of a disability benefit under Article 16 of the Illinois Pension Code.

(w) "TRS dependent beneficiary" means a person who:

(1) is not a "member" or "dependent" as defined in this Section; and

(2) is a TRS benefit recipient's: (A) spouse, (B) dependent parent who is receiving at least half of his or her support from the TRS benefit recipient, or (C) unmarried natural or adopted child who is (i) under age 19, or (ii) enrolled as a full-time student in an accredited school, financially dependent upon the TRS benefit recipient, eligible to be claimed as a dependent for income tax purposes, and either is under age 24 or was, on January 1, 1996, participating as a dependent beneficiary in the health insurance program offered under Article 16 of the Illinois Pension Code, or (iii) age 19 or over who is mentally or physically handicapped.

"TRS dependent beneficiary" does not include, as indicated under paragraph (2) of this subsection (w), a dependent of the survivor of a TRS benefit recipient unless that dependent would have been eligible for coverage as a dependent of the deceased TRS benefit recipient upon whom the survivor benefit is based.

(x) "Military leave with pay and benefits" refers to individuals in basic training for reserves, special/advanced training, annual training, emergency call up, or activation by the President of the United States with approved pay and benefits.

(y) "Military leave without pay and benefits" refers to individuals who enlist for active duty in a regular component of the U.S. Armed Forces or other duty not specified or authorized under military leave with pay and benefits.

(z) "Community college benefit recipient" means a person who:

(1) is not a "member" as defined in this Section; and

(2) is receiving a monthly survivor's annuity or retirement annuity under Article 15 of the Illinois Pension Code; and

(3) either (i) was a full-time employee of a community college district or an association of community college boards created under the Public Community College Act (other than an employee whose last employer under Article 15 of the Illinois Pension Code was a community college district subject to Article VII of the Public Community College Act) and was eligible to participate in a group health benefit plan as an employee during the time of employment with a community college district (other than a community college district subject to Article VII of the Public Community College Act) or an association of community college boards, or (ii) is the survivor of a person described in item (i).

(aa) "Community college dependent beneficiary" means a person who:

(1) is not a "member" or "dependent" as defined in this Section; and

(2) is a community college benefit recipient's: (A) spouse, (B) dependent parent who is receiving at least half of his or her support from the community college benefit recipient, or (C) unmarried natural or adopted child who is (i) under age 19, or (ii) enrolled as a full-time student in an accredited school, financially dependent upon the community college benefit recipient, eligible to be claimed as a dependent for income tax purposes and under age 23, or (iii) age 19 or over and mentally or physically handicapped.

"Community college dependent beneficiary" does not include, as indicated under paragraph (2) of this subsection (aa), a dependent of the survivor of a community college benefit recipient unless that dependent would have been eligible for coverage as a dependent of the deceased community college benefit recipient upon whom the survivor annuity is based.

(bb) "Qualified child advocacy center" means any Illinois child advocacy center and its administrative offices funded by the Department of Children and Family Services, as defined by the Children's Advocacy Center Act (55 ILCS 80/), approved by the Director and participating in a program created under subsection (n) of Section 10.

(Source: P.A. 95-331, eff. 8-21-07; 95-632, eff. 9-25-07; 96-756, eff. 1-1-10.)

(5 ILCS 375/8) (from Ch. 127, par. 528)

Sec. 8. Eligibility.

(a) Each employee member eligible under the provisions of this Act and any rules and regulations promulgated and adopted hereunder by the Director shall become immediately eligible and covered for all benefits available under the programs. Employees Members electing coverage for eligible dependents shall have the coverage effective immediately, provided that the election is properly filed in accordance with required filing dates and procedures specified by the Director, including the completion and submission of all documentation and forms required by the Director.

(1) Every member originally eligible to elect dependent coverage, but not electing it during the original eligibility period, may subsequently obtain dependent coverage only in the event of a qualifying change in status, special enrollment, special circumstance as defined by the Director, or during the annual Benefit Choice Period.

(2) Members described above being transferred from previous coverage towards which the State has been contributing shall be transferred regardless of preexisting conditions, waiting periods, or other requirements that might jeopardize claim payments to which they would otherwise have been entitled.

(3) Eligible and covered members that are eligible for coverage as dependents except for the fact of being members shall be transferred to, and covered under, dependent status regardless of preexisting conditions, waiting periods, or other requirements that might jeopardize claim payments to which they would otherwise have been entitled upon cessation of member status and the election of dependent coverage by a member eligible to elect that coverage.

(b) New employees shall be immediately insured for the basic group life insurance and covered by the program of health benefits on the first day of active State service. Optional life insurance coverage one to 4 times the basic amount, if elected during the relevant eligibility period, will become effective on the date of employment. Optional life insurance coverage exceeding 4 times the basic amount and all life insurance amounts applied for after the eligibility period will be effective, subject to satisfactory evidence of insurability when applicable, or other necessary qualifications, pursuant to the requirements of the applicable benefit program, unless there is a change in status that would confer new eligibility for change of enrollment under rules established supplementing this Act, in which event application must be made within the new eligibility period.

(c) As to the group health benefits program contracted to begin or continue after June 30, 1973, each annuitant, survivor, and retired employee shall become immediately eligible and covered for all benefits available under that program. Each annuitant, survivor, and retired employee shall have coverage effective immediately, provided that the election is properly filed in accordance with the required filing dates and procedures specified by the Director, including the completion and submission of all documentation and forms required by the Director. Annuitants, survivors, and retired Retired employees may elect coverage for eligible dependents and shall have the coverage effective immediately, provided that the election is properly filed in accordance with required filing dates and procedures specified by the Director, except that, for a survivor, the dependent to be added must have been eligible for coverage under the deceased member upon whom the survivor's annuity is based in order to be eligible for coverage under the survivor.

Except as otherwise provided in this Act, where husband and wife are both eligible members, each shall be enrolled as a member and coverage on their eligible dependent children, if any, may be under the enrollment and election of either.

Regardless of other provisions herein regarding late enrollment or other qualifications, as appropriate, the Director may periodically authorize open enrollment periods for each of the benefit programs at which time each member may elect enrollment or change of enrollment without regard to age, sex, health, or other qualification under the conditions as may be prescribed in rules and regulations supplementing this Act. Special open enrollment periods may be declared by the Director for certain members only when special circumstances occur that affect only those members.

(d) Beginning with fiscal year 2003 and for all subsequent years, eligible members may elect not to participate in the program of health benefits as defined in this Act. The election must be made during the annual benefit choice period, subject to the conditions in this subsection.

(1) Members must furnish proof of health benefit coverage, either comprehensive major medical coverage or comprehensive managed care plan, from a source other than the Department of Central Management Services in order to elect not to participate in the program.

(2) Members may re-enroll in the Department of Central Management Services program of health benefits upon showing a qualifying change in status, as defined in the U.S. Internal Revenue Code, without evidence of insurability and with no limitations on coverage for pre-existing conditions, provided that there was not a break in coverage of more than 63 days.

(3) Members may also re-enroll in the program of health benefits during any annual benefit choice period, without evidence of insurability.

(4) Members who elect not to participate in the program of health benefits shall be furnished a written explanation of the requirements and limitations for the election not to participate in the program and for re-enrolling in the program. The explanation shall also be included in the annual benefit choice options booklets furnished to members.

(d-5) Beginning July 1, 2005, the Director may establish a program of financial incentives to encourage annuitants receiving a retirement annuity from the State Employees Retirement System, but who are not eligible for benefits under the federal Medicare health insurance program (Title XVIII of the Social Security Act, as added by Public Law 89-97) to elect not to participate in the program of health benefits provided under this Act. The election by an annuitant not to participate under this program must be made in accordance with the requirements set forth under subsection (d). The financial incentives provided to these annuitants under the program may not exceed $150 per month for each annuitant electing not to participate in the program of health benefits provided under this Act.

(e) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act or the rules adopted under this Act, if a person participating in the program of health benefits as the dependent spouse of an eligible member becomes an annuitant, the person may elect, at the time of becoming an annuitant or during any subsequent annual benefit choice period, to continue participation as a dependent rather than as an eligible member for as long as the person continues to be an eligible dependent.

An eligible member who has elected to participate as a dependent may re-enroll in the program of health benefits as an eligible member (i) during any subsequent annual benefit choice period or (ii) upon showing a qualifying change in status, as defined in the U.S. Internal Revenue Code, without evidence of insurability and with no limitations on coverage for pre-existing conditions.

A person who elects to participate in the program of health benefits as a dependent rather than as an eligible member shall be furnished a written explanation of the consequences of electing to participate as a dependent and the conditions and procedures for re-enrolling as an eligible member. The explanation shall also be included in the annual benefit choice options booklet furnished to members.

(Source: P.A. 94-95, eff. 7-1-05; 94-109, eff. 7-1-05; 95-331, eff. 8-21-07.)