2019 New Jersey Revised Statutes
Title 52 - State Government, Departments and Officers
Section 52:14-17.32f - Retired teachers' eligibility, limitation.

52:14-17.32f Retired teachers' eligibility, limitation.

3. A qualified retiree from the Teachers' Pension and Annuity Fund (N.J.S.18A:66-1 et seq.) and dependents of a qualified retiree, but not including survivors, are eligible to participate in the State Health Benefits Program until June 30, 2008, and beginning July 1, 2008, in the School Employees' Health Benefits Program, regardless of whether the retiree's employer participated in the program.

A qualified retiree is a retiree who:

a. Retired on a benefit based on 25 or more years of service credit;

b. Retired on a disability pension based on fewer years of service credit; or

c. Elected deferred retirement based on 25 or more years of service credit and who receives a retirement allowance.

The program shall reimburse a qualified retiree who participates in the program for the premium charges under Part B of the federal Medicare program for the retiree and the retiree's spouse. A qualified retiree who retired under subsections a. and b. of this section prior to the effective date of this 1987 amendatory and supplementary act is eligible for the coverage if the retiree applies to the program for it within one year after the effective date, and a qualified retiree as defined under subsection c. of this section whose retirement allowance commenced prior to the effective date of this 1992 amendatory act is eligible for the coverage if the retiree applies to the program for it within one year after the effective date.

The premium or periodic charges for benefits provided to a qualified retiree and the dependents of the retiree, and the cost for reimbursement of Medicare premiums shall be paid by the State. An employee who becomes a member of the Teachers' Pension and Annuity Fund on or after the effective date of P.L.2010, c.2 shall pay as a qualified retiree 1.5 percent of the retiree's monthly retirement allowance, including any future cost-of-living adjustments, through the withholding of the contribution, for health benefits coverage provided under P.L.2007, c.103 (C.52:14-17.46.1 et seq.) and the State shall pay the remainder of the premium or periodic charges for benefits provided to a qualified retiree and the dependents of the retiree, and the cost for reimbursement of Medicare premiums.

L.1987, c.384, s.3; amended 1992, c.126, s.1; 1994, c.62, s.12; 2007, c.103, s.42; 2010, c.2, s.2.