2009 Rhode Island Code
Title 36 - Public Officers and Employees
CHAPTER 36-12 - Insurance Benefits
§ 36-12-4 - Coverage of retired employees.

SECTION 36-12-4

   § 36-12-4  Coverage of retired employees. – (a) Retired employees who retire on or before September 30, 2008. Any retired employee who retired on or before September 30, 2008 shall be entitled to be covered under §§ 36-12-1 – 36-12-5 for himself and herself and, if he or she so desires, his or her dependents, upon agreeing to pay the total cost of his or her contract at the group rate for active state employees. Payments of any retired employee for coverage shall be deducted from his or her retirement allowance and remitted from time to time in payment for such contract. In addition, any retired employee who retired on or before September 30, 2008 shall be permitted to purchase coverage for his or her dependents upon agreeing to pay the additional cost of the contract at the group rate for active state employees. Payment for coverage for dependents shall be deducted from his or her retirement allowances and remitted as required in payment for the contract.

   (b) State employees who retire subsequent to July 1, 1989, and on or before September 30, 2008. Employees who retire subsequent to July 1, 1989, and on or before September 30, 2008, from active service of the state, and who were employees of the state as determined by the retirement board under § 36-8-1, shall be entitled to receive for himself or herself a retiree health care insurance benefit as described in § 36-12-1 in accordance with the following formula:

   SEE THE BOOK FOR THE PROPER TABLE.

   If the retired employee is receiving a subsidy on September 30, 2008, the state will continue to pay the same subsidy share until the retiree attains age sixty-five (65).

   When the retiree reaches that age which will qualify him or her for Medicare supplement the formula shall be:

   SEE THE BOOK FOR THE PROPER TABLE.

   (c) Retired employees who retire on or after October 1, 2008. Any retired employee who retires on or after October 1, 2008 shall be entitled to be covered under §§ 36-12-1 – 36-12-5 for himself and herself and, if he or she so desires, his or her dependents, upon agreeing to pay the total cost of the contract in the plan in which he or she enrolls. Payments of any retired employee for coverage shall be deducted from his or her retirement allowance and remitted from time to time in payment for such contract. Any retired employee who retires on or after October 1, 2008, shall be permitted to purchase coverage for his or her dependents upon agreeing to pay the additional cost of the contract at the group rate for the plan in which the dependent is enrolled. Payment for coverage for dependents shall be deducted from the retired employee's retirement allowances and remitted as required in payment for the contract. The Director of Administration shall develop and present to the chairpersons of the House Finance Committee and the Senate Finance Committee by May 23, 2008 a retiree health plan option or options to be offered to retirees eligible for state-sponsored medical coverage who are under age sixty-five (65) or are not eligible for Medicare. This plan will have a reduced benefit level and will have an actuarially based premium cost not greater than the premium cost of the plan offered to the active state employee population. This new plan option will be available to employees retiring after September 30, 2008, and their dependents.

   (d) State employees who retire on or after October 1, 2008. Employees who retire on or after October 1, 2008 from active service of the state, and who were employees of the state as determined by the retirement board under § 36-8-1, and who have a minimum of twenty (20) years of service, and who are a minimum of fifty-nine (59) years of age, shall be entitled to receive for himself or herself a retiree health care insurance benefit as described in § 36-12-1. The State will subsidize 80% of the cost of the health insurance plan for individual coverage in which the retired state employee is enrolled in. Payments of any retired employee for coverage shall be deducted from his or her retirement allowance and remitted from time to time in payment for such contract.

   (e) Retired employees, including retired teachers, who are non-Medicare eligible and who reach the age of sixty-five (65) shall be allowed to continue to purchase group health care insurance benefits in the same manner as those provided to retired employees who have not reached the age of sixty-five (65).