§16-25A-17. Partial funding of health insurance coverage for retired employees; method of determining amount; provisions supplemental.

(a)(1) Any premiums paid to the Public Education Employees' Health Insurance Board for active employees shall include an amount to partially fund the cost of coverage for retired employees. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the plan becomes fully funded pursuant to this chapter, this section shall not apply.

(2) The amount authorized by subdivision (1) of this subsection shall not be less than an amount determined by multiplying the number of retired employees by an individual retired employee rate. The individual retired employee rate shall be determined by multiplying the full cost of coverage for a retired employee eligible to receive benefits under the federal Medicare program times the fractional amount derived by dividing the current individual premium for an employee not eligible for benefits under the federal Medicare program by the full cost of coverage for an employee not eligible to receive benefits under the federal Medicare program. The Public Education Employees' Health Insurance Board may provide additional premium payments for retirees in addition to the minimum amount guaranteed herein to the extent that it does not exceed the amount of their premium as established by the board. Any additional funding for premium amounts which may be provided to retirees with individual coverage who are not eligible for benefits under the federal Medicare program by the Public Education Employees' Health Insurance Board shall not have the effect of reducing the out-of-pocket cost below the total out-of-pocket cost paid by retirees with individual coverage who are eligible for benefits under the federal Medicare program. The total out-of-pocket cost for the retirees with individual coverage who are eligible for benefits under the federal Medicare program shall be determined by the combined cost of part B of the federal Medicare program and the Medicare supplement program provided by the Public Education Employees' Health Insurance Program.

(3) Any premium payments made pursuant to this section shall be deposited in the same fund and handled pursuant to the same manner as if made under this chapter.

(b) This section is supplemental and shall be construed in pari materia with other statutes relating to health insurance coverage for educational personnel.

(Acts 1984, No. 84-284, p. 491, § 2; Acts 1995, No. 95-538, p. 1100, §13; Acts 1996, No. 96-373, p. 457, §1.)