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Tuesday, June 05, 2007

Ind. Gov't. - More on: "But by resigning before July 31, Smith also qualifies for lifetime, state-subsidized health insurance"

Updating this ILB entry from earlier this morning, see also: this entry this morning from Mitch Harper's blog, Fort Wayne Observed and This entry this morning from Gary Welsh of the blog Advance Indiana.

See also this March 4th ILB entry titled "Ind. Gov't. - Senate passes a non-transparent and convoluted pay raise bill," which included this discussion:

SECTION 12 amends IC 5-10-8-8, which deals with group health insurance for public employees, including the controversial subsections (f) and (j) concerning health care for legislators. Rather than repealing IC 5-10-8-8.4, which provides that the legislative health care benefit may not be revoked except by the law passed by the General Assembly:
IC 5-10-8-8.4. Revocation or alteration by employer
Sec. 8.4. Except as provided by an enactment of the general assembly, an election by an employer under:
(1) section 8(f) of this chapter concerning the payment of a retired employee's premium; or
(2) section 8(j) of this chapter concerning Medicare coverage and program eligibility;
may not be revoked or altered at any time by the employer or a subsequent employer to the detriment of a person entitled to benefits under section 8.2 of this chapter.
As added by P.L.184-2001, SEC.6.
SB 401 adds a new provision to the end of section 8:
(l) The president pro tempore of the senate and the speaker of the house of representatives may not elect to pay any part of the premium for insurance coverage under this chapter for a former member of the general assembly or the spouse of a former member of the general assembly whose last day of service as a member of the general assembly is after July 31, 2007.
Q - What does all this mean? A - It seems to mean that the existing health plan remains in place for retired legislators, their spouses, and employees, but legislators (and their spouses) retiring after this July will not be covered.

Q- Didn't the leadership revoke the plan last year - does this extend it another year? A - I don't know.

Posted by Marcia Oddi on June 5, 2007 10:23 AM
Posted to Indiana Government | Legislative Benefits