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Public Act 094-0095 |
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AN ACT concerning government.
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Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
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represented in the General Assembly:
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Section 5. The State Employees Group Insurance Act of 1971 | ||||
is amended by changing Sections 7 and 8 as follows:
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(5 ILCS 375/7) (from Ch. 127, par. 527)
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Sec. 7. Group life insurance program.
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(a) The basic noncontributory group life insurance program | ||||
shall
provide coverage as follows:
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(1) employees shall be insured in an amount equal to | ||||
the basic annual
salary rate, exclusive of overtime, bonus, | ||||
or other cumulative additional
income factors, raised to | ||||
the next round hundred dollar
amount if it is not already a | ||||
round hundred dollar amount;
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(2) annuitants shall be insured in the same manner as | ||||
described for
active employees, based on the salary in | ||||
force immediately before
retirement, with coverage | ||||
becoming effective on the effective date of
retirement | ||||
benefits or the first day of the month of application, | ||||
whichever
occurs later, except that at age 60 the amount of | ||||
coverage for the
annuitant shall be reduced to $5,000;
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(3) survivors whose coverage became effective prior to | ||||
September 22,
1979 shall be insured for $2,000;
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(4) retired employees shall not be eligible under the | ||||
group life insurance
program contracted to begin or | ||||
continue after June 30, 1973.
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(a-5) There shall also be available on an optional basis to | ||||
employees,
annuitants whose retirement benefits begin within | ||||
one year of their receipt of
final compensation, and survivors | ||||
whose coverage became effective prior to
September 22, 1979, a | ||||
contributory program of:
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(1) supplemental life insurance in an amount not |
exceeding 8
4 times the
basic life benefits for active | ||
employees and annuitants under age 60 and not exceeding 4 | ||
times the basic life benefits for annuitants age 60 and | ||
over, as described above, except that (a) amounts selected
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by employees and annuitants must be in full multiples of | ||
the basic amount,
and (b) premiums may be adjusted by age | ||
bracket established in rules
supplementing this Act; | ||
beginning July 1, 1981, survivors whose coverage
becomes | ||
effective on or after September 22, 1979, shall have the | ||
option of
participating in the contributory program of life | ||
insurance in an amount of
$5,000 coverage;
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(2) accidental death and dismemberment, with the | ||
employee and annuitant
having the option of electing an | ||
amount equal to the basic noncontributory
life benefits | ||
only, or an amount equaling the combined total of basic | ||
plus
optional life benefits not exceeding 5 times basic | ||
life benefits, or $3,000,000, whichever is less ;
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(3) dependent life insurance in an amount of $10,000
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$5,000 coverage on the
spouse; however, coverage reduces to | ||
$5,000 when the eligible annuitant turns 60; and
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(4) dependent life insurance in an amount of $10,000
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$5,000
coverage on each
dependent other than the spouse.
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(b) A member, 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, shall | ||
pay the premiums for coverage under
the group life insurance | ||
program under this Act. The Director shall promulgate
rules and | ||
regulations to determine the premiums to be paid by a member
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under this subsection (b).
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(Source: P.A. 88-196; 89-65, eff. 6-30-95.)
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(5 ILCS 375/8) (from Ch. 127, par. 528)
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Sec. 8. Eligibility.
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(a) Each 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. Members electing | ||
coverage for eligible dependents shall have
the coverage | ||
effective immediately, provided that the election is properly
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filed in accordance with required filing dates and procedures | ||
specified by
the Director.
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(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.
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(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.
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(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.
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(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
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coverages or benefits , 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
coverages or |
benefits 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.
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(c) As to the group health benefits program contracted to | ||
begin or
continue after June 30, 1973, each retired employee | ||
shall become immediately
eligible and covered for all benefits | ||
available under that program. Retired
employees may elect | ||
coverage for eligible dependents and shall have the
coverage | ||
effective immediately, provided that the election is properly
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filed in accordance with required filing dates and procedures | ||
specified
by the Director.
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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.
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Regardless of other provisions herein regarding late | ||
enrollment or other
qualifications, as appropriate, the
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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
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affect only those members.
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(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.
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(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.
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(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.
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(3) Members may also re-enroll in the program of health | ||
benefits during
any annual benefit choice period, without | ||
evidence of insurability.
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(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
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program. The explanation shall also be included in the | ||
annual benefit choice
options booklets furnished to | ||
members.
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(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.
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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
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pre-existing conditions.
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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
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explanation shall also be included in the annual benefit choice | ||
options booklet
furnished to members.
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(Source: P.A. 92-600, eff. 6-28-02; 93-553, eff. 8-20-03.)
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Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon | ||
becoming law.
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