HB0521eng 94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HB0521 Engrossed LRB094 03833 JAM 33844 b

AN ACT concerning government.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The State Employees Group Insurance Act of 1971 is amended by changing Sections 7 and 8 as follows:

(5 ILCS 375/7) (from Ch. 127, par. 527)

Sec. 7. Group life insurance program.

(a) The basic noncontributory group life insurance program shall provide coverage as follows:

(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;

(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;

(3) survivors whose coverage became effective prior to September 22, 1979 shall be insured for $2,000;

(4) retired employees shall not be eligible under the group life insurance program contracted to begin or continue after June 30, 1973.

(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:

(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 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;

(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;

(3) dependent life insurance in an amount of $10,000 $5,000 coverage on the spouse; however, coverage reduces to $5,000 when the eligible annuitant turns 60; and

(4) dependent life insurance in an amount of $10,000 $5,000 coverage on each dependent other than the spouse.

(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 under this subsection (b).

(Source: P.A. 88-196; 89-65, eff. 6-30-95.)

(5 ILCS 375/8) (from Ch. 127, par. 528)

Sec. 8. Eligibility.

(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 filed in accordance with required filing dates and procedures specified by the Director.

(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.

(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.

(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.

(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 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.

(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 filed in accordance with required filing dates and procedures specified by the Director.

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.

Regardless of other provisions herein regarding late enrollment or other qualifications, as appropriate, the 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 affect only those members.

(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.

(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.

(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.

(3) Members may also re-enroll in the program of health benefits during any annual benefit choice period, without evidence of insurability.

(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 program. The explanation shall also be included in the annual benefit choice options booklets furnished to members.

(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.

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 pre-existing conditions.

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 explanation shall also be included in the annual benefit choice options booklet furnished to members.

(Source: P.A. 92-600, eff. 6-28-02; 93-553, eff. 8-20-03.)

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon becoming law.