Sec. 1. 20-A MRSA §13452 is enacted to read:

§13452.__Accident and sickness or health insurance for

retired teachers not eligible for group plan

under section 13451

1.__Reimbursement for health insurance.__The State shall reimburse a portion of the accident and sickness or health insurance premiums for a retired teacher as defined in Title 5, section 17001, subsection 42 who is not eligible for a group plan under section 13451.

2.__Eligibility.__Any retired teacher who receives a retirement benefit from the Maine State Retirement System and who is not covered by the group plan under section 13451 is eligible to receive reimbursement pursuant to subsection 3 for a portion of that teacher's accident and sickness or health insurance premium.__A retired teacher must submit to the Department of Administrative and Financial Services proof of insurance and proof of payment to be eligible for reimbursement.

3.__Payment by State.__The State shall reimburse on a monthly basis the retired teacher for that teacher's accident and sickness or health insurance cost at a percent equal to the percent paid by the State pursuant to section 13451, subsection 3, but the total dollar amount may not exceed the maximum dollar amount paid for a person under a group plan in section 13451.

4.__Administration.__The Department of Administrative and Financial Services shall adopt rules governing the reimbursement of accident and sickness or health insurance premiums under this section.__Rules adopted pursuant to this subsection are routine technical rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A.

SUMMARY

This bill requires the State to reimburse the accident and sickness or health insurance coverage costs of retired teachers who are not eligible to participate in the group accident and sickness or health insurance plan for retired teachers at the same rate as the State contributes to accident and sickness or health insurance coverage of retired teachers under the group plan.