167-A - Reimbursement for medicare premium charges.
§ 167-a. Reimbursement for medicare premium charges. Upon exclusion from the coverage of the health benefit plan of supplementary medical insurance benefits for which an active or retired employee or a dependent covered by the health benefit plan is or would be eligible under the federal old-age, survivors and disability insurance program, an amount equal to the premium charge for such supplementary medical insurance benefits for such active or retired employee and his or her dependents, if any, shall be paid monthly or at other intervals to such active or retired employee from the health insurance fund. Where appropriate, such amount may be deducted from contributions payable by the employee or retired employee; or where appropriate in the case of a retired employee receiving a retirement allowance, such amount may be included with payments of his or her retirement allowance. All state employer, employee, retired employee and dependent contributions to the health insurance fund shall be adjusted as necessary to cover the cost of reimbursing federal old-age, survivors and disability insurance program premium charges under this section. This cost shall be included in the calculation of premium or subscription charges for health coverage provided to state employees and retired state employees; provided, however, the state shall remain obligated to pay no less than its share of such increased cost consistent with its share of premium or subscription charges provided for by this article. All other employer contributions to the health insurance fund shall be adjusted as necessary to provide for such payments.