51.1-1405 - Participation in the state retiree health benefits program.
§ 51.1-1405. Participation in the state retiree health benefits program.
A. As used in this section, unless the context requires a different meaning:
"Involuntarily separated" means separated from state service as the resultof any dismissal, requested resignation, or failure to obtain reappointment,excluding a separation resulting from a conviction for a felony or crimeinvolving moral turpitude or dishonesty or a separation related to the jobperformance or misconduct of the state employee.
"Retiree health benefits program" or "program" means the plan forproviding health insurance coverage for retired state employees providedpursuant to subsection E of § 2.2-2818.
"State employee" means the same as that term is defined in § 2.2-2818.
"State retiree" means a state employee retired under the VirginiaRetirement System, State Police Officers' Retirement System, JudicialRetirement System, Virginia Law Officers' Retirement System, or anyretirement system authorized pursuant to § 51.1-126, who is eligible toreceive a monthly retirement annuity from that retirement system.
B. A state retiree shall be eligible to participate in the retiree healthbenefits program only if he makes an election to participate in the programwithin thirty-one days following the date of termination of employment withthe Commonwealth. A retired state employee who fails to elect to participatein the state health plan within thirty-one days of the effective date ofretirement, or who, once having elected to participate, discontinuesparticipation, is barred from participating in the state health planthereafter.
C. Any state retiree who was involuntarily separated who on July 1, 1999, isparticipating in the retiree health benefits program and is receiving monthlyretirement annuity payments may elect, by notifying the Virginia RetirementSystem and the Department of Human Resource Management before September 1,1999, to cease receiving monthly retirement annuity payments until reapplyingfor such benefits at a later date and to continue participation in theretiree health benefits program.
(1999, cc. 980, 984, § 2.1-20.1:6; 2000, cc. 66, 657, 911; 2001, c. 844.)