HB 943 — STATE EMPLOYEES-TECH

HB0943 EngrossedEnrolled LRB093 05764 RCE 05857 b AN ACT in relation to Statepublic employees.employee benefits.

The State Employees Group Insurance Act of 1971 is amended by changing Section 18 as follows:

(5 ILCS 375/1)375/8) (from Ch.

521)528) Sec.

1.8.

____________Eligibility. This Act s-------------n----- may be cited as the "-State Employees Group Insurance Act of 1971" -.

(Source:(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, HB0943 Enrolled -2- LRB093 05764 RCE 05857 b 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 coverages or benefits, if elected during the relevant eligibility period, will become effective on the date of employment.

Optional 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.

_x_____________________p_____________________ 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 HB0943 Enrolled -3- LRB093 05764 RCE 05857 b 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 HB0943 Enrolled -4- LRB093 05764 RCE 05857 b be included in the annual benefit choice options booklets furnished to members.

_e_____________________a______________________f_____________ _____u_____________________i______________________p_____________ _____h_____________________b______________________e_____________ _____i_____________________s________________________p___________ _____,_____________________b______________________o_____________ _____q_____________________t______________________t_____________ _____c_____________________n______________________s_____________ _____r_____________________p_______________________a____________ _____d_____ _n_____________________w______________________t_____________ _____d______________________t______________________b____________ _____l_____________________u______________________n_____________ _____e______________________s_____________________g_____________ _____s_____________________U______________________C_____________ _____n_____________________a______________________s_____________ _____r_____________________s__ __p______________________p______________________p___________ _____h_____________________e______________________s_____________ _____r_____________________d______________________t_____________ _____q_______________________t____________________d_____________ _____o_____________________r______________________s_____________ _____r_____________________h______________________i_____________ _____i_____________________k______________________e____ (Source:

77-476.)91-390, eff.

7-30-99;

92-600, eff.

6-28-02.) Section 99.

Effective date.

This Act takes effect upon becoming law.