Sec. 79.

(1) A former qualified participant may elect health insurance benefits in the manner prescribed in this section if he or she meets both of the following requirements:

(a) The former qualified participant is vested in health benefits under section 75(2).

(b) The former qualified participant meets 1 of the following requirements:

(i) He or she meets or exceeds the benefit commencement age employed in the actuarial present value calculation under section 62 and the service requirements that would have applied to that former participant under Tier 1 for receiving health insurance coverage under section 50b, if that former participant was a member of Tier 1.

(ii) He or she is 55 years of age or older.

(2) A former qualified participant who is eligible to elect health insurance coverage under subsection (1) may elect health insurance coverage in a health benefit plan or plans as authorized by section 50b. A former qualified participant who is eligible to elect health insurance coverage under subsection (1) may also elect health insurance coverage for his or her health benefit dependents, if any. A surviving health benefit dependent of a deceased former qualified participant who is eligible to elect health insurance coverage under subsection (1) may elect health insurance coverage to begin at the death of the deceased former qualified participant in the manner prescribed in this section.

(3) An individual who elects health insurance coverage under this section shall become a member of a health insurance coverage group authorized pursuant to section 50b.

(4) For a former qualified participant who is eligible to elect health insurance coverage under subsection (1) and who is vested in those benefits under section 75(2)(a) or (c), and for his or her health benefit dependents, this state shall pay a portion of the health insurance premium as calculated under this subsection on a cash disbursement method. An individual described in this subsection who elects health insurance coverage under this section shall pay to the retirement system the remaining portion of the health insurance coverage premium not paid by this state under this subsection. The portion of the health insurance coverage premium paid by this state under this subsection shall be 90% of the payments for health insurance coverage under section 50b. If the individual elects the health insurance coverage provided under section 50b, this state shall transfer its portion of the amount calculated under this subsection to the health insurance fund created by section 22c.

(5) For a former qualified participant who is eligible to elect health insurance coverage under subsection (1) and who is vested in those benefits under section 75(2)(b), and for his or her health benefit dependents, this state shall pay a portion of the health insurance premium as calculated under this subsection on a cash disbursement method. An individual described in this subsection who elects health insurance coverage under this section shall pay to the retirement system the remaining portion of the health insurance coverage premium not paid by this state under this subsection. The portion of the health insurance coverage premium paid by this state under this subsection shall be equal to the premium amounts paid on behalf of retirants of Tier 1 for health insurance coverage under section 50b. If the individual elects the health insurance coverage provided under section 50b, the state shall transfer its portion of the amount calculated under this subsection to the health insurance fund created by section 22c.

(6) If the department of technology, management, and budget receives notification from the United States internal revenue service that this section or any portion of this section will cause the retirement system to be disqualified for tax purposes under the internal revenue code, then the portion that will cause the disqualification does not apply.

(7) A former qualified participant who does not meet the vesting requirements of section 75(2) is not eligible for health insurance benefits under this act.

History: Add. 1996, Act 486, Eff. Mar. 31, 1997 ;-- Am. 1998, Act 501, Imd. Eff. Jan. 5, 1999 ;-- Am. 2006, Act 614, Imd. Eff. Jan. 3, 2007 ;-- Am. 2011, Act 200, Imd. Eff. Oct. 18, 2011 Compiler's Notes: Section 2 of Act 486 of 1996 provides:“Section 2. If any section or part of a section of this act is for any reason held to be invalid or unconstitutional, the holding does not affect the validity of the remaining sections of this act or the act in its entirety.”