(A) As used in this section, "health care coverage" means sickness and accident insurance or other coverage of hospitalization, surgical care, major medical care, disability, dental care, eye care, medical care, hearing aids, and prescription drugs or any combination of those benefits or services.
(B) The board of county commissioners, after consultation with the judges of the county court, shall negotiate and contract for, purchase, or otherwise procure group health care coverage for the judges and their spouses and dependents from insurance companies authorized to engage in the business of insurance in this state under Title XXXIX [39] of the Revised Code or health insuring corporations organized under Chapter 1751. of the Revised Code, except that, if the county provides group health care coverage for its employees, the group health care coverage required by this section shall be provided, if possible, through the policy or plan under which the group health care coverage is provided for the county employees.
(C) The portion of the costs, premiums, or charges for the group health care coverage procured pursuant to division (B) of this section that is not paid by the judges of the county court, or all of the costs, premiums, or charges for the group health care coverage if the judges will not be paying any portion of those costs, premiums, or charges, shall be paid out of the county treasury.
Effective Date: 03-22-1999 .