(A) A port authority created under section 4582.02 of the Revised Code may procure and pay all or any part of the cost of group hospitalization, surgical, major medical, sickness and accident insurance, or group life insurance, or a combination of any of the foregoing types of insurance or coverage for employees and their families, issued by an insurance company duly authorized to do business in this state.

(B) A port authority also may procure and pay all or any part of the cost of a plan of group hospitalization, surgical, major medical, or sickness and accident insurance with a health insuring corporation holding a certificate of authority under Chapter 1751. of the Revised Code, provided that each employee shall be permitted to:

(1) Exercise an option between a plan offered by an insurance company as provided in division (A) of this section and a plan offered by a health insuring corporation under this division, on the condition that the employee shall pay any amount by which the cost of the plan offered in this division exceeds the cost of the plan offered under division (A) of this section; and

(2) Change from one of the two plans to the other at a time each year as determined by the port authority.

(C) A port authority may procure or contract for any type of insurance authorized by division (A) or (B) of this section on its own or jointly as part of a group with one or more other governmental units or agencies to provide that insurance for the employees of the members of the group and their families. A port authority also may establish and maintain an individual or joint self-insurance program for hospitalization, surgical, major medical, or sickness and accident insurance.

Effective Date: 05-17-2000.