(A) The board of trustees of the Ohio police and fire pension fund may enter into an agreement with insurance companies, health insuring corporations, or government agencies authorized to do business in the state for issuance of a policy or contract of health, medical, hospital, or surgical benefits, or any combination thereof, for those individuals receiving service or disability pensions or survivor benefits subscribing to the plan. Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, the policy or contract may also include coverage for any eligible individual's spouse and dependent children and for any of the eligible individual's sponsored dependents as the board considers appropriate.

If all or any portion of the policy or contract premium is to be paid by any individual receiving a service, disability, or survivor pension or benefit, the individual shall, by written authorization, instruct the board to deduct from the individual's benefit the premium agreed to be paid by the individual to the company, corporation, or agency.

The board may contract for coverage on the basis of part or all of the cost of the coverage to be paid from appropriate funds of the Ohio police and fire pension fund. The cost paid from the funds of the Ohio police and fire pension fund shall be included in the employer's contribution rates provided by sections 742.33 and 742.34 of the Revised Code.

The board may provide for self-insurance of risk or level of risk as set forth in the contract with the companies, corporations, or agencies, and may provide through the self-insurance method specific benefits as authorized by the rules of the board.

(B) Except as otherwise provided in this division, the board shall, beginning the month following receipt of satisfactory evidence of the payment for coverage, pay monthly to each recipient of service, disability, or survivor benefits under the Ohio police and fire pension fund who is eligible for coverage under part B of the medicare program established under Title XVIII of "The Social Security Amendments of 1965," 79 Stat. 301 (1965), 42 U.S.C.A. 1395j, as amended, an amount specified by the board or determined pursuant to a formula established by the board that is not less than ninety-six dollars and forty cents, for such coverage, except that the board shall not pay an amount that exceeds the amount paid by the recipient for the coverage.

The board shall pay not more than one monthly premium under this division to an eligible benefit recipient even if the recipient is receiving more than one monthly benefit from the fund. The board shall not pay a monthly premium under this division to an eligible benefit recipient who is receiving reimbursement for the premium from any other source.

(C) The board shall establish by rule requirements for the coordination of any coverage, payment, or benefit provided under this section with any similar coverage, payment, or benefit made available to the same individual by the public employees retirement system, state teachers retirement system, school employees retirement system, or state highway patrol retirement system.

(D) The board shall make all other necessary rules pursuant to the purpose and intent of this section.

Amended by 129th General AssemblyFile No.145, SB 340, §1, eff. 1/7/2013.

Effective Date: 10-01-2002; 2008 SB267 03-24-2009