An Act Requiring the State to Pay a Share of a Retired State Employee's or Retired Teacher's Premium for Medicare Part B Under Medicare Advantage
Maine Legislature, Session 131, LD 0111
Committee: Labor and Housing
Sponsors: SHAGOURY, HICKMAN, ANKELES, BELL, BRIDGEO, HASENFUS, MADIGAN, MONTELL, WHITE
Amends: 5 MRSA §285, 20-A MRSA §13451

Legislative Document
No. 111
H.P. 79
House of Representatives, January 9, 2023
An Act Requiring the State to Pay a Share of a Retired State 
Employee's or Retired Teacher's Premium for Medicare Part B 
Under Medicare Advantage
Reference to the Committee on Labor and Housing suggested and ordered printed.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative SHAGOURY of Hallowell.
Cosponsored by Senator HICKMAN of Kennebec and
Representatives: ANKELES of Brunswick, BELL of Yarmouth, BRIDGEO of Augusta, 
HASENFUS of Readfield, LaROCHELLE of Augusta, MADIGAN of Waterville, MONTELL 
of Gardiner, WHITE of Waterville.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  5 MRSA §285, sub-§7, ¶M is enacted to read:
M.  Beginning January 1, 2024, the State, through the commission, shall pay a share of 
a retiree's Medicare Part B premium under the Medicare Advantage plan identified and 
offered by the commission and available to the retiree as authorized by the commission, 
if the retiree's base annual state pension is less than $75,000, adjusted for inflation, and 
the retiree is not eligible for federally approved Medicaid services, as follows.
(1) For a retiree whose base annual state pension benefit on or after January 1, 2024 
is projected to be less than or equal to the maximum amount of the retirement 
benefits that are subject to the cost-of-living adjustment under section 17806 being 
paid to retired state employees, the State shall pay 100% of the premium.
(2) For a retiree whose base annual state pension benefit on or after January 1, 2024 
is projected to be greater than the maximum amount of the retirement benefits that 
are subject to the cost-of-living adjustment under section 17806 being paid to 
retired state employees and less than or equal to $34,000, adjusted for inflation, the 
State shall pay 75% of the premium.
(3) For a retiree whose base annual state pension benefit on or after January 1, 2024 
is projected to be greater than $34,000, adjusted for inflation, and less than or equal 
to $44,000, adjusted for inflation, the State shall pay 60% of the premium.
(4) For a retiree whose base annual state pension benefit on or after January 1, 2024 
is projected to be greater than $44,000, adjusted for inflation, and less than or equal 
to $54,000, adjusted for inflation, the State shall pay 30% of the premium.
(5) For a retiree whose base annual state pension benefit on or after January 1, 2024 
is projected to be greater than $54,000, adjusted for inflation, and less than or equal 
to $64,000, adjusted for inflation, the State shall pay 15% of the premium.
(6) For a retiree whose base annual state pension benefit on or after January 1, 2024 
is projected to be greater than $64,000, adjusted for inflation, and less than 
$75,000, adjusted for inflation, the State shall pay 10% of the premium.
This paragraph does not apply to state retirees who are eligible for payment of 100% 
of their Medicare Part B premium due to their eligibility for Medicare arising through 
an agreement between the commission and the United States Department of Health and 
Human Services, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
Sec. 2.  20-A MRSA §13451, sub-§6 is enacted to read:
6.  Payment by State for Medicare Part B under Medicare Advantage.  Beginning 
July 1, 2024, the State shall pay a share of a retired teacher's Medicare Part B premium 
under the Medicare Advantage plan administered by the Maine Education Association 
benefits trust, if the retired teacher's base annual pension benefit is less than $75,000, 
adjusted for inflation, and the retired teacher is not eligible for federally approved Medicaid 
services, as follows.
A. For a retired teacher whose base annual state pension benefit on or after July 1, 2024 
is projected to be less than or equal to the maximum amount of the retirement benefits 
subject to the cost-of-living adjustment under Title 5, section 17806 being paid to 
retired teachers, the State shall pay 100% of the premium.
B. For a retired teacher whose base annual state pension benefit on or after July 1, 2024 
is projected to be greater than the maximum amount of the retirement benefits subject 
to the cost-of-living adjustment under Title 5, section 17806 being paid to retired 
teachers and less than or equal to $34,000, adjusted for inflation, the State shall pay 
75% of the premium.
C. For a retired teacher whose base annual state pension benefit on or after July 1, 2024 
is projected to be greater than $34,000, adjusted for inflation, and less than or equal to 
$44,000, adjusted for inflation, the State shall pay 60% of the premium.
D. For a retired teacher whose base annual state pension benefit on or after July 1, 2024 
is projected to be greater than $44,000, adjusted for inflation, and less than or equal to 
$54,000, adjusted for inflation, the State shall pay 30% of the premium.
E. For a retired teacher whose base annual state pension benefit on or after July 1, 2024 
is projected to be greater than $54,000, adjusted for inflation, and less than or equal to 
$64,000, adjusted for inflation, the State shall pay 15% of the premium.
F. For a retired teacher whose base annual state pension benefit on or after July 1, 2024 
is projected to be greater than $64,000, adjusted for inflation, and less than $75,000, 
adjusted for inflation, the State shall pay 10% of the premium.
SUMMARY
This bill requires the State to pay a share of a retired state employee's or retired teacher's 
Medicare Part B premium under a Medicare Advantage plan offered by the State if the 
retired state employee or retired teacher meets certain conditions.