2023 Maryland Statutes › State Personnel and Pensions › Division I - State Personnel › Title 2 - State Employment Generally › Subtitle 5 - Health and Welfare Benefits Program › Section 2-509 - Enrollment in Program -- Employees With Optional Retirement

(a)    (1)    This subsection applies to a retiree of an optional retirement program under Title 30 of this article who began service as an employee of the State in the Executive, Legislative, or Judicial Branch of government on or before June 30, 2011.
(2)    (i)    Subject to subparagraph (ii) of this paragraph, an individual may enroll and participate in the health insurance benefit options established under the Program if the individual retired under an optional program under Title 30 of this article and:
1.    ended service with a State institution of higher education with at least 10 years of service and was at least age 57;
2.    ended service with a State institution of higher education with at least 16 years of service; or
3.    retired directly from and had at least 5 years of service with a State institution of higher education with a periodic distribution of benefits on or after July 1, 1984.
(ii)    1.    For purposes of this subsection only, years of service shall be calculated as follows:
A.    except as provided in subsubparagraph 2 of this subparagraph, a year of service means a period of 12 months during which an employee was a participant in an optional retirement program under Title 30 of this article and the participant’s employer made contributions to the participant’s account in the Program; or
B.    if an employee’s work year is an academic year of at least 9 but less than 12 months, a year of service means a period equal to the academic year during which an employee was a participant in an optional retirement program under Title 30 of this article and the participant’s employer made contributions to the participant’s account in the Program.
2.    To determine eligibility for health insurance benefits under this section, each year of service shall be multiplied by the participant’s percentage of full–time employment for that year of service.
(iii)    The surviving spouse or dependent child of a deceased individual who was eligible to enroll may enroll and participate in the health insurance benefit options established under the Program as long as the spouse or child is receiving a periodic distribution of benefits under an optional retirement program under Title 30 of this article.
(3)    (i)    An enrollee under this section who was in service with a State institution of higher education at the time of the retirement is entitled to the same State subsidy allowed a retiree under § 2–508(b)(4) of this subtitle. However, except as provided in subparagraph (ii) of this paragraph, the subsidy shall apply only to the costs of coverage for the enrollee and may not apply to any additional costs of coverage for the enrollee’s spouse or children.
(ii)    If the enrollee has 25 or more years of service as an employee of the State in the Executive, Legislative, or Judicial Branch of government, the enrollee or the enrollee’s surviving spouse or dependent child is entitled to the same State subsidy allowed a retiree with 16 or more years of creditable service under § 2–508(b)(4)(i) of this subtitle.
(b)    (1)    This subsection applies to a retiree of an optional retirement program under Title 30 of this article who begins service as an employee of the State in the Executive, Legislative, or Judicial Branch of government on or after July 1, 2011.
(2)    (i)    Subject to subparagraph (ii) of this paragraph, an individual may enroll and participate in the health insurance benefit options established under the Program if the individual retired under an optional program under Title 30 of this article and:
1.    ended service with a State institution of higher education with at least 10 years of service and was at least age 57;
2.    ended service with a State institution of higher education with at least 25 years of service; or
3.    retired directly from and had at least 10 years of service with a State institution of higher education with a periodic distribution of benefits on or after July 1, 2011.
(ii)    1.    For purposes of this paragraph only, years of service shall be calculated as follows:
A.    except as provided in subsubparagraph 2 of this subparagraph, a year of service means a period of 12 months during which an employee was a participant in an optional retirement program under Title 30 of this article and the participant’s employer made contributions to the participant’s account in the Program; or
B.    if an employee’s work year is an academic year of at least 9 but less than 12 months, a year of service means a period equal to the academic year during which an employee was a participant in an optional retirement program under Title 30 of this article and the participant’s employer made contributions to the participant’s account in the Program.
2.    To determine eligibility for health insurance benefits under this section, each year of service shall be multiplied by the participant’s percentage of full–time employment for that year of service.
(iii)    The surviving spouse or dependent child of a deceased individual who was eligible to enroll may enroll and participate in the health insurance benefit options established under the Program as long as the spouse or child is receiving a periodic distribution of benefits under an optional retirement program under Title 30 of this article.
(3)    (i)    An enrollee under this subsection who was in service with a State institution of higher education at the time of the retirement is entitled to the same State subsidy allowed a retiree under § 2–508(c)(4) of this subtitle. However, except as provided in subparagraph (ii) of this paragraph, the subsidy shall apply only to the costs of coverage for the enrollee and may not apply to any additional costs of coverage for the enrollee’s spouse or children.
(ii)    If the enrollee has 25 or more years of service as an employee of the State in the Executive, Legislative, or Judicial Branch of government, the enrollee or the enrollee’s surviving spouse or dependent child is entitled to the same State subsidy allowed a retiree with 25 or more years of creditable service under § 2–508(c)(4)(i) of this subtitle.