Illinois Administrative Code › Title 80 - PUBLIC OFFICIALS AND EMPLOYEES › Part 2170 - TEACHERS' RETIREMENT INSURANCE PROGRAM › Subpart A - PURPOSE AND DEFINITIONS › Section 2170.130 - Definitions

Current through Register Vol. 48, No. 28, July 12, 2024
Whenever used in this Part, the following terms shall have
				  the meanings set forth in this Section unless otherwise expressly provided, and
				  when the defined meaning is intended, the term is capitalized.
"Act" means the State Employees Group Insurance Act of 1971
				  [5 ILCS 375 ].
"Benefit Choice Period" means the annual benefit election
				  period (usually May 1 through May 31 each year).
"Certificate of Creditable Coverage" means a document that
				  indicates the length of time a person has been continuously covered under a
				  qualifying previous healthcare plan.
"COBRA" means the federal Consolidated Omnibus Budget
				  Reconciliation Act of 1985.
"Department" means any department, institution, board,
				  commission, officer, court or any agency of the State government receiving
				  appropriations and having power to certify payrolls to the Comptroller
				  authorizing payments of salary and wages against such appropriations as are
				  made by the General Assembly from any State fund, or against trust funds held
				  by the State Treasurer and includes boards of trustees of the retirement
				  systems created by Articles 2, 14, 15, 16 and 18 of the Illinois Pension Code.
				  "Department" also includes the Illinois Comprehensive Health Insurance Board,
				  the Board of Examiners established under the Illinois Public Accounting Act,
				  and the Illinois Finance Authority.
"CMS" means the Illinois Department of Central Management
				  Services.
"Director" means the Director of the Illinois Department of
				  Central Management Services or of any successor agency designated to administer
				  the Act.
"Fiscal Year" means the State's fiscal year from July 1
				  through June 30.
"Fund" means the Teacher Health Insurance Security
				  Fund.
"HFS" means the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family
				  Services.
"Participant" means a TRS Benefit Recipient and/or TRS
				  Dependent Beneficiary enrolled in the Teachers' Retirement Insurance
				  Program.
"Protected Health Information" or "PHI" means individually
				  indentifiable health information as defined in
				  45
				  CFR 160.103(2003) that is
				  subject to the protections of the Health Insurance Portability and
				  Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) (
				  P.L.
				  104-191 ).
"Plan Administrator" means an organization, company or other
				  entity contracted by the Department to review and approve benefit payments, pay
				  claims and perform other duties related to the administration of a specific
				  plan.
"Program" means the Teachers' Retirement Insurance Program,
				  as authorized by the State Employees Group Insurance Act of 1971.
"TCHP" means the Teachers' Choice Health Plan, the major
				  medical coverage program offered under the Teachers' Retirement Insurance
				  Program.
"TRIP" means the Teachers' Retirement Insurance Program, as
				  authorized by the Act.
"TRS" means the Teachers' Retirement System.
"TRS Benefit Recipient" means a person who is not a "member",
				  as defined in the Act and is receiving a monthly benefit or retirement annuity
				  under Article 16 of the Illinois Pension Code [40 ILCS 5 /Art. 16]; and:
has at least 8 years of creditable service under Article 16
				  of the Illinois Pension Code or was enrolled in the health insurance Program
				  offered under that Article on January 1, 1996; or
is the survivor of a Benefit Recipient who had at least 8
				  years of creditable service under Article 16 of the Illinois Pension Code or
				  was enrolled in the health insurance Program offered under that Article on June
				  21, 1995; or
is a recipient or survivor of a recipient of a disability
				  benefit under Article 16 of the Illinois Pension Code.
"TRS Dependent Beneficiary" means a person who is not a
				  "member" or "dependent" as defined in the Act, and is a:
TRS Benefit Recipient's spouse; or
dependent parent who is receiving at least half of his or her
				  support from the TRS Benefit Recipient; or
unmarried natural, step or adopted child who is under age 19;
				  or
enrolled as a full-time student in an accredited school,
				  financially dependent upon the TRS Benefit Recipient, eligible to be claimed as
				  a dependent for income tax purposes, and either is under age 24 or was, on
				  January 1, 1996, participating as a Dependent Beneficiary in the health
				  insurance Program offered under Article 16 of the Illinois Pension Code;
				  or
age 19 or over who is mentally or physically handicapped;
				  or
eligible for coverage pursuant to Section 356z.11 or 356z.12
				  of the Illinois Insurance Code [215 ILCS 5 ].