Code of Maryland Regulations › Title 17 - DEPARTMENT OF BUDGET AND MANAGEMENT › Subtitle 04 - OFFICE OF PERSONNEL SERVICES AND BENEFITS › Chapter 17.04.13 - State Employees' Health Benefits › Section 17.04.13.04 - Effective Dates for Eligible Persons

Current through Register Vol. 51, No. 14, July 12, 2024
A. Eligibility. Generally, each employee is eligible for coverage on the first scheduled working day. Each retired employee is eligible for coverage on the first day of retirement or the first day of election in accordance with §B(1)(a) of this regulation. Dependents of covered employees or retired employees are eligible on the date the employee or retired employee becomes eligible. Later acquired dependents become eligible on the date they become dependents of a covered employee or retired employee. Eligibility for the State subsidy may come at a date separate from and subsequent to eligibility for coverage in general.
B. Coverage.
(1) Eligible Employees Listed in Regulation .03A(1)-(8) of this Chapter.
(a) An eligible employee or retired employee shall apply for coverage for himself and eligible dependents within 60 days of the employment or retirement date by submitting to the appointing authority an application and payroll deduction authorization form for the coverage desired or shall wait for the annual open enrollment period unless otherwise indicated in §C of this regulation. The Salary Reduction Agreement may be combined with the electronic enrollment form completed by the employee (or the employee's representative) using the State's selected human capital management system. Coverage shall be effective in accordance with Eligibility Provisions. Coverage is purchased pretax on a prospective basis only in accordance with the State cafeteria plan adopted by the Department of Budget and Management in accordance with federal tax law. Employees will receive invoices for all outstanding coverage fees which are not satisfied through a payroll deduction; these amounts will not be on a pretax basis.
(b) Coverage for later acquired or newly eligible dependents of a covered employee or retired employee is obtained by submitting, in the case of an active employee, an electronic enrollment form completed by the employee (or the employee's representative) using the State's selected human capital management system or, in the case of a retired employee, an electronic enrollment form completed by the employee (or the employee's representative) using the State's selected human capital management system or an application to the Department of Budget and Management, within 60 days of the change in status. Coverage shall be effective in accordance with Eligibility Provisions. Coverage is purchased pretax on a prospective basis only in accordance with the State cafeteria plan adopted by the Department of Budget and Management in accordance with federal tax law. Employees will receive invoices for all outstanding coverage fees which are not satisfied through a payroll deduction; these amounts will not be on a pretax basis.
(c) A newborn child may be covered from birth when maternity benefits are provided. However, the employee shall make application within 60 days from the date of the child's birth to convert to an appropriate membership to provide coverage for the newborn child. Coverage for the newborn shall be effective on the date of birth provided the employee submits an electronic enrollment form completed by the employee (or the employee's representative) using the State's selected human capital management system within 60 days of the date of birth. Coverage is purchased pre-tax on a prospective basis only in accordance with the State cafeteria plan adopted by the Department of Budget and Management in accordance with federal tax law.