(a) Authority.--The board may sponsor a participant-funded group health insurance program for annuitants, participants receiving distributions, spouses of annuitants and participants receiving distributions, survivor annuitants and their dependents. The board may promulgate regulations regarding the prudent and efficient operation of the program, including, but not limited to:
(1) Establishment of an annual budget and disbursements in accordance with the budget.
(2) Determination of the benefits structure.
(3) Determination of enrollment procedures.
(4) Establishment of premium rates sufficient to fully fund the program, including administrative expenses.
(5) Contracting for goods, equipment, services, consultants and other professional personnel as needed to operate the program.
(b) Separate account.--All funds related to the health insurance program shall be maintained and accounted for separately from the Public School Employees' Retirement Fund.
(c) Operation.--The board may establish and operate the program through a lawfully authorized entity.
(d) Additional requirements.--The assets of the fund shall not be liable or utilized for payment of any expenses or claims incurred by the health insurance program. The program shall be an approved health insurance program for purposes of section 8505(i) (relating to duties of board regarding applications and elections of members) and an approved insurance carrier for purposes of section 8509 (relating to health insurance premium assistance program). The program shall not be subject to the provisions of section 8531 (relating to State guarantee).
(May 17, 2001, P.L.26, No.9; June 12, 2017, P.L.11, No.5, eff. imd.)
2017 Amendment. Act 5 amended subsec. (a).
2001 Amendment. Act 9 added section 8502.2. Section 39(4) of Act 9 provided that section 8502.2 shall take effect upon publication of the notice under section 25 of Act 9. See section 25 of Act 9 in the appendix to this title for special provisions relating to notice of impaired authority over health insurance.
Structure Pennsylvania Consolidated & Unconsolidated Statutes
Pennsylvania Consolidated & Unconsolidated Statutes
Chapter 85 - Administration and Miscellaneous Provisions
Section 8501 - Public School Employees' Retirement Board
Section 8502 - Administrative duties of board
Section 8502.1 - Health insurance (Deleted by amendment)
Section 8502.2 - Health insurance
Section 8503 - Duties of board to advise and report to employers, members and participants
Section 8504 - Duties of board to report to State Employees' Retirement Board
Section 8505 - Duties of board regarding applications and elections of members and participants
Section 8505.1 - Installment payments of accumulated deductions
Section 8506 - Duties of employers
Section 8507 - Rights and duties of school employees, members and participants
Section 8508 - Rights and duties of annuitants
Section 8509 - Health insurance premium assistance program
Section 8510 - Stress test of system
Section 8521 - Management of fund and accounts
Section 8522 - Public School Employees' Retirement Fund
Section 8523 - Members' savings account
Section 8524 - State accumulation account
Section 8525 - Annuity reserve account
Section 8526 - Health insurance account
Section 8527 - Northern Ireland-related investments
Section 8531 - State guarantee regarding the system
Section 8532 - State supervision
Section 8533 - Taxation, attachment and assignment of funds
Section 8533.1 - Approval of domestic relations orders
Section 8533.2 - Irrevocable beneficiary
Section 8533.3 - Irrevocable survivor annuitant
Section 8533.4 - Amendment of approved domestic relations orders
Section 8533.5 - Irrevocable successor payee
Section 8534 - Fraud and adjustment of errors
Section 8535 - Payments to school entities by Commonwealth
Section 8536 - Independent Fiscal Office study
Section 8537 - Internal Revenue Code limitations
Section 8538 - Public Pension Management and Asset Investment Review Commission
Section 8544 - Participation criteria