{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/51.1-1401.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/51.1-1401.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/51.1-1401.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/51.1-1401.html"}],"law_id":71866,"edition_id":1,"section_id":71866,"structure_id":13212,"section_number":"51.1-1401","catch_line":"Health insurance credits for retired teachers","history":"1992, c. 770, \u00a7 2.1-20.1:3; 1993, cc. 743, 938; 1995, cc. 612, 734; 1996, c. 764; 1998, cc. 195, 676; 1999, cc. 832, 980, 984; 2000, c. 911; 2001, c. 844; 2004, c. 84; 2007, cc. 866, 921; 2009, c. 23; 2011, c. 722; 2012, cc. 701, 823.","full_text":"A\n\nA teacher, as defined in § 51.1-124.3, retired under the Virginia Retirement System, including the hybrid retirement program described in § 51.1-169, and any employee retired under a defined contribution plan pursuant to § 51.1-126.6, who rendered at least 15 years of total creditable service under the System or plan shall receive a health insurance credit to his monthly retirement allowance, which shall be applied to reduce the retired member’s health insurance premium cost. The amount of each monthly health insurance credit payable under this section shall be $4 for each full year of the retired member’s creditable service; however, each former member whose retirement was for disability, any employee participant pursuant to § 51.1-126.6 receiving long-term disability, a participant receiving long-term disability pursuant to § 51.1-1157 or 51.1-1165, or a member of the hybrid retirement program receiving long-term disability pursuant to coverage under subsection A of § 51.1-1153 shall receive a monthly health insurance credit of $4 multiplied by the smaller of (i) twice the amount of his creditable service or (ii) the amount of creditable service he would have completed at age 60 if he had remained in service to that age. Eligibility for the credit shall be determined in a manner prescribed by the Virginia Retirement System. Any member who elects to defer his retirement pursuant to subsection C of § 51.1-153 shall be entitled to receive the allowable credit provided by this section on the effective date of his retirement.B\n\nThose retired employees who purchase an alternative personal health insurance policy from a carrier or organization of their own choosing shall be eligible to receive a credit in the amount specified in subsection D. Eligibility for the credit and payment of the credit shall be determined in a manner prescribed by the Virginia Retirement System.C\n\nThe credit shall be in (i) the amount provided in subsection A or (ii) the amount of premium paid for the personal health insurance policy, whichever is less.D\n\nAny person included in the membership of a retirement system provided by Chapter 1 (§ 51.1-124.1 et seq.), 2 (§ 51.1-200 et seq.), 2.1 (§ 51.1-211 et seq.), or 3 (§ 51.1-300 et seq.) who (i) rendered at least 15 years of total creditable service as a teacher as defined in § 51.1-124.3 and (ii) after terminating service as a teacher, was employed by a local government that does not elect to provide a health insurance credit under § 51.1-1402, shall be eligible for the credit provided by subsection A and subsection B if provided by the school division from which the service described in clause (i) was rendered, provided that the retired employee is participating in a health insurance plan. The Commonwealth and local school division, if appropriate, shall be charged with the credit as provided for in subsection E. In such case, the health insurance credit shall be determined based upon the amount of state service or service as a teacher, whichever is greater.E\n\nThe Virginia Retirement System shall (i) actuarially determine the amount necessary to fund all credits provided under this section; (ii) reflect the cost of such credits in the applicable employer contribution rate pursuant to §§ 51.1-145, 51.1-204, and 51.1-304; and (iii) prescribe such terms and conditions as are necessary to carry out the provisions of this section. The costs associated with the administration of the health insurance program provided for in this section shall be recovered from the health insurance credit trust fund.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":258922,"text":"A teacher, as defined in § 51.1-124.3, retired under the Virginia Retirement System, including the hybrid retirement program described in § 51.1-169, and any employee retired under a defined contribution plan pursuant to § 51.1-126.6, who rendered at least 15 years of total creditable service under the System or plan shall receive a health insurance credit to his monthly retirement allowance, which shall be applied to reduce the retired member’s health insurance premium cost. The amount of each monthly health insurance credit payable under this section shall be $4 for each full year of the retired member’s creditable service; however, each former member whose retirement was for disability, any employee participant pursuant to § 51.1-126.6 receiving long-term disability, a participant receiving long-term disability pursuant to § 51.1-1157 or 51.1-1165, or a member of the hybrid retirement program receiving long-term disability pursuant to coverage under subsection A of § 51.1-1153 shall receive a monthly health insurance credit of $4 multiplied by the smaller of (i) twice the amount of his creditable service or (ii) the amount of creditable service he would have completed at age 60 if he had remained in service to that age. Eligibility for the credit shall be determined in a manner prescribed by the Virginia Retirement System. Any member who elects to defer his retirement pursuant to subsection C of § 51.1-153 shall be entitled to receive the allowable credit provided by this section on the effective date of his retirement.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":258923,"text":"Those retired employees who purchase an alternative personal health insurance policy from a carrier or organization of their own choosing shall be eligible to receive a credit in the amount specified in subsection D. Eligibility for the credit and payment of the credit shall be determined in a manner prescribed by the Virginia Retirement System.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"C"},"2":{"id":258924,"text":"The credit shall be in (i) the amount provided in subsection A or (ii) the amount of premium paid for the personal health insurance policy, whichever is less.","type":"section","prefixes":["C"],"prefix":"C","entire_prefix":"C","prefix_anchor":"C","level":1,"prior_prefix":"B","next_prefix":"D"},"3":{"id":258925,"text":"Any person included in the membership of a retirement system provided by Chapter 1 (§ 51.1-124.1 et seq.), 2 (§ 51.1-200 et seq.), 2.1 (§ 51.1-211 et seq.), or 3 (§ 51.1-300 et seq.) who (i) rendered at least 15 years of total creditable service as a teacher as defined in § 51.1-124.3 and (ii) after terminating service as a teacher, was employed by a local government that does not elect to provide a health insurance credit under § 51.1-1402, shall be eligible for the credit provided by subsection A and subsection B if provided by the school division from which the service described in clause (i) was rendered, provided that the retired employee is participating in a health insurance plan. The Commonwealth and local school division, if appropriate, shall be charged with the credit as provided for in subsection E. In such case, the health insurance credit shall be determined based upon the amount of state service or service as a teacher, whichever is greater.","type":"section","prefixes":["D"],"prefix":"D","entire_prefix":"D","prefix_anchor":"D","level":1,"prior_prefix":"C","next_prefix":"E"},"4":{"id":258926,"text":"The Virginia Retirement System shall (i) actuarially determine the amount necessary to fund all credits provided under this section; (ii) reflect the cost of such credits in the applicable employer contribution rate pursuant to §§ 51.1-145, 51.1-204, and 51.1-304; and (iii) prescribe such terms and conditions as are necessary to carry out the provisions of this section. The costs associated with the administration of the health insurance program provided for in this section shall be recovered from the health insurance credit trust fund.","type":"section","prefixes":["E"],"prefix":"E","entire_prefix":"E","prefix_anchor":"E","level":1,"prior_prefix":"D"}},"ancestry":[{"id":13212,"edition_id":1,"name":"Health Insurance Credits for Certain Retirees","identifier":"14","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12947,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:27","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:27","permalink":{"id":235875,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13212,"identifier":"14","token":"51.1\/14","url":"\/51.1\/14\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12947,"edition_id":1,"name":"Pensions, Benefits, and Retirement","identifier":"51.1","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:04","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:04","permalink":{"id":235029,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12947,"identifier":"51.1","token":"51.1","url":"\/51.1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":75331,"structure_id":13212,"section_number":"51.1-1400","catch_line":"Health insurance credits for retired state employees","url":"\/51.1-1400\/","token":"51.1\/14\/51.1-1400","metadata":false},{"id":71866,"structure_id":13212,"section_number":"51.1-1401","catch_line":"Health insurance credits for retired teachers","url":"\/51.1-1401\/","token":"51.1\/14\/51.1-1401","metadata":false},{"id":61234,"structure_id":13212,"section_number":"51.1-1402","catch_line":"Health insurance credits for retired local government employees","url":"\/51.1-1402\/","token":"51.1\/14\/51.1-1402","metadata":false},{"id":84044,"structure_id":13212,"section_number":"51.1-1402.1","catch_line":"Health insurance credits for retired school division employees other than teachers","url":"\/51.1-1402.1\/","token":"51.1\/14\/51.1-1402.1","metadata":false},{"id":54220,"structure_id":13212,"section_number":"51.1-1403","catch_line":"Health insurance credits for retired constitutional officers, employees of constitutional officers, general registrars, employees of general registrars, and local social service employees","url":"\/51.1-1403\/","token":"51.1\/14\/51.1-1403","metadata":false},{"id":73288,"structure_id":13212,"section_number":"51.1-1404","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/51.1-1404\/","token":"51.1\/14\/51.1-1404","metadata":false},{"id":63381,"structure_id":13212,"section_number":"51.1-1405","catch_line":"Participation in the state retiree health benefits program","url":"\/51.1-1405\/","token":"51.1\/14\/51.1-1405","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":75331,"structure_id":13212,"section_number":"51.1-1400","catch_line":"Health insurance credits for retired state employees","url":"\/51.1-1400\/","token":"51.1\/14\/51.1-1400","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":61234,"structure_id":13212,"section_number":"51.1-1402","catch_line":"Health insurance credits for retired local government employees","url":"\/51.1-1402\/","token":"51.1\/14\/51.1-1402","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/51.1-1401\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 1992. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 770 of that year\u2019s edition of \u201cActs of Assembly,\u201d the annual state publication listing all changes made to the Code of Virginia in that year. Unfortunately, the 1992 \u201cActs\u201d aren\u2019t available online. It has been modified 12 times. Those modifications are cataloged by \u201cThe Acts of Assembly,\u201d a state publication, by year and chapter. Those modifications that can be read on the General Assembly\u2019s website will be linked accordingly. Those modifications are as follows: in 1993, chapters 743 and 938; in 1995, chapters 612<\/a> and 734<\/a>; in 1996, chapter 764<\/a>; in 1998, chapters 195<\/a> and 676<\/a>; in 1999, chapters 832<\/a>, 980<\/a>, and 984<\/a>; in 2000, chapter 911<\/a>; in 2001, chapter 844<\/a>; in 2004, chapter 84<\/a>; in 2007, chapters 866<\/a> and 921<\/a>; in 2009, chapter 23<\/a>; in 2011, chapter 722<\/a>; in 2012, chapters 701<\/a> and 823<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":75331,"section_number":"51.1-1400","catch_line":"Health insurance credits for retired state employees","order_by":null,"url":"\/51.1-1400\/"}],"refers_to":[{"id":58048,"section_number":"51.1-1153","catch_line":"Participation in the program","order_by":null,"url":"\/51.1-1153\/"},{"id":76755,"section_number":"51.1-1157","catch_line":"Long-term disability benefit","order_by":null,"url":"\/51.1-1157\/"},{"id":55822,"section_number":"51.1-1165","catch_line":"Supplemental long-term disability benefit","order_by":null,"url":"\/51.1-1165\/"},{"id":68506,"section_number":"51.1-124.1","catch_line":"Virginia Retirement System established","order_by":null,"url":"\/51.1-124.1\/"},{"id":70634,"section_number":"51.1-124.3","catch_line":"Definitions","order_by":null,"url":"\/51.1-124.3\/"},{"id":86163,"section_number":"51.1-126.6","catch_line":"Certain employees of public school divisions","order_by":null,"url":"\/51.1-126.6\/"},{"id":61234,"section_number":"51.1-1402","catch_line":"Health insurance credits for retired local government employees","order_by":null,"url":"\/51.1-1402\/"},{"id":62951,"section_number":"51.1-145","catch_line":"Employer contributions","order_by":null,"url":"\/51.1-145\/"},{"id":85181,"section_number":"51.1-153","catch_line":"Service retirement","order_by":null,"url":"\/51.1-153\/"},{"id":83100,"section_number":"51.1-169","catch_line":"Hybrid retirement program","order_by":null,"url":"\/51.1-169\/"},{"id":54259,"section_number":"51.1-200","catch_line":"State Police Officers' Retirement System continued; administration; application of provisions of Virginia Retirement System","order_by":null,"url":"\/51.1-200\/"},{"id":83295,"section_number":"51.1-204","catch_line":"Contributions by Commonwealth","order_by":null,"url":"\/51.1-204\/"},{"id":74746,"section_number":"51.1-211","catch_line":"Virginia Law Officers' Retirement System; application of provisions of Virginia Retirement System","order_by":null,"url":"\/51.1-211\/"},{"id":73479,"section_number":"51.1-300","catch_line":"Judicial Retirement System continued; administration; application of provisions of Virginia Retirement System","order_by":null,"url":"\/51.1-300\/"},{"id":74635,"section_number":"51.1-304","catch_line":"Contributions by Commonwealth","order_by":null,"url":"\/51.1-304\/"}],"permalink":{"id":235881,"object_type":"law","relational_id":71866,"identifier":"51.1-1401","token":"51.1\/14\/51.1-1401","url":"\/51.1-1401\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/51.1-1401\/","token":"51.1\/14\/51.1-1401","dublin_core":{"Title":"Health insurance credits for retired teachers","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 51.1-1401","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> A teacher, as defined in § 51.1-124.3<\/a>, retired under the Virginia Retirement System, including the hybrid retirement program described in § 51.1-169<\/a>, and any employee retired under a defined contribution plan pursuant to § 51.1-126.6<\/a>, who rendered at least 15 years of total creditable service under the System or plan shall receive a health insurance credit to his monthly retirement allowance, which shall be applied to reduce the retired member’s health insurance premium cost. The amount of each monthly health insurance credit payable under this section shall be $4 for each full year of the retired member’s creditable service; however, each former member whose retirement was for disability, any employee participant pursuant to § 51.1-126.6<\/a> receiving long-term disability, a participant receiving long-term disability pursuant to § 51.1-1157<\/a> or 51.1-1165<\/a>, or a member of the hybrid retirement program receiving long-term disability pursuant to coverage under subsection A of § 51.1-1153<\/a> shall receive a monthly health insurance credit of $4 multiplied by the smaller of (i) twice the amount of his creditable service or (ii) the amount of creditable service he would have completed at age 60 if he had remained in service to that age. Eligibility for the credit shall be determined in a manner prescribed by the Virginia Retirement System. Any member who elects to defer his retirement pursuant to subsection C of § 51.1-153<\/a> shall be entitled to receive the allowable credit provided by this section on the effective date of his retirement. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> Those retired employees who purchase an alternative personal health insurance policy from a carrier or organization of their own choosing shall be eligible to receive a credit in the amount specified in subsection D. Eligibility for the credit and payment of the credit shall be determined in a manner prescribed by the Virginia Retirement System. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

C.<\/span> The credit shall be in (i) the amount provided in subsection A or (ii) the amount of premium paid for the personal health insurance policy, whichever is less. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

D.<\/span> Any person included in the membership of a retirement system provided by Chapter 1 (§ 51.1-124.1<\/a> et seq.), 2 (§ 51.1-200<\/a> et seq.), 2.1 (§ 51.1-211<\/a> et seq.), or 3 (§ 51.1-300<\/a> et seq.) who (i) rendered at least 15 years of total creditable service as a teacher as defined in § 51.1-124.3<\/a> and (ii) after terminating service as a teacher, was employed by a local government that does not elect to provide a health insurance credit under § 51.1-1402<\/a>, shall be eligible for the credit provided by subsection A and subsection B if provided by the school division from which the service described in clause (i) was rendered, provided that the retired employee is participating in a health insurance plan. The Commonwealth and local school division, if appropriate, shall be charged with the credit as provided for in subsection E. In such case, the health insurance credit shall be determined based upon the amount of state service or service as a teacher, whichever is greater. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

E.<\/span> The Virginia Retirement System shall (i) actuarially determine the amount necessary to fund all credits provided under this section; (ii) reflect the cost of such credits in the applicable employer contribution rate pursuant to §§ 51.1-145<\/a>, 51.1-204<\/a>, and 51.1-304<\/a>; and (iii) prescribe such terms and conditions as are necessary to carry out the provisions of this section. The costs associated with the administration of the health insurance program provided for in this section shall be recovered from the health insurance credit trust fund. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nHEALTH INSURANCE CREDITS FOR RETIRED TEACHERS (\u00a7 51.1-1401)\n\nA. A teacher, as defined in § 51.1-124.3, retired under the Virginia\nRetirement System, including the hybrid retirement program described in §\n51.1-169, and any employee retired under a defined contribution plan pursuant to\n§ 51.1-126.6, who rendered at least 15 years of total creditable service\nunder the System or plan shall receive a health insurance credit to his monthly\nretirement allowance, which shall be applied to reduce the retired\nmember’s health insurance premium cost. The amount of each monthly health\ninsurance credit payable under this section shall be $4 for each full year of\nthe retired member’s creditable service; however, each former member whose\nretirement was for disability, any employee participant pursuant to §\n51.1-126.6 receiving long-term disability, a participant receiving long-term\ndisability pursuant to § 51.1-1157 or 51.1-1165, or a member of the hybrid\nretirement program receiving long-term disability pursuant to coverage under\nsubsection A of § 51.1-1153 shall receive a monthly health insurance credit\nof $4 multiplied by the smaller of (i) twice the amount of his creditable\nservice or (ii) the amount of creditable service he would have completed at age\n60 if he had remained in service to that age. Eligibility for the credit shall\nbe determined in a manner prescribed by the Virginia Retirement System. Any\nmember who elects to defer his retirement pursuant to subsection C of §\n51.1-153 shall be entitled to receive the allowable credit provided by this\nsection on the effective date of his retirement.\n\nB. Those retired employees who purchase an alternative personal health insurance\npolicy from a carrier or organization of their own choosing shall be eligible to\nreceive a credit in the amount specified in subsection D. Eligibility for the\ncredit and payment of the credit shall be determined in a manner prescribed by\nthe Virginia Retirement System.\n\nC. The credit shall be in (i) the amount provided in subsection A or (ii) the\namount of premium paid for the personal health insurance policy, whichever is\nless.\n\nD. Any person included in the membership of a retirement system provided by\nChapter 1 (§ 51.1-124.1 et seq.), 2 (§ 51.1-200 et seq.), 2.1 (§\n51.1-211 et seq.), or 3 (§ 51.1-300 et seq.) who (i) rendered at least 15\nyears of total creditable service as a teacher as defined in § 51.1-124.3\nand (ii) after terminating service as a teacher, was employed by a local\ngovernment that does not elect to provide a health insurance credit under §\n51.1-1402, shall be eligible for the credit provided by subsection A and\nsubsection B if provided by the school division from which the service described\nin clause (i) was rendered, provided that the retired employee is participating\nin a health insurance plan. The Commonwealth and local school division, if\nappropriate, shall be charged with the credit as provided for in subsection E.\nIn such case, the health insurance credit shall be determined based upon the\namount of state service or service as a teacher, whichever is greater.\n\nE. The Virginia Retirement System shall (i) actuarially determine the amount\nnecessary to fund all credits provided under this section; (ii) reflect the cost\nof such credits in the applicable employer contribution rate pursuant to\n§§ 51.1-145, 51.1-204, and 51.1-304; and (iii) prescribe such terms\nand conditions as are necessary to carry out the provisions of this section. The\ncosts associated with the administration of the health insurance program\nprovided for in this section shall be recovered from the health insurance credit\ntrust fund.\n\nHISTORY: 1992, c. 770, \u00a7 2.1-20.1:3; 1993, cc. 743, 938; 1995, cc. 612, 734;\n1996, c. 764; 1998, cc. 195, 676; 1999, cc. 832, 980, 984; 2000, c. 911; 2001,\nc. 844; 2004, c. 84; 2007, cc. 866, 921; 2009, c. 23; 2011, c. 722; 2012, cc.\n701, 823.","edition":{"id":1,"name":"2025","slug":"2025","date_created":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","date_modified":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","current":1,"order_by":1,"last_import":null}}