{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/51.1-512.1.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/51.1-512.1.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/51.1-512.1.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/51.1-512.1.html"}],"law_id":65711,"edition_id":1,"section_id":65711,"structure_id":13932,"section_number":"51.1-512.1","catch_line":"Optional life insurance for the spouse and minor dependents of employees","history":"1995, c. 360; 1997, c. 273; 2000, cc. 66, 657; 2001, c. 696; 2011, c. 880.","full_text":"A\n\nThe Board shall, under the terms and conditions specified by the Board, make available to any active insured employee optional life, accidental death, and dismemberment insurance on the employee’s spouse and minor dependents in the following amounts:1\n\nFor the spouse of an active insured employee: an amount up to 50 percent of the maximum amount of optional insurance available to the employee under § 51.1-512.2\n\nFor any minor dependent of an active insured employee in increments specified by the Board. The Board shall adjust these amounts periodically to account for changes in the purchasing power of money over time.B\n\nAll optional insurance on an employee’s spouse shall cease upon the earliest of (i) the date the employee’s basic coverage ceases, (ii) the entry of a final divorce decree terminating the marriage of the employee and the employee’s spouse, or (iii) the date the insurance being continued in retirement terminates pursuant to subsections C and D. All optional insurance on an employee’s minor dependent shall cease upon the earliest of (a) the minor dependent attains the age of 21, unless the minor dependent is a full-time student at an institution of higher education, then age 25 or unless the minor dependent is under a mental or physical disability, in which event coverage shall not terminate until three months following cessation of the disability, (b) marriage of the minor dependent, or (c) the date the employee’s basic coverage ceases.C\n\nSubject to foregoing limitations, the optional amount of life insurance in force on the spouse or minor dependent of an employee who retires for disability on an immediate retirement allowance may be continued, subject to payment of any required premium by the employee, during continuance of such disability but not beyond the end of the month in which the employee’s normal retirement date occurs.D\n\nSubject to the foregoing limitations, the optional amount of life insurance in force on the spouse or minor dependent of an employee who retires for service on an immediate retirement allowance, or for an employee who retired for disability on an immediate retirement allowance when his normal retirement date occurs, may be continued, subject to payment of any required premium by the employee, and provided the employee had such spouse or dependent insurance for a period of at least 60 continuous months prior to retirement, or prior to reaching normal retirement date for a disability retirement. Life insurance on the spouse that is eligible to be continued shall be an amount specified by the Board and available to the retiree under § 51.1-512 and shall begin to reduce when the retiree’s normal retirement date occurs under the terms and conditions specified by the Board. Life insurance on dependent children that is eligible to be continued shall be in increments as specified by the Board. The Board shall adjust these amounts periodically to account for changes in the purchasing power of money over time. All optional life insurance on a retiree’s spouse or dependent ceases at the earliest of (i) the retiree attaining age 80, (ii) the death of the retiree, (iii) for a spouse, the entry of a final divorce decree terminating the marriage of the retiree and the retiree’s spouse, (iv) for a minor insured dependent, the date the dependent attains the age of 21, unless the minor insured dependent is a full-time college student, then the date the dependent attains age 25, unless the minor insured dependent is under a mental or physical disability, in which case coverage shall not terminate until three months following cessation of the disability, or (v) for a minor insured dependent, the date of his marriage. All accidental death and dismemberment insurance ceases at retirement.E\n\nThe cost of the optional insurance shall be determined periodically by the Board on the basis it considers appropriate. The Board may discontinue the optional insurance plan at any time upon determination that employee participation is not sufficient to continue the plan on a sound actuarial basis.F\n\nThe amount of optional life, accidental death, and dismemberment insurance in force on an employee’s spouse or minor dependent at the date of his or her death shall be paid as provided in this chapter. All accidental death and dismemberment insurance ceases at retirement. The amount of optional life insurance in force on the retiree’s spouse or minor dependent at the date of his death shall be paid as provided in this chapter.G\n\nThe Board shall determine the form and content of the accounting reports to be made by the insurance company with respect to the optional insurance. Any expenses incurred by the Retirement System for operating and administering the optional insurance programs provided in this section may be recovered by the Board from the advance premium deposit reserve required by subsection B of § 51.1-514.H\n\nAs used in this section, an employee’s “minor dependent” means a child member of the employee’s or retiree’s family who is eligible for coverage under the family membership program offered under policies and procedures of the Department of Human Resource Management governing health insurance plans administered pursuant to § 2.2-1204 or 2.2-2818.I\n\nThe provisions of this chapter applicable to the provision of group insurance policies to insure eligible employees or retirees shall apply to optional insurance insuring the spouses and minor dependents of eligible employees or retirees pursuant to this section, with the respective differences having been considered.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":238877,"text":"The Board shall, under the terms and conditions specified by the Board, make available to any active insured employee optional life, accidental death, and dismemberment insurance on the employee’s spouse and minor dependents in the following amounts:","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"A1"},"1":{"id":238878,"text":"For the spouse of an active insured employee: an amount up to 50 percent of the maximum amount of optional insurance available to the employee under § 51.1-512.","type":"section","prefixes":["A","1"],"prefix":"1","entire_prefix":"A1","prefix_anchor":"A1","level":2,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"A2"},"2":{"id":238879,"text":"For any minor dependent of an active insured employee in increments specified by the Board. The Board shall adjust these amounts periodically to account for changes in the purchasing power of money over time.","type":"section","prefixes":["A","2"],"prefix":"2","entire_prefix":"A2","prefix_anchor":"A2","level":2,"prior_prefix":"A1","next_prefix":"B"},"3":{"id":238880,"text":"All optional insurance on an employee’s spouse shall cease upon the earliest of (i) the date the employee’s basic coverage ceases, (ii) the entry of a final divorce decree terminating the marriage of the employee and the employee’s spouse, or (iii) the date the insurance being continued in retirement terminates pursuant to subsections C and D. All optional insurance on an employee’s minor dependent shall cease upon the earliest of (a) the minor dependent attains the age of 21, unless the minor dependent is a full-time student at an institution of higher education, then age 25 or unless the minor dependent is under a mental or physical disability, in which event coverage shall not terminate until three months following cessation of the disability, (b) marriage of the minor dependent, or (c) the date the employee’s basic coverage ceases.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A2","next_prefix":"C"},"4":{"id":238881,"text":"Subject to foregoing limitations, the optional amount of life insurance in force on the spouse or minor dependent of an employee who retires for disability on an immediate retirement allowance may be continued, subject to payment of any required premium by the employee, during continuance of such disability but not beyond the end of the month in which the employee’s normal retirement date occurs.","type":"section","prefixes":["C"],"prefix":"C","entire_prefix":"C","prefix_anchor":"C","level":1,"prior_prefix":"B","next_prefix":"D"},"5":{"id":238882,"text":"Subject to the foregoing limitations, the optional amount of life insurance in force on the spouse or minor dependent of an employee who retires for service on an immediate retirement allowance, or for an employee who retired for disability on an immediate retirement allowance when his normal retirement date occurs, may be continued, subject to payment of any required premium by the employee, and provided the employee had such spouse or dependent insurance for a period of at least 60 continuous months prior to retirement, or prior to reaching normal retirement date for a disability retirement. Life insurance on the spouse that is eligible to be continued shall be an amount specified by the Board and available to the retiree under § 51.1-512 and shall begin to reduce when the retiree’s normal retirement date occurs under the terms and conditions specified by the Board. Life insurance on dependent children that is eligible to be continued shall be in increments as specified by the Board. The Board shall adjust these amounts periodically to account for changes in the purchasing power of money over time. All optional life insurance on a retiree’s spouse or dependent ceases at the earliest of (i) the retiree attaining age 80, (ii) the death of the retiree, (iii) for a spouse, the entry of a final divorce decree terminating the marriage of the retiree and the retiree’s spouse, (iv) for a minor insured dependent, the date the dependent attains the age of 21, unless the minor insured dependent is a full-time college student, then the date the dependent attains age 25, unless the minor insured dependent is under a mental or physical disability, in which case coverage shall not terminate until three months following cessation of the disability, or (v) for a minor insured dependent, the date of his marriage. All accidental death and dismemberment insurance ceases at retirement.","type":"section","prefixes":["D"],"prefix":"D","entire_prefix":"D","prefix_anchor":"D","level":1,"prior_prefix":"C","next_prefix":"E"},"6":{"id":238883,"text":"The cost of the optional insurance shall be determined periodically by the Board on the basis it considers appropriate. The Board may discontinue the optional insurance plan at any time upon determination that employee participation is not sufficient to continue the plan on a sound actuarial basis.","type":"section","prefixes":["E"],"prefix":"E","entire_prefix":"E","prefix_anchor":"E","level":1,"prior_prefix":"D","next_prefix":"F"},"7":{"id":238884,"text":"The amount of optional life, accidental death, and dismemberment insurance in force on an employee’s spouse or minor dependent at the date of his or her death shall be paid as provided in this chapter. All accidental death and dismemberment insurance ceases at retirement. The amount of optional life insurance in force on the retiree’s spouse or minor dependent at the date of his death shall be paid as provided in this chapter.","type":"section","prefixes":["F"],"prefix":"F","entire_prefix":"F","prefix_anchor":"F","level":1,"prior_prefix":"E","next_prefix":"G"},"8":{"id":238885,"text":"The Board shall determine the form and content of the accounting reports to be made by the insurance company with respect to the optional insurance. Any expenses incurred by the Retirement System for operating and administering the optional insurance programs provided in this section may be recovered by the Board from the advance premium deposit reserve required by subsection B of § 51.1-514.","type":"section","prefixes":["G"],"prefix":"G","entire_prefix":"G","prefix_anchor":"G","level":1,"prior_prefix":"F","next_prefix":"H"},"9":{"id":238886,"text":"As used in this section, an employee’s “minor dependent” means a child member of the employee’s or retiree’s family who is eligible for coverage under the family membership program offered under policies and procedures of the Department of Human Resource Management governing health insurance plans administered pursuant to § 2.2-1204 or 2.2-2818.","type":"section","prefixes":["H"],"prefix":"H","entire_prefix":"H","prefix_anchor":"H","level":1,"prior_prefix":"G","next_prefix":"I"},"10":{"id":238887,"text":"The provisions of this chapter applicable to the provision of group insurance policies to insure eligible employees or retirees shall apply to optional insurance insuring the spouses and minor dependents of eligible employees or retirees pursuant to this section, with the respective differences having been considered.","type":"section","prefixes":["I"],"prefix":"I","entire_prefix":"I","prefix_anchor":"I","level":1,"prior_prefix":"H"}},"ancestry":[{"id":13932,"edition_id":1,"name":"Group Insurance Program","identifier":"5","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12947,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:46:20","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:46:20","permalink":{"id":236069,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13932,"identifier":"5","token":"51.1\/5","url":"\/51.1\/5\/","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":86887,"structure_id":13932,"section_number":"51.1-500","catch_line":"Definitions","url":"\/51.1-500\/","token":"51.1\/5\/51.1-500","metadata":false},{"id":84578,"structure_id":13932,"section_number":"51.1-501","catch_line":"Board authorized to purchase group life and accident insurance policies","url":"\/51.1-501\/","token":"51.1\/5\/51.1-501","metadata":false},{"id":63115,"structure_id":13932,"section_number":"51.1-502","catch_line":"Eligible employees and officers","url":"\/51.1-502\/","token":"51.1\/5\/51.1-502","metadata":false},{"id":83648,"structure_id":13932,"section_number":"51.1-502.1","catch_line":"Certain employees of teaching hospitals","url":"\/51.1-502.1\/","token":"51.1\/5\/51.1-502.1","metadata":false},{"id":59497,"structure_id":13932,"section_number":"51.1-502.2","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/51.1-502.2\/","token":"51.1\/5\/51.1-502.2","metadata":false},{"id":72342,"structure_id":13932,"section_number":"51.1-502.3","catch_line":"Certain employees of the Virginia Port Authority","url":"\/51.1-502.3\/","token":"51.1\/5\/51.1-502.3","metadata":false},{"id":76893,"structure_id":13932,"section_number":"51.1-503","catch_line":"Limitation on coverage","url":"\/51.1-503\/","token":"51.1\/5\/51.1-503","metadata":false},{"id":69960,"structure_id":13932,"section_number":"51.1-504","catch_line":"Election of political subdivision to participate; approval by Board","url":"\/51.1-504\/","token":"51.1\/5\/51.1-504","metadata":false},{"id":86868,"structure_id":13932,"section_number":"51.1-505","catch_line":"Amounts of life and accident insurance for each employee; reduction and termination of insurance","url":"\/51.1-505\/","token":"51.1\/5\/51.1-505","metadata":false},{"id":70590,"structure_id":13932,"section_number":"51.1-505.01","catch_line":"Additional accidental death and dismemberment benefits","url":"\/51.1-505.01\/","token":"51.1\/5\/51.1-505.01","metadata":false},{"id":55772,"structure_id":13932,"section_number":"51.1-506","catch_line":"Employee contributions; payroll deductions; effect of failure to deduct","url":"\/51.1-506\/","token":"51.1\/5\/51.1-506","metadata":false},{"id":60994,"structure_id":13932,"section_number":"51.1-507","catch_line":"Notice of desire not to be insured","url":"\/51.1-507\/","token":"51.1\/5\/51.1-507","metadata":false},{"id":55089,"structure_id":13932,"section_number":"51.1-508","catch_line":"Employer contributions","url":"\/51.1-508\/","token":"51.1\/5\/51.1-508","metadata":false},{"id":57511,"structure_id":13932,"section_number":"51.1-509","catch_line":"Keeping records and furnishing information required by Board","url":"\/51.1-509\/","token":"51.1\/5\/51.1-509","metadata":false},{"id":81121,"structure_id":13932,"section_number":"51.1-510","catch_line":"Insurance exempt from process","url":"\/51.1-510\/","token":"51.1\/5\/51.1-510","metadata":false},{"id":78151,"structure_id":13932,"section_number":"51.1-511","catch_line":"Persons entitled to payment of insurance on employee's death","url":"\/51.1-511\/","token":"51.1\/5\/51.1-511","metadata":false},{"id":78798,"structure_id":13932,"section_number":"51.1-512","catch_line":"Optional life insurance","url":"\/51.1-512\/","token":"51.1\/5\/51.1-512","metadata":false},{"id":65711,"structure_id":13932,"section_number":"51.1-512.1","catch_line":"Optional life insurance for the spouse and minor dependents of employees","url":"\/51.1-512.1\/","token":"51.1\/5\/51.1-512.1","metadata":false},{"id":86106,"structure_id":13932,"section_number":"51.1-513","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/51.1-513\/","token":"51.1\/5\/51.1-513","metadata":false},{"id":68495,"structure_id":13932,"section_number":"51.1-513.1","catch_line":"Long-term care insurance","url":"\/51.1-513.1\/","token":"51.1\/5\/51.1-513.1","metadata":false},{"id":80264,"structure_id":13932,"section_number":"51.1-513.2","catch_line":"Long-term care coverage program","url":"\/51.1-513.2\/","token":"51.1\/5\/51.1-513.2","metadata":false},{"id":57791,"structure_id":13932,"section_number":"51.1-513.3","catch_line":"Long-term care insurance program for employees of local governments, local officers, and teachers","url":"\/51.1-513.3\/","token":"51.1\/5\/51.1-513.3","metadata":false},{"id":72025,"structure_id":13932,"section_number":"51.1-513.4","catch_line":"Trust fund for long-term care programs","url":"\/51.1-513.4\/","token":"51.1\/5\/51.1-513.4","metadata":false},{"id":54987,"structure_id":13932,"section_number":"51.1-514","catch_line":"Policies to provide for accounting to Board; advance premium deposit reserve","url":"\/51.1-514\/","token":"51.1\/5\/51.1-514","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":78798,"structure_id":13932,"section_number":"51.1-512","catch_line":"Optional life insurance","url":"\/51.1-512\/","token":"51.1\/5\/51.1-512","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":86106,"structure_id":13932,"section_number":"51.1-513","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/51.1-513\/","token":"51.1\/5\/51.1-513","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/51.1-512.1\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 1995. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 360<\/a> 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. It has been modified 4 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 1997, chapter 273<\/a>; in 2000, chapters 66<\/a> and 657<\/a>; in 2001, chapter 696<\/a>; in 2011, chapter 880<\/a>.<\/p>","references":false,"refers_to":[{"id":64954,"section_number":"2.2-1204","catch_line":"Health insurance program for employees of local governments, local officers, teachers, etc.; definitions","order_by":null,"url":"\/2.2-1204\/"},{"id":78798,"section_number":"51.1-512","catch_line":"Optional life insurance","order_by":null,"url":"\/51.1-512\/"}],"permalink":{"id":236139,"object_type":"law","relational_id":65711,"identifier":"51.1-512.1","token":"51.1\/5\/51.1-512.1","url":"\/51.1-512.1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/51.1-512.1\/","token":"51.1\/5\/51.1-512.1","dublin_core":{"Title":"Optional life insurance for the spouse and minor dependents of employees","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 51.1-512.1","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> The Board<\/span> shall, under the terms and conditions specified by the Board<\/span>, make available to any active insured employee optional life, accidental death, and dismemberment<\/span> insurance on the employee’s spouse and minor dependents<\/span> in the following amounts: <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

1.<\/span> For the spouse of an active insured employee: an amount up to 50 percent of the maximum amount of optional insurance available to the employee under § 51.1-512<\/a>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

2.<\/span> For any minor dependent<\/span> of an active insured employee in increments specified by the Board<\/span>. The Board<\/span> shall adjust these amounts periodically to account for changes in the purchasing power of money over time. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> All optional insurance on an employee’s spouse shall cease upon the earliest of (i) the date the employee’s basic coverage ceases, (ii) the entry of a final divorce decree<\/span> terminating the marriage of the employee and the employee’s spouse, or (iii) the date the insurance being continued in retirement terminates pursuant to subsections C and D. All optional insurance on an employee’s minor dependent<\/span> shall cease upon the earliest of (a) the minor dependent<\/span> attains the age of 21, unless the minor dependent<\/span> is a full-time student at an institution of higher education, then age 25 or unless the minor dependent<\/span> is under a mental or physical disability, in which event coverage shall not terminate until three months following cessation of the disability, (b) marriage of the minor dependent<\/span>, or (c) the date the employee’s basic coverage ceases. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

C.<\/span> Subject to foregoing limitations, the optional amount of life insurance in force on the spouse or minor dependent<\/span> of an employee who retires for disability on an immediate retirement allowance may be continued, subject to payment of any required premium by the employee, during continuance<\/span> of such disability but not beyond the end of the month in which the employee’s normal retirement date occurs. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

D.<\/span> Subject to the foregoing limitations, the optional amount of life insurance in force on the spouse or minor dependent<\/span> of an employee who retires for service on an immediate retirement allowance, or for an employee who retired for disability on an immediate retirement allowance when his normal retirement date occurs, may be continued, subject to payment of any required premium by the employee, and provided the employee had such spouse or dependent insurance for a period of at least 60 continuous months prior to retirement, or prior to reaching normal retirement date for a disability retirement. Life insurance on the spouse that is eligible to be continued shall be an amount specified by the Board<\/span> and available to the retiree under § 51.1-512<\/a> and shall begin to reduce when the retiree’s normal retirement date occurs under the terms and conditions specified by the Board<\/span>. Life insurance on dependent children that is eligible to be continued shall be in increments as specified by the Board<\/span>. The Board<\/span> shall adjust these amounts periodically to account for changes in the purchasing power of money over time. All optional life insurance on a retiree’s spouse or dependent ceases at the earliest of (i) the retiree attaining age 80, (ii) the death of the retiree, (iii) for a spouse, the entry of a final divorce decree<\/span> terminating the marriage of the retiree and the retiree’s spouse, (iv) for a minor insured dependent, the date the dependent attains the age of 21, unless the minor insured dependent is a full-time college student, then the date the dependent attains age 25, unless the minor insured dependent is under a mental or physical disability, in which case coverage shall not terminate until three months following cessation of the disability, or (v) for a minor insured dependent, the date of his marriage. All accidental death and dismemberment<\/span> insurance ceases at retirement. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

E.<\/span> The cost of the optional insurance shall be determined periodically by the Board<\/span> on the basis it considers appropriate. The Board<\/span> may discontinue the optional insurance plan at any time upon determination that employee participation is not sufficient to continue the plan on a sound actuarial basis. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

F.<\/span> The amount of optional life, accidental death, and dismemberment<\/span> insurance in force on an employee’s spouse or minor dependent<\/span> at the date of his or her death shall be paid as provided in this chapter. All accidental death and dismemberment<\/span> insurance ceases at retirement. The amount of optional life insurance in force on the retiree’s spouse or minor dependent<\/span> at the date of his death shall be paid as provided in this chapter. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

G.<\/span> The Board<\/span> shall determine the form and content of the accounting reports to be made by the insurance company<\/span> with respect to the optional insurance. Any expenses incurred by the Retirement System<\/span> for operating and administering the optional insurance programs<\/span> provided in this section may be recovered by the Board<\/span> from the advance premium deposit reserve required by subsection B of § 51.1-514<\/a>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

H.<\/span> As used in this section, an employee’s “minor dependent<\/span>” means a child member of the employee’s or retiree’s family who is eligible for coverage under the family membership program offered under policies and procedures of the Department of Human Resource Management governing health insurance plans administered pursuant to § 2.2-1204<\/a> or 2.2-2818<\/a>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

I.<\/span> The provisions of this chapter applicable to the provision of group insurance policies to insure eligible employees or retirees shall apply to optional insurance insuring the spouses and minor dependents<\/span> of eligible employees or retirees pursuant to this section, with the respective differences having been considered. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nOPTIONAL LIFE INSURANCE FOR THE SPOUSE AND MINOR DEPENDENTS OF EMPLOYEES (\u00a7\n51.1-512.1)\n\nA. The Board shall, under the terms and conditions specified by the Board, make\navailable to any active insured employee optional life, accidental death, and\ndismemberment insurance on the employee’s spouse and minor dependents in\nthe following amounts:\n\n 1. For the spouse of an active insured employee: an amount up to 50 percent of\n the maximum amount of optional insurance available to the employee under\n § 51.1-512.\n\n 2. For any minor dependent of an active insured employee in increments\n specified by the Board. The Board shall adjust these amounts periodically to\n account for changes in the purchasing power of money over time.\n\nB. All optional insurance on an employee’s spouse shall cease upon the\nearliest of (i) the date the employee’s basic coverage ceases, (ii) the\nentry of a final divorce decree terminating the marriage of the employee and the\nemployee’s spouse, or (iii) the date the insurance being continued in\nretirement terminates pursuant to subsections C and D. All optional insurance on\nan employee’s minor dependent shall cease upon the earliest of (a) the\nminor dependent attains the age of 21, unless the minor dependent is a full-time\nstudent at an institution of higher education, then age 25 or unless the minor\ndependent is under a mental or physical disability, in which event coverage\nshall not terminate until three months following cessation of the disability,\n(b) marriage of the minor dependent, or (c) the date the employee’s basic\ncoverage ceases.\n\nC. Subject to foregoing limitations, the optional amount of life insurance in\nforce on the spouse or minor dependent of an employee who retires for disability\non an immediate retirement allowance may be continued, subject to payment of any\nrequired premium by the employee, during continuance of such disability but not\nbeyond the end of the month in which the employee’s normal retirement date\noccurs.\n\nD. Subject to the foregoing limitations, the optional amount of life insurance\nin force on the spouse or minor dependent of an employee who retires for service\non an immediate retirement allowance, or for an employee who retired for\ndisability on an immediate retirement allowance when his normal retirement date\noccurs, may be continued, subject to payment of any required premium by the\nemployee, and provided the employee had such spouse or dependent insurance for a\nperiod of at least 60 continuous months prior to retirement, or prior to\nreaching normal retirement date for a disability retirement. Life insurance on\nthe spouse that is eligible to be continued shall be an amount specified by the\nBoard and available to the retiree under § 51.1-512 and shall begin to\nreduce when the retiree’s normal retirement date occurs under the terms\nand conditions specified by the Board. Life insurance on dependent children that\nis eligible to be continued shall be in increments as specified by the Board.\nThe Board shall adjust these amounts periodically to account for changes in the\npurchasing power of money over time. All optional life insurance on a\nretiree’s spouse or dependent ceases at the earliest of (i) the retiree\nattaining age 80, (ii) the death of the retiree, (iii) for a spouse, the entry\nof a final divorce decree terminating the marriage of the retiree and the\nretiree’s spouse, (iv) for a minor insured dependent, the date the\ndependent attains the age of 21, unless the minor insured dependent is a\nfull-time college student, then the date the dependent attains age 25, unless\nthe minor insured dependent is under a mental or physical disability, in which\ncase coverage shall not terminate until three months following cessation of the\ndisability, or (v) for a minor insured dependent, the date of his marriage. All\naccidental death and dismemberment insurance ceases at retirement.\n\nE. The cost of the optional insurance shall be determined periodically by the\nBoard on the basis it considers appropriate. The Board may discontinue the\noptional insurance plan at any time upon determination that employee\nparticipation is not sufficient to continue the plan on a sound actuarial basis.\n\nF. The amount of optional life, accidental death, and dismemberment insurance in\nforce on an employee’s spouse or minor dependent at the date of his or her\ndeath shall be paid as provided in this chapter. All accidental death and\ndismemberment insurance ceases at retirement. The amount of optional life\ninsurance in force on the retiree’s spouse or minor dependent at the date\nof his death shall be paid as provided in this chapter.\n\nG. The Board shall determine the form and content of the accounting reports to\nbe made by the insurance company with respect to the optional insurance. Any\nexpenses incurred by the Retirement System for operating and administering the\noptional insurance programs provided in this section may be recovered by the\nBoard from the advance premium deposit reserve required by subsection B of\n§ 51.1-514.\n\nH. As used in this section, an employee’s “minor dependent”\nmeans a child member of the employee’s or retiree’s family who is\neligible for coverage under the family membership program offered under policies\nand procedures of the Department of Human Resource Management governing health\ninsurance plans administered pursuant to § 2.2-1204 or 2.2-2818.\n\nI. The provisions of this chapter applicable to the provision of group insurance\npolicies to insure eligible employees or retirees shall apply to optional\ninsurance insuring the spouses and minor dependents of eligible employees or\nretirees pursuant to this section, with the respective differences having been\nconsidered.\n\nHISTORY: 1995, c. 360; 1997, c. 273; 2000, cc. 66, 657; 2001, c. 696; 2011, c.\n880.","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}}