                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA

PARTICIPATION IN THE STATE RETIREE HEALTH BENEFITS PROGRAM (§ 51.1-1405)

A. As used in this section, unless the context requires a different meaning:
			&#8220;Involuntarily separated&#8221; means separated from state service as
the result of any dismissal, requested resignation, or failure to obtain
reappointment, excluding a separation resulting from a conviction for a felony
or crime involving moral turpitude or dishonesty or a separation related to the
job performance or misconduct of the state employee.
			&#8220;Retiree health benefits program&#8221; or &#8220;program&#8221; means
the plan for providing health insurance coverage for retired state employees
provided pursuant to subsection E of &#xA7; 2.2-2818.
			&#8220;State employee&#8221; means the same as that term is defined in &#xA7;
2.2-2818.
			&#8220;State retiree&#8221; means a state employee retired under the Virginia
Retirement System, State Police Officers&#8217; Retirement System, Judicial
Retirement System, Virginia Law Officers&#8217; Retirement System, or any
retirement system authorized pursuant to &#xA7; 51.1-126, 51.1-126.5, or
51.1-169 who is eligible to receive a monthly retirement annuity from that
retirement system.

B. A state retiree shall be eligible to participate in the retiree health
benefits program only if he makes an election to participate in the program
within 31 days following the date of termination of employment with the
Commonwealth. A retired state employee who fails to elect to participate in the
state health plan within 31 days of the effective date of retirement, or who,
once having elected to participate, discontinues participation, is barred from
participating in the state health plan thereafter.

C. Any state retiree who was involuntarily separated who on July 1, 1999, is
participating in the retiree health benefits program and is receiving monthly
retirement annuity payments may elect, by notifying the Virginia Retirement
System and the Department of Human Resource Management before September 1, 1999,
to cease receiving monthly retirement annuity payments until reapplying for such
benefits at a later date and to continue participation in the retiree health
benefits program.

HISTORY: 1999, cc. 980, 984, § 2.1-20.1:6; 2000, cc. 66, 657, 911; 2001, c.
844; 2011, c. 722; 2012, cc. 701, 823.