(A) The state teachers retirement board may enter into an agreement with insurance companies, health insuring corporations, or government agencies authorized to do business in the state for issuance of a policy or contract of health, medical, hospital, or surgical coverage, or any combination thereof, for those individuals receiving, under the STRS defined benefit plan, service retirement or a disability or survivor benefit who subscribe to the plan. Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, the policy or contract may also include coverage for any eligible individual's spouse and dependent children as the board considers appropriate. If all or any portion of the policy or contract premium is to be paid by any individual receiving service retirement or a disability or survivor benefit, the individual shall, by written authorization, instruct the board to deduct the premium agreed to be paid by the individual to the companies, corporations, or agencies.

The board may contract for coverage on the basis of part or all of the cost of the coverage to be paid from appropriate funds of the state teachers retirement system. The cost paid from the funds of the system shall be included in the employer's contribution rate provided by section 3307.28 of the Revised Code.

The board may enter into an agreement under this division for coverage of recipients of benefits under an STRS defined contribution plan if the plan selected includes health, medical, hospital, or surgical coverage, or any combination thereof. The board may contract for coverage on the basis that the cost of the coverage will be paid by the recipient or by the plan to which the recipient contributed under this chapter. The board may offer to recipients plans that provide for different levels of coverage or for prepayment of the cost of coverage.

The board may provide for self-insurance of risk or level of risk as set forth in the contract with the companies, corporations, or agencies, and may provide through the self-insurance method specific coverage as authorized by the rules of the board.

(B) The board may make a monthly payment to each recipient of service retirement, or a disability or survivor benefit under the STRS defined benefit plan who is enrolled in coverage under part B of the medicare program established under Title XVIII of "The Social Security Amendments of 1965," 79 Stat. 301 (1965), 42 U.S.C.A. 1395j, as amended, and may make a monthly payment to a recipient of benefits under an STRS defined contribution plan who is eligible for that insurance coverage if the monthly payments are funded through the plan selected by the recipient. The payment shall be the greater of the following:

(1) Twenty-nine dollars and ninety cents;

(2) An amount determined by the board, which shall not exceed ninety per cent of the basic premium for the coverage, except that the amount shall not exceed the amount paid by the recipient.

At the request of the board, the recipient shall certify the amount paid by the recipient for coverage described in this division.

The board shall make all payments under this division beginning the month following receipt of satisfactory evidence of the payment for the coverage.

(C) The board shall establish by rule requirements for the coordination of any coverage or payment provided under this section with any similar coverage or payment made available to the same individual by the public employees retirement system, Ohio police and fire pension fund, school employees retirement system, or state highway patrol retirement system.

(D) The board shall make all other necessary rules pursuant to the purpose and intent of this section.

Amended by 132nd General Assembly File No. TBD, HB 572, §1, eff. 3/22/2019.

Amended by 130th General Assembly File No. TBD, SB 42, §1, eff. 3/23/2015.

Amended by 129th General AssemblyFile No.147, SB 342, §1, eff. 1/7/2013.

Effective Date: 10-01-2002 .