Bill > A5118

This bill expands health care benefits for disabled members of the Teachers' Pension and Annuity Fund (TPAF) and the Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS), which are retirement systems for educators and public employees, respectively. Specifically, it ensures that disabled members of TPAF and PERS who became members after a certain date in 2010 will be entitled to health care benefits coverage under the School Employees' Health Benefit Program or the State Health Benefit Program, respectively, without any employee contribution requirement. For those who became disabled and started receiving benefits before January 1, 2027, they will be eligible for this free coverage in the same way as retirees. For those who become disabled and start receiving benefits on or after January 1, 2027, their eligibility and contribution requirements will depend on their employer (State or local education/college) and whether they are Medicare-eligible, with specific provisions for enrollment in different health plans and calculation of contributions based on their disability benefit amount. The bill also establishes refund provisions for premiums paid by eligible members between January 1, 2024, and the bill's effective date, and clarifies that the State Treasurer will establish appeals processes for disputes related to disability insurance and health care benefit eligibility.

Budget and Finance, Government Affairs

https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/bill-search/2024/A5118