New Jersey § 52:14-17

§ 52:14-17.

a. A qualified retiree from the Police and Firemen's Retirement System of New Jersey

( C.43:16A-1 et seq. ), hereinafter referred to as PFRS, the Consolidated Police and Firemen's Pension

Fund ( C.43:16-1 et seq. ), hereinafter referred to as CPFPF, or the Public Employees' Retirement System of

New Jersey ( C.43:15A-1 et seq. ), hereinafter referred to as PERS, and dependents, as defined in section 2 of P.L.1961,

c. 49 ( C.52:14-17.26 ), of a qualified retiree, are eligible to participate in the program, in accordance

with the law and rules governing the program, except as otherwise provided by this

act, regardless of whether the retiree's employer participated in the program. A qualified retiree is a retiree who: (1) retired on a benefit based on 25 or more years of service credit in PFRS or CPFPF,

or in PERS as a law enforcement officer as defined in section 1 of P.L.1955, c. 257

( C.43:15A-97 ) or in a position eligible for participation in PFRS as provided in section 9 of P.L.1989, c. 204 ( C.43:16A-1.2 ); or (2) retired on a disability retirement under PFRS or CPFPF, or under PERS as a law

enforcement officer or in a position eligible for participation in PFRS, based on

fewer years of service credit; and (3) was eligible to receive health benefits coverage at the expense of the employer

of the person immediately preceding retirement. b. The State shall pay the amount of the premium or periodic charges for the coverage

for the qualified retiree and dependents, but not including survivors, equal to 80

percent of the premium or periodic charges for the category of coverage elected by

the qualified retiree under the State managed care plan or a health maintenance organization

participating in the program which provides services in the 21 counties in the State,

whichever provides the lower premium or periodic charge. The qualified retiree shall pay the difference between the premium or periodic charge

for the coverage and the amount paid by the State. c. The State Health Benefits Commission shall annually certify to the State the cost

for providing health benefits coverage to qualified retirees and their dependents

under this section. The State shall annually remit to the commission the amount certified at a time

specified by the State Treasurer. d. The provisions of this section shall not apply to (1) a retired State employee

whose premium or periodic charges for benefits under the program are paid by the State

pursuant to section 8 of P.L.1961, c. 49 ( C.52:14-17.32 ) or section 6 of P.L.1996, c. 8 ( C.52:14-17.28b ); and (2) a retiree of an employer other than the State which pays the premium or

periodic charges for health care benefits for eligible retirees pursuant to section

7 of P.L.1964, c. 125 ( C.52:14-17.38 ) or N.J.S.40A:10-23 on the effective date of P.L.1997, c.330 ( C.52:14-17.32i et al).