Texas § LG.157.101 - GROUP HEALTH AND RELATED BENEFITS

§ LG.157.101. GROUP HEALTH AND RELATED BENEFITS

GROUP HEALTH AND RELATED BENEFITS. (a) A commissioners court by rule, including through an intergovernmental risk pool organized under Chapter 172 , may provide for group health and related benefits, including medical care, surgical care, hospitalization, and pharmaceutical, life, accident, disability, long-term care, vision, dental, mental health, and substance abuse benefits, for the following persons if their salaries are paid from the funds of the county or funds of a flood control district located entirely in the county, or funds of a hospital district described by Section 281.0475 , Health and Safety Code, located entirely in the county, or if they are employees of another governmental entity for which the county is obligated to provide benefits: (1) deputies, assistants, and other employees of the county, or of the flood control district, or of the hospital district, who work under the commissioners court or its appointees; (2) county and district officers and their deputies and assistants appointed under Subchapter A, Chapter 151; (3) employees of a community supervision and corrections department established under Chapter 76 , Government Code; (4) a retired person formerly holding a status listed in Subdivisions (1)-(3); and (5) the dependents of a person listed in Subdivisions (1)-(4). (b) The commissioners court may provide the benefits under Subsection (a) through insurance, self-insurance, or a contract with a county-operated hospital, a hospital operated jointly by a municipality and county, or a private hospital. (c) A rule adopted under this section relating to a person's group health or related benefits coverage must be included in the person's employment contract or otherwise communicated in writing to the person. (d) A rule adopted under this section may be subject to the approval of the county auditor. (e) Before adopting a rule under this section, the commissioners court must provide notice of a hearing about the proposed adoption in accordance with Chapter 551 , Government Code. At the hearing, an employee or taxpayer of the county is entitled to appear and protest the adoption of a rule. (f) A county providing coverage under this section may reinsure its potential liability or purchase stop-loss coverage for any amount of potential liability that is in excess of projected paid losses. A county that reinsures its potential liability or purchases stop-loss coverage for any amount of potential liability must do so from an insurance company admitted to do business in this state that holds a certificate of authority from the Texas Department of Insurance or an intergovernmental risk pool organized under Chapter 172 . Added by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 630, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 2003. Amended by: Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch. 1094 (H.B. 2120 ), Sec. 25, eff. September 1, 2005.