MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

1998 Regular Session

To: Insurance; Appropriations

By: Representative Guice (By Request)

House Bill 967

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 25-15-9, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE THAT THE APPOINTMENTS OF AGENCY EMPLOYEE-REPRESENTATIVES TO THE ADVISORY COUNCIL FOR THE STATE EMPLOYEES HEALTH INSURANCE PLAN SHALL BE EMPLOYEES WHO ARE NOT SERVING IN MANAGEMENT POSITIONS; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES. 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

SECTION 1. Section 25-15-9, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

25-15-9. (1) (a) The department shall design a plan of health insurance for state employees which provides benefits for semiprivate rooms in addition to other incidental coverages which the department deems necessary. The amount of the coverages shall be in such reasonable amount as may be determined by the department to be adequate, after due consideration of current health costs in Mississippi. The plan shall also include major medical benefits in such amounts as the department shall determine. The department is also authorized to accept bids for such alternate coverage and optional benefits as the department shall deem proper. The department may employ or contract for such consulting or actuarial services as may be necessary to formulate the State Employees Health Insurance Plan, and to assist the department in the preparation of specifications and in the process of advertising for the bids for the plan. The department is authorized to promulgate rules and regulations to implement the provisions of this subsection.

The department shall develop plans for the insurance plan authorized by this section in accordance with the provisions of Section 25-15-5.

(b) There is created an advisory council to advise the department in the formulation of the State Employees Health Insurance Plan. The council shall be composed of the State Insurance Commissioner or his designee, an employee-representative of the institutions of higher learning appointed by the board of trustees thereof, an employee-representative of the Department of Transportation appointed by the director thereof, an employee-representative of the State Tax Commission appointed by the Commissioner of Revenue, an employee-representative of the Mississippi Department of Health appointed by the State Health Officer, an employee-representative of the Mississippi Department of Corrections appointed by the Commissioner of Corrections, and an employee-representative of the Department of Human Services appointed by the Executive Director of Human Services. Any employee-representative appointed under this paragraph shall be an employee who is not serving in a management position.

The Lieutenant Governor may designate the Secretary of the Senate, the Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee and the Chairman of the Senate Insurance Committee, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives may designate the Clerk of the House, the Chairman of the House Appropriations Committee and the Chairman of the House Insurance Committee, to attend any meeting of the State Employees Insurance Advisory Council. The appointing authorities may designate an alternate member from their respective houses to serve when the regular designee is unable to attend such meetings of the council. Such designees shall have no jurisdiction or vote on any matter within the jurisdiction of the council. For attending meetings of the council, such legislators shall receive per diem and expenses which shall be paid from the contingent expense funds of their respective houses in the same amounts as provided for committee meetings when the Legislature is not in session; however, no per diem and expenses for attending meetings of the council will be paid while the Legislature is in session. No per diem and expenses will be paid except for attending meetings of the council without prior approval of the proper committee in their respective houses.

(c) No change in the terms of the State Employees Health Insurance Plan may be made effective unless the Executive Director of the Department of Finance and Administration, or his designee, has provided notice to the State Employees Health Insurance Advisory Council and has called a meeting of the council at least fifteen (15) days before the effective date of such change. In the event that the State Employees Health Insurance Council does not meet to advise the department on the proposed changes, the changes to the plan shall become effective at such time as the department has informed the council that the changes shall become effective.

(d) Medical benefits for retired employees and dependents under age sixty-five (65) years. The same health insurance coverage as for all other active employees and their dependents shall be available to retired employees and all dependents under age sixty-five (65) years, the level of benefits to be the same level as for all other active participants. This section will apply to those employees who retire due to one hundred percent (100%) medical disability as well as those employees electing early retirement.

(e) Medical benefits for retired employees over age sixty-five (65) years. The health insurance coverage available to retired employees over age sixty-five (65) years, and all dependents over age sixty-five (65) years, shall be the major medical coverage with the lifetime maximum of One Million Dollars ($1,000,000.00). Benefits shall be reduced by Medicare benefits as though such Medicare benefits were the base plan.

All covered individuals shall be assumed to have full Medicare coverage, Parts A and B; and any Medicare payments under both Parts A and B shall be computed to reduce benefits payable under this plan.

(2) Nonduplication of benefits--reduction of benefits by Title XIX benefits: When benefits would be payable under more than one (1) group plan, benefits under those plans will be coordinated to the extent that the total benefits under all plans will not exceed the total expenses incurred.

Benefits for hospital or surgical or medical benefits shall be reduced by any similar benefits payable in accordance with Title XIX of the Social Security Act or under any amendments thereto, or any implementing legislation.

Benefits for hospital or surgical or medical benefits shall be reduced by any similar benefits payable by workers' compensation. (3) Schedule of life insurance benefits--group term: The amount of term life insurance for each active employee shall not be in excess of One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000.00), or twice the amount of the employee's annual wage to the next highest One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00), whichever may be less, but in no case less than Thirty Thousand Dollars ($30,000.00), with a like amount for accidental death and dismemberment on a twenty-four-hour basis. The plan will further contain a premium waiver provision if a covered employee becomes totally and permanently disabled prior to age sixty-five (65) years. Retired employees shall be eligible to continue life insurance coverage in an amount of Two Thousand Dollars ($2,000.00), Four Thousand Dollars ($4,000.00) or Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000.00) into retirement. The Department of Finance and Administration shall prepare a report to the Legislative Budget Office on or before October 1, 1995, recommending any changes to the maximum group life coverages applicable to retired employees prescribed herein, and providing options as to any expected additional costs associated with increasing such benefits.

(4) Any eligible employee who on March 1, 1971, was participating in a group life insurance program which has provisions different from those included herein and for which the State of Mississippi was paying a part of the premium may, at his discretion, continue to participate in such plan. Such employee shall pay in full all additional costs, if any, above the minimum program established by this article. Under no circumstances shall any individual who begins employment with the state after March 1, 1971, be eligible for the provisions of this paragraph.

(5) Any participant of the State Employees Health Insurance Plan who otherwise would lose coverage and who would be eligible as a dependent under an existing Public School Employees Health Insurance Plan contract may transfer to the Public School Employees Health Insurance Plan as a dependent under the existing contract. Any participant of the Public School Employees Health Insurance Plan who otherwise would lose coverage and who would be eligible as a dependent under an existing State Employees Health Insurance Plan contract may transfer to the State Employees Health Insurance Plan as a dependent under the existing contract. A transfer pursuant to this subsection must occur within thirty-one (31) days of losing coverage. Credit shall be given for any deductible amount satisfied, out-of-pocket expenses and time served toward the twelve-month pre-existing waiting period.

(6) If both spouses are eligible employees who participate in the plan, the benefits shall apply individually to each spouse by virtue of his or her participation in the plan. If those spouses also have one or more eligible dependents participating in the plan, the cost of their dependents shall be calculated at a special family plan rate. The cost for participation by the dependents shall be paid by the spouse who elects to carry such dependents under his or her coverage. The special family plan rate shall also apply if the state employee's spouse is a covered eligible employee under the Public School Employees Health Insurance Plan.

(7) (a) The department may offer medical savings accounts as defined in Section 71-9-3 as a plan option. Provided, however, that prior to offering such accounts as a plan option, the Department of Finance and Administration shall prepare and present to the Senate and House Insurance Committees by December 15, 1996, a comprehensive study of medical savings accounts to include a proposed implementation timetable and potential actuarial effects of such accounts on the existing state employee health plan. The department's study shall also include, but not be limited to, recommended employer contribution levels, recommended employee contribution levels, recommendations on annual rollover of balances or withdrawals for nonmedical purposes, and recommendations on medical coverage for persons who expend their account balances. The department shall use existing staff resources and those of other agencies to conduct this study. In no case shall the department employ a consultant or contractor other than an actuary to conduct this study. No later than July 15, 1996, the Department of Finance and Administration shall meet with the staff of the PEER Committee and the Legislative Budget Office to receive recommendations on the issues and methods which the department shall consider in preparing its report. No later than October 15, 1996, the Department of Finance and Administration shall submit a copy of its draft report to the PEER Committee and the Legislative Budget Office which shall analyze the report and prepare comments for publication in the final report to be submitted to the House and Senate Insurance Committees on December 15, 1996.

(b) In no case shall the department offer medical savings accounts as an option to health plan participants prior to January 1, 1998.

(8) Any premium differentials, differences in coverages, discounts determined by risk or by any other factors shall be uniformly applied to all active employees participating in the insurance plan. It is the intent of the Legislature that the state contribution to the plan be the same for each employee throughout the state.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 1998.