(a) (1) Subject to paragraph (2) of this subsection, an individual may enroll
and participate in the health insurance benefit options established
under the Program if the individual retired under an optional program
under Title 30 of this article and:
(i) ended service with a State institution of higher education with at
least 10 years of service and was at least age 57;
(ii) ended service with a State institution of higher education with at
least 16 years of service; or
(iii) retired directly from and had at least 5 years of service with a State
institution of higher education with a periodic distribution of
benefits on or after July 1, 1984.
(2) (i) For purposes of this subsection only, years of service shall be
calculated as follows:
1. except as provided in subparagraph (ii) of this paragraph, a year of
service means a period of 12 months during which an employee was a
participant in an optional retirement program under Title 30 of this
article and the participant's employer made contributions to the
participant's account in the Program; or
2. if an employee's work year is an academic year of at least 9 but less
than 12 months, a year of service means a period equal to the academic
year during which an employee was a participant in an optional
retirement program under Title 30 of this article and the
participant's employer made contributions to the participant's
account in the Program.
(ii) To determine eligibility for health insurance benefits under this
section, each year of service shall be multiplied by the participant's
percentage of full-time employment for that year of service.
(3) The surviving spouse or dependent child of a deceased individual who
was eligible to enroll may enroll and participate in the health
insurance benefit options established under the Program as long as the
spouse or child is receiving a periodic distribution of benefits under
an optional retirement program under Title 30 of this article.
(b) (1) An enrollee under this section who was in service with a State
institution of higher education at the time of the retirement is
entitled to the same State subsidy allowed a retiree under § 2-508 of
this subtitle. However, except as provided in paragraph (2) of this
subsection, the subsidy shall apply only to the costs of coverage for
the enrollee and may not apply to any additional costs of coverage for
the enrollee's spouse or children.
(2) If the enrollee has 25 or more years of service as an employee of the
State in the Executive, Legislative, or Judicial Branch of government,
the enrollee or the enrollee's surviving spouse or dependent child is
entitled to the same State subsidy allowed a retiree with 16 or more
years of creditable service under § 2-508(c)(1) of this subtitle.
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