OAR 111-050-0010: Eligibility for Retiree Insurance Coverage

(1) Active eligible employees and their enrolled eligible dependents not yet eligible for Medicare may continue coverage in OEBB medical, dental, vision, life and accidental death and dismemberment plan options upon retirement, provided the plans are offered to Eligible Early Retirees through the Entity or OEBB. Insurance coverage under the OEBB or non-OEBB entity active employee benefit plans, as an employee or as a dependent of an employee, and retiree benefit plans must be continuous. (2) Active eligible employees and/or their enrolled eligible dependents that are eligible for Medicare, and therefore not eligible to continue on the OEBB medical or vision plan options, may continue coverage on OEBB dental, life, and accidental death and dismemberment plan options upon retirement, provided the plans are offered to retirees through the Entity or OEBB. (3) An Eligible Early Retiree means and includes a previously Eligible Employee who is: (a) Not Medicare-eligible; or (b) Under 65 years old; and (A) Receiving a service or disability retirement allowance or pension under the Public Employees Retirement System (PERS) or under any other retirement or disability benefit plan or system offered by an OEBB participating organization for its employees; (B) Eligible to receive a service retirement allowance under PERS and has reached earliest retirement age under ORS Chapter 238; (C) Eligible to receive a pension under ORS 238A.100 to 238A.245 and has reached earliest retirement age as described in ORS 238A.165; or (D) Eligible to receive a service retirement allowance or pension under another retirement benefit plan or system offered by an OEBB participating organization and has reached earliest retirement age under the plan or system. (4) An Eligible Early Retiree may continue medical, dental, vision, optional life and accidental death and dismemberment coverage for themselves only or may continue to cover any eligible dependents who were enrolled in the employee’s active plan immediately prior to the retirement as long as the coverage and plan options are included in the plans offered by the Entity. (5) Basic life and basic accidental death and dismemberment requires 100 percent mandatory enrollment unless otherwise specified in a collective bargaining agreement in effect on or before September 30, 2009, and the Entity can provide documentation that supports the administration of this benefit. (6) A former Eligible Employee who elects COBRA and is also eligible for early retiree benefits or later becomes eligible as an Eligible Early Retiree will have the right to transfer the COBRA medical, dental, and vision insurance coverage to the OEBB early retiree benefit plans at any time during COBRA or within 30 days of the COBRA end date. Insurance coverage under the OEBB active, COBRA and early retiree benefit plans must be continuous.