153.06 PAYMENT OF HOSPITALIZATION BENEFITS.
   (a)   The Finance Director is hereby authorized to pay, on behalf of all full-time City employees, the Mayor, the Finance Director and the Law Director, other than those previously excepted, who are covered under the City's group hospitalization plan(s), in addition to their regular fixed salary, all hospitalization and/or medical insurance benefits that shall become due on such employee coverage under the City's group hospitalization plan.
   (b)   On behalf of a full-time retired or deceased employee with ten or more continuous years of service, the Finance Director is hereby authorized to pay hospitalization benefits to the surviving spouse of such deceased employee until or unless the spouse is eligible for the PERS program, in which case the City will reimburse the spouse for premiums twice a year. Such hospitalization benefits shall be terminated and will not be paid by the City when:
      (1)   The surviving spouse holds a job where hospitalization or similar benefits are paid by another company.
      (2)   The surviving spouse remarries.
   (c)   Hospitalization benefits shall be paid by the City up to and until an employee has been terminated.
   (d)   Under the terms of the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985 (COBRA), as amended, current or former employees and their eligible dependents who are covered under a group health plan have the right to elect to temporarily continue health coverage if coverage terminates due to a "qualifying event." Those eligible to continue coverage become "qualified beneficiaries" under this law. (For further explanation and details, see the policy on COBRA notification.)
   (e)   Effective January 1, 2004, a full-time employee of the City may elect to opt out of the City's medical plan. The employee shall furnish proof that he is covered by another qualified health insurance plan through their spouse. Employees opting out shall receive one thousand two hundred dollars ($1,200) per year bonus, payable monthly to those qualified employees.
   (f)   Retired employees, or their surviving spouses who have had not less than ten years of consecutive service with the City of Brook Park prior to their retirement, shall be eligible for a Medicare Part B supplement to match the O.P.E.R.S. and Police and Fire Pension fund Medicare Part B reimbursement. The amount of the supplement shall be one thousand two hundred dollars ($1,200) annually. To be eligible, retirees or surviving spouses must be:
      (1)   Be sixty-five years of age or older.
      (2)   Retiree or surviving spouse must show proof of participation in the Medicare Part B Supplement.
(Ord. 10064-2016. Passed 2-21-17.)