(A) This section shall become applicable beginning February 1, 1981.
(B) For the purpose of this section, "RETIRED EMPLOYEE" shall mean:
(1) (a) All fulltime employees who have been employed in such a fulltime capacity for the city of new castle for a minimum of 20 years of continuous employment or ten years of continuous employment at age 60 with the city is eligible to receive retiree health and life insurance benefits from the city. In order to do so, the employee must elect such coverage and pay to the city the retiree share of said premium in advance pursuant to the rules established by the New Castle Clerk-Treasurer's in order to ensure payment of such premium. Upon reaching the age of 65, the retiree would receive such coverage as is available under the city's medicare supplement insurance plan as currently provided by existing city ordinances. Elected officials who meet the credible service definition herein set forth. All full-time employees as utilized hereinabove include all represented, non-represented, and appointed city employees who meet the definition of full-time employee who work a minimum of 40 hours each week, 52 weeks a year, subject to vacation, holiday and sick time. Said years of service must be continuous and meet the definition of credible service as that term is defined by the Public Employment Retirement Fund.
(b) All former employees must have 20 years of verifiable, creditable and continuous employment with the City of New Castle to be eligible for City of New Castle retiree insurance benefits.
(2) Any police officer or firefighter who retired on or after January 1, 1974.
(3) City Council members, Court Judge, Mayor and Clerk-Treasurer (all elected officials) shall not qualify or be defined as "retirement employees" and shall not qualify for benefits as retired employees of the city. However, anyone qualified as a retired employee as of January 1, 1993, in accordance with the definition for retired employees that existed on that date, may enroll in the city's health and other insurance programs as available to retired represented employees as retired employees or continue on such programs as retired employees under this section, even though he or she may not qualify under this definition as amended herein.
(4) The surviving spouse of any eligible retired employee provided that the surviving spouse and the retired employee were married and not legally separated on the date of the retired employee's death, since January 1, 1974.
(C) Retired employees of the city may become members of the Health and Hospitalization Insurance Plan carried by the city for its employees. Retired employees or their dependents who are less than 65 years of age will have the same benefits as the city employees. Retired employees or their dependents age 65 years or more shall have a Medicare Carve-Out Plan.
(1) The retired employee must pay any portion of the premiums not paid for by the city. When a retired employee enrolls in the plan, the employee must pay one month premium payment in advance. One month's premium payment shall be due on the first day of each month thereafter. If a retired employee has a premium payment past due on the first day of any month, the City Clerk-Treasurer shall notify the retired employee by letter sent by regular United States mail to the last known address of the retired employee that one month's premium payment is due and that if the premium payment is not paid by the next fifteenth day of the month, the insurance coverage shall automatically expire on the last day of the month.
(2) An enrollment period shall be open from December l to December 31. No retired employee shall be permitted to enroll during any other period of the year except for future newly retired employees who may enroll within 30 days of their retirement. The effective date of policies will be February l, which is also the annual renewal date of all city employees covered by the master policies.
(D) The city shall contribute 95% in 1988, 1989 and 1990 toward the total premium payment of a plan for retirees, which shall be contracted by the Board of Public Works and Safety. The city's contribution toward the total premium of retired employee as defined under division (B)(3) shall be the same as the city's contribution as provided under division (E). The plan shall include major medical-hospitalization, a co-pay prescription plan, and an optical plan.
(E) All members of the Police and Fire Departments retiring with a determination of time served from the local pension boards of at least 20 years creditable service and approved by the respective pension board. Any regular, permanent police officer or firefighter retiring on a permanent total disability pension who shall qualify for benefit under IC 36-8-1 et seq. as a result of a job-related incident. Any regular permanent police officer or firefighter retiring with a vested status (ten years or more service) on a permanent and total disability pension who shall qualify for a benefit under IC 36-8-1 et seq. non job-related incident. The city shall contribute 95% toward the total premium of a plan for retirees, which shall be contracted by the Board of Public Works and Safety. The plan shall include major medical-hospitalization, a co-pay prescription plan, and an optical plan. The provisions of this division apply only to regular permanent members of the City Police and Fire Departments, excluding probationary members.
(Ord. 2309, passed 9-4-79; Am. Ord. 237l, passed l-5-8l; Am. Ord. 2694, passed 12-22-87; Am. Ord. 2734, passed 12-19-88; Am. Ord. 2742, passed 2-6-89; Am. Ord. 2918, passed 5-17-93; Am. Ord. 2968, passed - -93; Am. Ord. 3822, passed 12-2-19)
Cross-reference:
Insurance policies of Police Department, see § 33.11