(A) Eligibility.
(1) Any person, who has qualified for and obtained retirement status for service rendered to Warrick County, and shall have been a full-time employee of Warrick County for a minimum of 15 years shall be entitled to obtain and extend coverage from medical insurance policies which are in effect with Warrick County, for the retiree and spouse so long as the retiree or spouse shall pay 50% of the COBRA premiums incurred by Warrick County for coverage of the retiree and/or spouse.
(2) Any person, who has qualified for and obtained retirement status for service rendered to Warrick County, and shall have been a full-time employee of Warrick County for a minimum of 20 years shall be entitled to obtain and extend coverage from medical insurance policies which are in effect with Warrick County, for the retiree and spouse so long as the retiree or spouse shall pay 25% of the COBRA premiums incurred by Warrick County for coverage of the retiree and/or spouse.
(3) Any person, who has qualified for and obtained retirement status for service rendered to Warrick County, and shall have been a full-time employee of Warrick County for a minimum of 25 years shall be entitled to obtain and extend coverage from medical insurance policies which are in effect with Warrick County, for the retiree and spouse so long as the retiree or spouse shall pay 15% of the COBRA premiums incurred by Warrick County for coverage of the retiree and/or spouse.
(4) Any person, who has qualified for and obtained retirement status for service rendered to Warrick County, and shall have been a full-time employee of Warrick County for a minimum of 30 years shall be entitled to obtain and extend coverage from medical insurance policies which are in effect with Warrick County, for the retiree and spouse so long as the retiree or spouse shall pay 10% of the COBRA premiums incurred by Warrick County for coverage of the retiree and/or spouse.
(5) The phrase COBRA PREMIUMS shall be defined as the COBRA premium established by the third-party administrator or Warrick County’s insurance agent as the may determine from time to time. For example, if the total cost for Warrick County to provide insurance to a retiree and/or his or her spouse is $500 per month following the retiree’s retirement, the retiree shall pay an amount equal to $500 multiplied by the applicable percentage above.
(B) Qualifying for and obtaining retirement status.
(1) A person is qualified for retirement statuses under division (A) of this section if, on the date of retirement:
(a) Such person is at least 55 years of age, is not eligible for Medicare, and is an active, full-time employee of Warrick County as of the date of the retirement; or
(b) Such person is at least 50 years of age, is not eligible for Medicare, and is an active, full-time law enforcement merit employee of Warrick County as of the date of retirement.
(2) To obtain retirement status under this section, a person who is qualified for retirement status under division (B)(1) shall notify the Warrick County Auditor of his or her intent to retire 60 days prior to retirement from Warrick County.
(3) Within 15 days of receipt of notice under division (B)(2), the Warrick County Auditor shall notify the prospective retiree as to whether he or she is qualified for retirement status as defined herein, and, if such person is qualified for retirement status, shall notify that person of his or her rights relating to such coverage.
(4) Within 30 days of receipt of notice under division (B)(3), the prospective retiree shall make application for such coverage.
(C) Events affecting coverage.
(1) In the event that a retiree from Warrick County is divorced, then the spouse is no longer eligible for any benefits pursuant to this section.
(2) In the event that a retiree from Warrick County marries after retirement, the spouse shall not be eligible for any benefits pursuant to this section.
(3) A spouse of a retiree who is otherwise qualified for, and has obtained, retirement status, shall be ineligible for continued coverage under this section if, after the retiree’s retirement from Warrick County, said spouse of a retiree obtains employment through an employer that provides group medical insurance.
(4) Any retiree who shall hereafter terminate his or her insurance coverage with Warrick County for whatever reason, including non-payment of premiums as described in division (D), below, shall thereafter be forever ineligible to return to Warrick County’s medical insurance programs as provided in this section. Additionally, any spouse of a retiree who shall hereafter terminate his or her insurance coverage with Warrick County for whatever reason including, but not limited to, obtaining group medical insurance with a subsequent employer, shall thereafter be ineligible to return to Warrick County’s medical insurance program as provided in this section.
(5) In the event that the retiree dies, the surviving spouse who otherwise qualifies to receive insurance coverage with Warrick County shall be eligible to retain medical insurance benefits pursuant to this section so long as the surviving spouse does not remarry or obtain employment through an employer that provides group medical insurance.
(D) Premium contributions and payment.
(1) The retiree and his or her spouse, if applicable, shall contribute a portion of the monthly COBRA premiums in accordance with the percentage schedule referenced in division (A) of this section. Such premium contributions shall be altered in accordance with defined calculations when the total cost of insurance to Warrick County changes based on policy renewal or applicable changes to the plan.
(2) Payment of premium contributions shall be due the first of each month and delivered to the Warrick County Auditor. Payment shall be made by check or money order payable only to the Warrick County Treasurer. Payments shall be late if received after the tenth day of the month when payment is due, in which event the retiree shall be assessed a late fee of $25.
(3) If payments of a premium contribution get two months in arrears, the retiree, and if applicable, the spouse’s medical insurance premium account shall be placed on probationary status until premium contributions and late fees are paid in full. If payments of premium contribution go three months in arrears, the Warrick County Auditor shall notify the retiree, and if applicable, the spouse, in writing that the retirement medical benefit shall be terminated in 30 days if premium contributions and late fees are not paid in full. If payments of a premium contribution become four months in arrears, the medical insurance for that retiree, and if applicable, the spouse and any dependents shall be terminated and the Warrick County Auditor shall notify the retiree and spouse in writing.
(E) Conversion to Medicare supplement plan. When the retiree attains the age of 65 years or the spouse, if applicable, attains the age of 65 years, the medical insurance coverage shall be converted to a Medicare supplement plan which is in effect between the Warrick County and a private insurer. The portion of the premium contribution paid by the retiree, spouse, and Warrick County shall remain the same as provided in division (A) of this section.
(F) The term WARRICK COUNTY AUDITOR as identified in this section shall mean the Warrick County Human Resources Director so long as the position is in existence at the time of the prospective retiree’s retirement date.
(CC Ord. 1998-15, passed 11-23-98; Am. BC Ord. 2002-13, passed 11-20-02; Am. BC Ord. 2009-07, passed 8-10-09; Am. BC Ord. 2012-21, passed 6-25-12; Am. BC Ord. 2014-09, passed 3-24-14; Am. BC Ord. 2014-13, passed 5-12-14; Am. BC Ord. 2017-31, passed 11-27-17)