Section 8-27-307 - Supplemental medical insurance program for retired employees - Use of funds - Funding limitations - Employee qualifications(a) Subject to the approval of the state insurance committee as created in § 8-27-201 and the local education insurance committee, all retired local education employees participating in the Tennessee consolidated retirement system may participate in the supplemental medical insurance program established in § 8-27-209; provided, that retired employees are covered by Medicare benefits and are also drawing a monthly retirement allowance from the Tennessee consolidated retirement system.(b) If, pursuant to a contract for insurance coverage authorized by this section, the provider or administrator returns or refunds any amounts by which premiums or fees exceed expenses, the amounts must be used only for the supplemental medical insurance program for retired employees. The returns or refunds must not be used to reduce the amount of state funding that would otherwise be required under subsection (c).(c)(1) From the appropriations made in the general appropriations act each year for that purpose, the state insurance committee may pay an amount on behalf of each participating retiree toward the cost of supplemental medical insurance provided pursuant to this section at the same level and on the same terms that are established by the state insurance committee pursuant to § 8-27-209(d).(2) As used in this subsection (c): (A) "Retiree" means a former teacher employed by a local education agency who is drawing a monthly retirement allowance from the Tennessee consolidated retirement system, and does not include other former local education employees; and(B) "Years of service" means only those years of service rendered by the retiree as a state employee, University of Tennessee employee, or state university and community college system higher education employee, or teacher in a local education agency, and upon which the retiree's monthly retirement allowance is based.(d) Except as provided in subsection (c), the state insurance committee shall not pay an amount toward the costs of supplemental medical insurance provided pursuant to this section.(e) Former local education employees, other than those specified in subsection (c), who elect to participate in the program shall pay the total cost of such coverage. The chief governing body of a local education employer may pass a resolution to make contributions toward the expense of such coverages; provided, that the amount, terms, and conditions of contributions must be, at all times, the same as that established by the state insurance committee pursuant to § 8-27-209(d). As used in this subsection (e), for determining the employer's contribution level, "years of service" means only those years of service rendered by the retired employee to the resolving employer and upon which the retired employee's monthly retirement allowance is based. The resolution to make contributions on behalf of retired employees must remain in effect until revoked by the chief governing body.(f) The budget of an employer electing to make contributions must include an amount sufficient to pay contributions on behalf of its retired employees covered by the supplemental insurance program. The employer shall pay the contributions to the insurer in a manner directed by the state insurance committee.(g) The supplemental medical insurance benefit authorized by this section is not available to a person otherwise qualified under subsection (a) whose initial employment with a participating local education agency or other qualifying employer commenced on or after July 1, 2015. The rights of election, transfer, and enrollment conferred by this section is not available to a person whose initial employment with a participating local education agency, the state, or other governmental agency qualifying the person for plan membership commenced on or after July 1, 2015.Added by 2023 Tenn. Acts, ch. 216, s 24, eff. 7/1/2023.