Creates provisions relating to an option to opt out of coverage under the Missouri consolidated health care plan and receive an annual stipend instead

SECOND REGULAR SESSION
HOUSE BILL NO. 1833
103RD GENERAL ASSEMBL Y
INTRODUCED BY REPRESENT A TIVE COSTLOW .
3986H.01I JOSEPH ENGLER, Chief Clerk
AN ACT
T o amend chapter 103, RSMo, by adding thereto one new section relating to the Missouri
consolidated health care plan.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the state of Missouri, as follows:
Section A. Chapter 103, RSMo, is amended by adding thereto one new section, to be
2 known as section 103.087, to read as follows:
103.087. 1. Notwithstanding any other prov ision of law , an active employee who
2 is eligible for coverage in the pr ogram of health car e benefits established by the board
3 under this chapter may elect not to rece ive that coverage and instead be paid an annual
4 stipend if all of the following occur:
5 (1) The employee is eligible for a contribution fr om the state toward the cost of
6 the coverage;
7 (2) The employee makes the election on a form prov ided by the board and
8 pr ovides proof of coverage under a separate health insurance plan as described under
9 subdivision (3) of this subsection; and
10 (3) Either:
11 (a) The employee makes the election within thirty-one days of his or her hir e
12 date. If an employee makes the election under this paragraph, the pr oof req uired under
13 subdivision (2) of this subsection shall be pro of that the employee is curr ently cover ed
14 by a separate health insurance plan. Any employee who makes the election under this
15 paragraph shall not recei ve the health care coverage under this chapter during the
16 calendar year in which the election is made; or
EXPLANA TION — Matter enclosed in bold-faced brackets [thus] in the above bill is not enacted and is
intended to be omitted from the law . Matter in bold-face type in the above bill is proposed language.
17 (b) The employee makes the election during any applicable open enr ollment
18 period established by the board. If the employee makes the election under this
19 paragraph, the pr oof req uired under subdivision (2) of this subsection shall be proo f
20 that the employee will be covered by a separate health insurance plan at or befor e the
21 beginning of the succeeding calendar year . Any employee who makes the election under
22 this paragraph shall not receive the health care coverage under this chapter during the
23 succeeding calendar year .
24 2. (1) The annual stipend paid to an employee under subsection 1 of this section
25 shall be equal to fifty perce nt of the amount that the state would have paid to contribute
26 toward the cost of the health care coverage for the individual employee during the
27 r elevant calendar year if the employee had enrol led in such coverage. Contributions
28 that the state would have paid toward the cost of health care coverage for any spouse or
29 dependents of an employee shall not be consider ed in determining the amount of the
30 stipend.
31 (2) If any rel evant period in which the employee is forgoing health care coverage
32 under subsection 1 of this section is less than a full calendar year , the stipend shall be
33 pr orated accordingly .
34 3. The annual stipend paid to an employee under subsection 1 of this section
35 shall be tr eated as taxable income fro m state employment.
36 4. Nothing in this section shall apply to dental or vision benefit coverage.
✔
HB 1833 2