Resolution 119-2001
Board of County Commissioners
RESOLUTION NO. 119
- 2001
A RESOLUTION CANCELING RESOLUTION NO. 104-1999 AND AMENDING
RETIREMENT ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS FOR GROUP HEALTH INSURANCE
COVERAGE FOR MONROE COUNTY EMPLOYEES.
WHEREAS, group health insurance expenses have been steadily increasing; and
WHEREAS, the number of retired County employees continues to increase dramatically each
year; and
WHEREAS, it is the intent of the Monroe County Board of County Commissioners to allow
County employees, including employees of the Constitutional Officers and the Mosquito Control Board,
who meet the criteria established in this resolution to retire through the Florida Retirement System and
maintain their group health insurance benefits with Monroe County as provided herein; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF MONROE COUNTY,
FLORIDA:
Section 1.
A. (i) Employees in FRS Regular and Special Risk Classes with a hire date prior to
October 1, 2001, with a minimum of ten (10) years of full-time service with Monroe County, who retire on,
or after, their normal retirement date as described in Sec. 121.021(29), F.S., and who are covered under
the group health insurance coverage provided by Monroe County upon retirement, employees in other
FRS Classes who complete the number of years of creditable service required by the Florida Statutes to
be eligible for a benefit under FRS, who retire on, or after, their normal retirement date under
Sec. 121.021 (29) F.S., and who are covered under the group health insurance coverage provided by
Monroe County upon retirement, including those who have retired or will retire in accordance with these
provisions, and all other retirees who as of October 1, 2001 are participating in the County's group
insurance program at no cost, may maintain their group health insurance benefits with Monroe County
following their retirement at no cost.
(ii) Employees hired, on or after, October 1, 2001, who meet the requirements of
Section 1. A. (i) may maintain their group health insurance benefits with Monroe County following their
termination of employment, provided such retired employees pay to Monroe County a monthly premium in
an amount established annually by the Board of County Commissioners. The premium will equal, but not
exceed, Monroe County's monthly departmental cost for active employees. Such premium will be
payable on the first day of every month commencing with the month following the month in which the
employee retires.
B. (i) Employees with a hire date prior to October 1, 2001, with ten (10) years of full-
time service with Monroe County who are covered under the group health insurance coverage provided
by Monroe County upon retirement and retire at an early retirement date, as described in Sec.
121.021(30) F.S., may maintain their group health insurance benefits with Monroe County following their
early retirement, provided such early retirees pay to Monroe County a monthly premium in an amount
established annually by the Board of County Commissioners. The premium will equal, but not exceed,
Monroe County's monthly departmental cost for active employees. Such premium will be payable on the
first day of every month commencing with the month following the month in which the employee retires.
Early retirees who pay the premiums described in this subsection 1. B. (i) will continue to be covered by
Monroe County's group health insurance benefits at no cost to the retirees upon meeting either of the
following requirements:
(a) Sixty (60) years of age for Regular Class employees or fifty-five (55)
years of age for Special Risk Class; or
(b) Qualification under the Rule of 70 wherein the combined years of service
with Monroe County and the retiree's age equal a total of seventy (70).
(ii) Employees with a hire date on or after October 1, 2001, who meet the
requirements of Section 1. B. (i) above and retire at an early retirement date, may maintain their group
health insurance benefits with Monroe County following their early retirement, provided such early retirees
pay to Monroe County a monthly premium in an amount established annually by the Board of County
Commissioners. The premium will equal, but not exceed, Monroe County's monthly departmental cost for
active employees. Such premium will be payable on the first day of every month commencing with the
month following the month in which the employee retires. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary,
however, employees with a hire date on or after October 1, 2001 are not eligible for the premium
adjustment under Section 1. B. (i).
C. Employees with at least ten (10) years of full-time service with Monroe County who are
covered under the group health insurance coverage provided by Monroe County upon termination of
employment and are fully vested under FRS who elect not to retire under FRS upon termination of
employment with Monroe County, may elect to re-enroll under the group health insurance coverage
provided by Monroe County upon retirement under FRS, provided that Monroe County was their last FRS
employer. Former employees electing this option, may maintain their group health insurance benefits
with Monroe County following such election, provided such former employees pay to Monroe County a
monthly premium in an amount established annually by the Board of County Commissioners. The
premium will equal, but not exceed, Monroe County's monthly departmental cost for active employees.
Such premium will be payable on the first day of every month beginning with the first of the month
following the month in which the employee elects to re-enroll under the group health insurance coverage
provided by Monroe County upon retirement from FRS. Employees electing this option must, notify
Monroe County of their intent to re-enroll in the County's group health insurance program. Employees
who re-enroll under the group health insurance coverage pursuant to this paragraph are not eligible for
premium adjustments under subsection 1. B. (i) of this resolution.
D. Employees with less than ten (10) years of full-time service with Monroe County who are
covered under the group health insurance coverage provided by Monroe County upon termination of
employment and are fully vested under FRS, upon retirement under FRS in accordance with these
provisions, may maintain their group health insurance benefits with Monroe County following their
termination of employment, provided such terminated employees pay to Monroe County a monthly
premium in an amount established annually by the Board of County Commissioners. The premium will
equal, but not exceed, Monroe County's monthly departmental cost for active employees. Such premium
will be payable on the first day of every month beginning with the first of the month following the month in
which the employee terminates employment with Monroe County. Employees with less than ten (10)
years of full-time service with the County are not eligible for premium adjustments under subsection 1. B.
(i) of this resolution.
Section 2.
This resolution shall be effective as of October 1, 2001.
Section 3. This resolution does not affect any requirement of eligibility with the Florida Retirement
System; it affects only eligibility to receive health insurance benefits under the Monroe County Group
Employee Benefit Plan.
Section 4. For purposes of this resolution, full-time service shall have the meaning provided in the
County's policies and procedures governing determination of service. For purposes of this resolution, the
definition of date of hire is the date an employee first begins work for Monroe County determined in
accordance with the County's procedures governing fringe benefits. Any break in employment of forty-
eight (48) hours or more will result in a new date of hire if the employee returns to County service.
Section 5. The Monroe County Board of County Commissioners formally reserves the right to any
and all future changes and modifications of this resolution, the group insurance contract providing health
benefits described herein and/or the required premium contributions.
Section 6. The Monroe County Board of County Commissioners cancels Resolution NO.1 04-1999.
PASSED AND ADOPTED by the Board of County Commissioners of Monroe County, Florida, at a regular
meeting of said Board held on the 13th day of March, 2001.
Mayor George Neugent yes
Mayor Pro Tem Nora Williams not present
Commissioner Dixie Spehar yes
Commissioner Charles "Sonny" McCoy yes
Commissioner Murray Nelson yes
Board of County Commissioners
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