ENROLLED
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Regular Session, 2012
HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 169
BY REPRESENTATIVE GUILLORY
A RESOLUTION
To authorize and direct the Office of Group Benefits to study the interpretation that results
in retired employees of school systems who are subsequently elected to their local
school boards having to pay substantial increases in their group health insurance
premiums and to report to the House Committee on Appropriations by November 1,
2012.
WHEREAS, many retired educators throughout the state of Louisiana have been
elected to public school boards; and
WHEREAS, for retirees who are covered by Medicare Parts A and B and the Office
of Group Benefits (OGB), Medicare is the primary medical payer and OGB is secondary,
which results in a reduced premium rate for such retirees; and
WHEREAS, for retirees who are eligible for coverage by virtue of being current
employees of the school system, Medicare becomes secondary under the current "working
agent" rule and OGB becomes primary, which results in a higher premium structure for such
retirees; and
WHEREAS, officials responsible for implementation of Medicare Parts A and B
have interpreted federal law and regulations to conclude that retired employees of school
systems who are subsequently elected to their school boards are "full-time employees" of
the school systems falling within the "current employment status"; and
WHEREAS, this interpretation has been forwarded to OGB, which has established
a higher premium structure for retired employees/school board members reflecting the
primary payer status of OGB; and
WHEREAS, retired educators should be encouraged to seek election to their local
school boards, and such significant increases in premiums for group health insurance will
discourage them from doing so. ENROLLEDHR NO. 169
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THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the House of Representatives of the
Legislature of Louisiana does hereby authorize and direct the Office of Group Benefits to
study the interpretation that results in retired employees of school systems who are
subsequently elected to their local school boards having to pay substantial increases in their
group health insurance premiums.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Office of Group Benefits is hereby
authorized and directed to report the results of this study to the House Committee on
Appropriations by November 1, 2012.
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATI VES