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HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2084 FILED ON: 1/15/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2801
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Marjorie C. Decker
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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:
The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
An Act relative to health insurance for surviving spouses.
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Marjorie C. Decker25th Middlesex1/15/2025 1 of 2
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2084 FILED ON: 1/15/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2801
By Representative Decker of Cambridge, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2801) of
Marjorie C. Decker relative to health insurance benefits for certain surviving spouses. Public
Service.
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)
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An Act relative to health insurance for surviving spouses.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
of the same, as follows:
1 SECTION 1. Section 11 of chapter 32A of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022
2Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out in lines 6 and 7 the words "until the
3remarriage of said surviving spouse".
4 SECTION 2. Section 9B of chapter 32B of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby
5amended by striking out in lines 4 and 5, the words ",until the remarriage or death of said
6surviving spouse".
7 SECTION 3. Section 9B of chapter 32B of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby
8amended by striking out in lines 9, 10 and 11, the words “the entire cost of such premium
9without any contribution by the governmental unit” and inserting in place thereof the following
10words: - one-half the cost of such premiums with one-half the cost of such premiums paid by the
11governmental unit.
12 SECTION 4. Section 9D of said chapter 32B is hereby repealed. 2 of 2
13 SECTION 5. The provisions in sections 1 and 2 of this act shall apply prospectively to
14surviving spouses of a deceased employee or retired employee, who remarried prior to the
15effective date of this act and whose insurance coverage, upon remarriage, was terminated under
16chapters 32A or 32B of the General Laws.
17 SECTION 6. The provisions in sections 1, 2 and 3 of this act shall be prospective from
18the effective date of this act and shall not entitle any surviving spouse of a deceased employee or
19retired employee to any retroactive insurance coverage.