| 1 | 1 | | 88R23128 RDS-F |
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| 2 | 2 | | By: Vo H.B. No. 3886 |
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| 3 | 3 | | |
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| 4 | 4 | | |
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| 5 | 5 | | A BILL TO BE ENTITLED |
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| 6 | 6 | | AN ACT |
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| 7 | 7 | | relating to the eligibility of participants in the state employees |
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| 8 | 8 | | group benefits program for certain federal benefits. |
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| 9 | 9 | | BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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| 10 | 10 | | SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 1551, Insurance Code, is |
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| 11 | 11 | | amended by adding Section 1551.069 to read as follows: |
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| 12 | 12 | | Sec. 1551.069. REVIEW OF ELIGIBILITY FOR CERTAIN BENEFITS. |
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| 13 | 13 | | (a) The board of trustees shall establish a program to |
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| 14 | 14 | | continuously: |
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| 15 | 15 | | (1) review each basic coverage plan established under |
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| 16 | 16 | | Section 1551.202 to determine whether each participant or covered |
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| 17 | 17 | | dependent is eligible to continue receiving basic health coverage |
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| 18 | 18 | | provided by that plan as the individual's primary coverage under |
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| 19 | 19 | | Section 1551.231; |
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| 20 | 20 | | (2) identify each participant or covered dependent who |
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| 21 | 21 | | is eligible to enroll in Medicare hospital and medical insurance or |
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| 22 | 22 | | Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits under 42 |
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| 23 | 23 | | U.S.C. Section 401 et seq.; and |
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| 24 | 24 | | (3) ensure that each individual identified under |
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| 25 | 25 | | Subdivision (2) is properly enrolled in Medicare hospital and |
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| 26 | 26 | | medical insurance or Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) |
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| 27 | 27 | | benefits under 42 U.S.C. Section 401 et seq., as applicable. |
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| 28 | 28 | | (b) The board of trustees may, using a competitive bidding |
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| 29 | 29 | | process, contract with a third party to implement the program under |
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| 30 | 30 | | this section. |
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| 31 | 31 | | SECTION 2. Subchapter E, Chapter 1551, Insurance Code, is |
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| 32 | 32 | | amended by adding Section 1551.231 to read as follows: |
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| 33 | 33 | | Sec. 1551.231. GROUP COVERAGE PLAN SECONDARY TO CERTAIN |
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| 34 | 34 | | OTHER COVERAGE. The basic health coverage provided by a basic |
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| 35 | 35 | | coverage plan established under Section 1551.202 is secondary to |
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| 36 | 36 | | Medicare hospital and medical insurance to the extent permitted by |
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| 37 | 37 | | federal law for a participant or covered dependent who is entitled |
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| 38 | 38 | | to receive Medicare hospital insurance benefits without charge. |
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| 39 | 39 | | SECTION 3. The change in law made by this Act applies only |
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| 40 | 40 | | to a plan year that commences on or after January 1, 2024. |
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| 41 | 41 | | SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |
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