Section R2-6-301. Eligibility to Participate in Health, Dental, and Vision Insurance Plans

A.      Employees, officers, and retirees. An employee, officer, or retiree may participate in the health, dental, and vision insur- ance plans made available by the Department by enrolling at the time specified in R2-6-105 and agreeing to pay the con- tracted cost of each insurance plan chosen.

B.       Former elected officials. A former elected official may partici- pate in the health, dental, and vision insurance plans made available by the Department if the former elected official:

1.        Has at least five years of credited service in the Elected Officials’ Retirement Plan established at A.R.S. § 38- 802;

2.        Participated in a group health, dental, or vision insurance plan made available to elected officials at the time of leaving office;

3.        Served as an elected official on or after January 1, 1983;

4.        Enrolls at the time specified in R2-6-105; and

5.        Agrees to pay the contracted cost of the insurance plan.

C.      Eligible dependents. A member may enroll an eligible depen- dent in the health, dental, and vision insurance plans made available by the Department at the time specified in R2-6-105. The member who enrolls an eligible dependent shall pay the contracted cost of the insurance plan.

D.      Surviving dependents. A surviving dependent, as defined at R2-6-101, may continue coverage under the health, dental, and vision insurance plans made available by the Department by enrolling at the time specified in R2-6-105 and paying the con- tracted cost of the insurance plan.

E.       Surviving spouse. A surviving spouse, as defined at R2-6-101, may continue coverage under the health, dental, and vision insurance plans made available by the Department by enroll- ing at the time specified in R2-6-105 and paying the contracted cost of the insurance plan.

F.       Eligibility exception. An employee or officer who is on approved leave without pay and the enrolled eligible depen- dents of the employee or officer may continue enrollment in the health, dental, and vision insurance plans made available by the Department under the conditions in:

1.        R2-5-405 if the employee or officer is on approved leave without pay because of an industrial illness or injury,

2.        R2-5-413 if the employee or officer is on approved medi- cal leave without pay, and

3.        R2-5-414 if the employee or officer is on approved leave without pay for another reason.

G.      Coverage of a newborn infant.

1.        The state shall provide health insurance to an infant born to a member or the member’s spouse from the time the infant is born until the infant reaches its 31st day. To ensure that the infant continues to have health insurance coverage, the member shall enroll the infant in the health insurance plan made available by the Department before the infant reaches its 31st day.

2.        In compliance with the Newborns’ and Mothers’ Health Protection Act of 1996, the state shall provide health insurance to an infant born to a member’s eligible depen- dent other than the member’s spouse. As permitted under the Newborns’ and Mothers’ Health Protection Act of 1996, the state shall limit health insurance provided under this subsection to 48 hours for a vaginal delivery and 96 hours for delivery by cesarean section. A member who wishes to obtain health insurance for the infant beyond the time required under the Newborns’ and Mothers’ Health Protection Act of 1996, may enroll the infant in the health insurance plan made available by the Depart- ment if the infant is eligible.

Historical Note

Adopted effective July 27, 1983 (Supp. 83-4). Former Section R2-6-301 renumbered to R2-6-501, new Section R2-6-301 adopted effective September 16, 1997 (Supp. 97-3). Section expired under A.R.S. § 41-1056(E) at 8

A.A.R. 5017, effective September 30, 2002 (Supp. 02-4). New Section made by final rulemaking at 15 A.A.R. 258,

effective March 7, 2009 (Supp. 09-1).