§ 1–621.17. Post-employment benefits.

(a) An annuitant may be eligible for the post-employment health benefits as set forth in § 1-621.05.

(b) To be eligible for post-employment health benefits, the annuitant must:

(1) Retire with at least:

(A) 10 years of creditable District service if the annuitant retired under the District Retirement Benefit Program, the Teachers’ Retirement System, the Judges’ Retirement System, or the Teachers’ Insurance and Annuity Association programs; or

(B) 10 years of creditable District service if the annuitant retired under the Police and Fire Retirement System and the annuitant was hired on or after November 10, 1996; or

(C) 5 years of creditable District service if the annuitant retired under the Police and Fire Retirement System and the annuitant was hired before November 10, 1996;

(2) Be enrolled in a health benefit plan under § 1-621.05 at the time of retirement;

(3) Have been continuously enrolled in a health benefit plan under § 1-621.05 for a period of at least 5 years preceding the annuitant’s retirement date; and

(4) Remain continuously covered under a health benefit plan under § 1-621.05.

(b-1) In addition to annuitants eligible under this section for the post-employment health benefits as set forth in § 1-621.05, individuals described in § 1-621.09(k) shall also be eligible for such benefits and those individuals shall be considered annuitants for the purposes of this section.

(c) If an annuitant’s coverage in a health benefit plan under § 1-621.05 ends, for any reason, the annuitant shall cease to be eligible for post-employment health benefits and shall not re-enroll, as an annuitant, in a health benefit plan under § 1-621.05.

(d) Upon the death of an annuitant who is enrolled in a health benefit plan under § 1-621.05 with family coverage, the annuitant’s surviving spouse and dependent children who are covered under the health benefit plan at the time of death may continue enrollment in a health benefit plan under § 1-621.05.