(1) The health insurance fund is created in the retirement system. The retirement system shall deposit into the health insurance fund the member contributions for health benefits required by this section, subscriber co-payments, payments under section 79, regular interest from the income fund, and state appropriations. The retirement system shall disburse from the health insurance fund the premiums or portion of the premiums for dental, hospital, and medical coverage insurance as required by section 50b and 79.

    (2) Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, a member shall make contributions to the health insurance fund of 1% of each payment of salary received that is attributable to service performed on and after January 1, 1995. Beginning on the effective date of section 36a, a member who first became a member of Tier 1 on or before January 1, 1995 shall make contributions to the health insurance fund of 9% of each payment of salary received by the member for service as a member. Beginning on the effective date of section 36a, a member who first became a member of Tier 1 after January 1, 1995 shall make contributions to the health insurance fund of 7% of each payment of salary received by the member for service as a member. The increased contributions required under this subsection by the amendatory act that added section 36a will continue unless suspended by the board under section 36a. The contributions shall be made by payroll deductions and each member is considered to consent to the deductions as a condition of membership in the retirement system.

    (3) Except as otherwise provided by this act, membership contributions to the health insurance fund are not refundable.