(1) An employee who retires on regular retirement or who has received approval of disability retirement prior to his or her last day of employment and is covered under the Health Program as of the last day of employment, must elect one of the following options:
    (a) To continue coverage by submitting an application in accordance with subsection 60P-2.002(2), F.A.C. Such application and a personal check or money order for one month’s full premium must be received by the employee’s former agency personnel office and forwarded to the Department no later than thirty-one (31) calendar days after the employee’s last day of employment; or
    (b) To terminate coverage under the Health Program.
    (2) An employee who applies for disability retirement and who has not been approved or rejected prior to his or her last day of employment, but was covered under the Health Program as of the last day of employment, shall have the following options:
    (a) The employee may continue coverage in the Health Program pending such approval or rejection by paying the full monthly premium by personal check or money order to the Department in accordance with Fl. Admin. Code R. 60P-2.006 If coverage is continued and:
    1. The disability retirement is subsequently approved, the employee must complete an application in accordance with Fl. Admin. Code R. 60P-2.011(1)(a)
    2. The disability retirement is subsequently rejected, coverage under the Program will terminate the end of the month in which such application is rejected. However, the subscriber may apply for continuation coverage offered by the administrator or convert to a direct pay plan offered by the Servicing Agent pursuant to Fl. Admin. Code R. 60P-2.015
    (b) The employee may elect not to continue coverage in the Health Program pending the determination of disability retirement and thereby allow such coverage to terminate on the last day for which contributions have been paid. If coverage is allowed to terminate and:
    1. The disability retirement is subsequently approved, the employee may apply for reenrollment in the Health Program subject to the following requirements:
    a. The employee shall complete an application in accordance with Fl. Admin. Code R. 60P-2.011(1)(a), indicating the disability retirement status and submit to the former agency personnel office who must forward such application to the Department no later than thirty-one (31) calendar days after the date of approval of the disability retirement;
    b. The retiree shall pay all back premiums from the date of termination of coverage within thirty-one (31) calendar days after the date of approval of the disability retirement since coverage must be continuous.
    2. The disability retirement is subsequently rejected, coverage under the Program will terminate on the last day for which premiums had been paid and the subscriber shall not be eligible for reenrollment in the Health Program, continuation coverage nor conversion to a direct pay plan.
    (3) An employee who does not elect to continue coverage as provided in this Section or terminates coverage after retirement shall not be eligible to reenter the Health Program at a later date unless subsequently reemployed by the State.
Specific Authority 110.123(5) FS. Law Implemented Florida Statutes § 110.123. History-New 10-8-78, Amended 7-1-80, 9-13-82, Formerly 22K-1.24, Amended 7-16-86, Formerly 22K-1.211, Amended 8-22-96, Repromulgated 1-31-02.