If a municipality sponsors a group hospital and medical plan which includes retired firefighters and their spouses, upon written request of a retired firefighter, deductions shall be made from the pension payments of the firefighter in the amounts which the firefighter is required to contribute toward the group plan in order to obtain such coverage.
     Whenever continued group insurance coverage is elected in accordance with the provisions of § 367f of the Illinois Insurance Code, as now or hereafter amended, the total monthly premium for such continued group insurance coverage or such portion thereof as is not paid by the municipality shall, upon request of the person electing such continued group insurance coverage, be deducted from the monthly pension otherwise payable to such person pursuant to this Article, and shall be remitted by the pension fund making such deduction to the insurance company or other entity providing the group insurance coverage.