(a) Within the limits of appropriations made or available therefor and subject to the provisions of appropriation acts relating thereto, the Kansas state employees health care commission shall develop and provide for the implementation and administration of a state health care benefits program. The state employees health care commission shall balance the healthcare needs of state employees at an affordable cost to the employees with the financial impact on the state.

(b) (1) Subject to the provisions of paragraph (2), the state health care benefits program may provide benefits for persons qualified to participate in the program for hospitalization, medical services, surgical services, nonmedical remedial care and treatment rendered in accordance with a religious method of healing and other health services. The program may include such provisions as are established by the Kansas state employees health care commission, including, but not limited to, qualifications for benefits, services covered, schedules and graduation of benefits, conversion privileges, deductible amounts, limitations on eligibility for benefits by reason of termination of employment or other change of status, leaves of absence, military service or other interruptions in service and other reasonable provisions as may be established by the commission.

(2) The state health care benefits program shall provide the benefits and services required by Kan. Stat. Ann. § 75-6524, and amendments thereto.

(c) The Kansas state employees health care commission shall designate by rules and regulations those persons who are qualified to participate in the state health care benefits program, including active and retired public officers and employees and their dependents as defined by rules and regulations of the commission. Such rules and regulations shall not apply to students attending a state educational institution as defined in Kan. Stat. Ann. § 76-711, and amendments thereto, who are covered by insurance contracts entered into by the board of regents pursuant to Kan. Stat. Ann. § 75-4101, and amendments thereto. In designating persons qualified to participate in the state health care benefits program, the commission may establish such conditions, restrictions, limitations and exclusions as the commission deems reasonable. Such conditions, restrictions, limitations and exclusions shall include the conditions contained in Kan. Stat. Ann. § 75-6506(d), and amendments thereto. Each person who was formerly elected or appointed and qualified to an elective state office and who was covered immediately preceding the date such person ceased to hold such office by the provisions of group health insurance or a health maintenance organization plan under the law in effect prior to August 1, 1984, or the state health care benefits program in effect after that date, shall continue to be qualified to participate in the state health care benefits program and shall pay the cost of participation in the program as established and in accordance with the procedures prescribed by the commission if such person chooses to participate therein.

(d) (1) Commencing with the 2009 plan year that begins January 1, 2009, if a state employee elects the high deductible health plan and health savings account, the state’s employer contribution shall equal the state’s contribution to any other health benefit plan offered by the state. The cost savings to the state for the high deductible health plan shall be deposited monthly into the employee’s health savings account up to the maximum annual amount allowed pursuant to 26 U.S.C. § 223(d), as amended, for as long as the employee participates in the high deductible plan.

(2) If the employee had not previously participated in the state health benefits plan, the employer shall calculate the average savings to the employer of the high deductible plan compared to the other available plans and contribute that amount monthly to the employee’s health savings account up to the maximum annual amount allowed pursuant to 26 U.S.C. § 223(d), as amended.

(3) The employer shall allow additional voluntary contributions by the employee to their health savings account by payroll deduction up to the maximum annual amount allowed pursuant to 26 U.S.C. § 223(d), as amended.

(e) The commission shall have no authority to assess charges for employer contributions under the student health care benefits component of the state health care benefits program for persons who are covered by insurance contracts entered into by the board of regents pursuant to Kan. Stat. Ann. § 75-4101, and amendments thereto.

(f) Nothing in this act shall be construed to permit the Kansas state employees health care commission to discontinue the student health care benefits component of the state health care benefits program until the state board of regents has contracts in effect that provide student coverage pursuant to the authority granted therefor in Kan. Stat. Ann. § 75-4101, and amendments thereto.

(g) (1) On and after July 1, 2018, the commission shall designate claimants, as defined in Kan. Stat. Ann. 2023 Supp. 60-5004, and amendments thereto, as qualified to participate in the state health care benefits program. The commission shall implement this subsection in accordance with applicable federal law, including, but not limited to, the employee retirement income security act of 1974 and any regulations issued by the United States department of the treasury.

(2) A claimant shall have 31 calendar days from the date of judgment entered pursuant to Kan. Stat. Ann. 2023 Supp. 60-5004, and amendments thereto, to complete or decline enrollment in the state health care benefits program. A claimant shall be qualified to participate in the state health care benefits program for the remainder of the plan year when judgment is entered pursuant to Kan. Stat. Ann. 2023 Supp. 60-5004, and amendments thereto, and for the next ensuing plan year. A claimant shall not be qualified to elect a high-deductible health plan and health savings account under the state health care benefits program.

(3) Costs of premiums under the state health care benefits program for a claimant shall be paid from the tort claims fund established by Kan. Stat. Ann. § 75-6117, and amendments thereto, and shall not be charged to the claimant. A claimant shall be responsible to pay any applicable copayments, deductibles and other related costs under the state health care benefits program.

(4) A claimant may elect to include the claimant’s dependents under the state health care benefits program. For any covered dependents, the claimant shall be responsible to pay the costs of premiums, copayments, deductibles and other related costs under the state health care benefits program.

(5) The secretary of health and environment or the secretary’s designee shall provide assistance to a claimant to obtain and maintain coverage under the state health care benefits program pursuant to this subsection, including: Enrollment; maintenance of related records; and other assistance as may be required or incidental to implement this subsection.