Many of you have contacted me with questions regarding health insurance coverage for your stepchildren. Here is what I have found out from Kentucky Retirement Systems.You may include your stepchildren on your health insurance from Kentucky Retirement Systems. However, because stepchildren do not meet the definition of a "dependent child" under the hazardous duty law, you will be required to pay an additional insurance premium to include your stepchildren on your health insurance. Also, please note that a hazardous retiree or a surviving spouse receiving hazardous duty death benefits may include a child up to age twenty-four (24) on health insurance through Kentucky Retirement Systems. However, the premium for any such child not qualifying as a "dependent child" as defined by the hazardous duty law, will be deducted from your monthly retirement allowance.
A dependent child is defined in KRS 16.505 (17) as a child in the womb and a natural or legally adopted child of the member who has neither attained age eighteen (18) nor married or who is an unmarried full-time student who has not attained age twenty-two (22). This law has been in effect for many years.
If you will include a dependent child on your retiree health insurance coverage, you must complete a Form 6256 Designation of Dependent Child for Health Insurance. As you know, retirees with service in a hazardous duty position may elect health insurance coverage not only for themselves, but also for a spouse and dependent children. Kentucky Retirement will pay the monthly contribution for single coverage (retiree only) based upon the Commonwealth Enhanced Plan. A hazardous retiree, who elects parent plus, couple, or family coverage, will qualify for the monthly contribution for coverage based upon the Commonwealth Enhanced Plan. The percentage of the monthly contribution paid by Kentucky Retirement Systems may depend upon total service credit or retirement status. Special rules apply to a non-spouse beneficiary of a hazardous duty account. You may contact the retirement office at 1-800-928-4646, extension 4520, if you have any questions regarding the percentage of the contribution paid by Kentucky Retirement toward your retiree health insurance plan.
Ed Davis