Signed by Governor Phil Murphy

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to concur with house amendments and pass a bill that amends health benefits for teachers.

Highlights:

• Requires the School Employee’s Health Benefits Program to offer 3 plans that provide medical and prescription drug benefits for employees and retirees and their dependents who are not Medicare-eligible, beginning with the plan year that starts January 1, 2021 (Sec 1).

• Requires employers that participate in the School Employees’ Health Benefits Program to retain the ability to enter the program for medical-only plans (Sec 1).

• Authorizes employers that participate in the School Employees’ Health Benefits Program to separately purchase pharmacy and dental benefits outside of the program without limitation or restriction (Sec 1).

• Requires employees who started employment prior to January 1, 2021, to select affirmatively one of the 3 plans specified in this bill (Sec 1).

• Requires an employee who does not select one of the 3 plans to be automatically enrolled in the New Jersey Educator’s Health Plan or the Garden State Health Plan if selected by the employee (Sec 1).

• Requires the annual base salary to be used to identify the percentage to be used to calculate the annual contribution required under the New Jersey Educator’s Health Plan (Sec 2).

Full Bill Text