Election. A. Any person who retires or who has elected to receive a vested benefit under the provisions of the State of Oklahoma retirement systems or persons who are currently drawing disability benefits under Section 1331 et seq. of this title or who meet each and every requirement of the State Employees Disability Program or the spouse or dependent of any such employee may continue in force the life insurance benefits authorized by the Oklahoma Employees Insurance Benefits Act in a face amount of not less than one-fourth (1/4) of the basic life insurance amount, if such election to continue in force is made within thirty (30) days from the time of severance. Persons electing to continue in force life insurance benefits shall pay the full cost of the life insurance and under such terms and conditions as established by the Oklahoma Health Care Authority. Further, any such retiree may continue in force any additional life insurance that was purchased prior to retirement at an actuarially adjusted rate and under such terms and conditions as established by the Authority. Effective January 1, 2002, nonvested employees may also continue their life insurance benefits as provided in this section following termination of employment, if the employee has completed at least eight (8) years of service with an employer participating in the Oklahoma Public Employees Retirement System or at least ten (10) years of service with an employer participating in the Teachers' Retirement System of Oklahoma. The election to continue the employee's life insurance in force must be made within thirty (30) days after the date of termination. B. Any retired employee who is receiving a benefit or terminates employment with a vested benefit from the Teachers' Retirement System of Oklahoma and who becomes enrolled in the health insurance plan offered by the Oklahoma Employees Insurance and Benefits Act, pursuant to subsection E of Section 5-117.5 of Title 70 of the Oklahoma Statutes, may elect to purchase life insurance benefits in amounts and at a cost as provided for in this section. C. In lieu of subsection A of this section, any person who retires or who has elected to receive a vested benefit under the provisions of the State of Oklahoma retirement systems and who is participating in a health insurance plan, the dental insurance plan, or the life insurance plan offered by the Authority, including such persons who are currently drawing disability benefits under Section 1331 et seq. of this title or who meet each and every requirement of the State Employees Disability Program on or before July 1, 1999, or the spouse of any such person may elect to purchase life insurance benefits authorized by this subsection in a face amount not to exceed Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000.00). Eligible persons pursuant to this subsection shall make an election by January 1, 2000, to purchase the life insurance coverage provided in this subsection. Life insurance coverage pursuant to this subsection shall depend upon providing satisfactory evidence of insurability for the person who is to be covered. Life insurance coverage, pursuant to this subsection, shall be purchased in blocks of Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00). The premium for such life insurance coverage shall be at a blended rate and shall be set by the Authority and approved by the Office of Management and Enterprise Services. The Authority shall promulgate rules necessary for the implementation of the provisions of this subsection. Added by Laws 1979, c. 108, § 2, eff. Oct. 1, 1979. Amended by Laws 1986, c. 150, § 14, emerg. eff. April 29, 1986; Laws 1991, c. 78, § 1, emerg. eff. April 18, 1991; Laws 1997, c. 213, § 1, eff. July 1, 1997; Laws 1999, c. 255, § 2, eff. Nov. 1, 1999; Laws 2000, c. 6, § 29, emerg. eff. March 20, 2000; Laws 2001, c. 197, § 5, eff. Jan. 1, 2002; Laws 2002, c. 127, § 1, eff. July 1, 2002; Laws 2012, c. 304, § 961; Laws 2025, c. 379, § 24, eff. Nov. 1, 2025.
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