1. A. Employee Coverage

   1. 1. For the purpose of determining eligibility to participate in OGB health coverage and life insurance, the term employee shall refer to a full-time employee as defined by a participating employer and in accordance with federal and state law.
   2. 2. Covered Persons, Both Employees. No one may be enrolled simultaneously as an employee and as a dependent under an OGB plan, nor may a dependent be covered as a dependent of more than one employee. If a covered dependent is eligible for coverage as an employee, he/she may choose to be covered separately at a later OGB designated enrollment period. Coverage shall be effective as directed by the OGB designated enrollment period.

   3. 3. Effective Dates of Coverage, New Employee, Transferring Employee. Coverage for each employee who follows the OGB procedures for enrollment and agrees to make the required payroll contributions to his/her participating employer is effective as follows:

      1. a. if employment begins on the first day of the month, coverage is effective on the first day of the following month (for example, if employment begins on July 1, coverage will begin on August 1);
      2. b. if employment begins on or after the second day of the month, coverage is effective on the first day of the second month following employment (for example, if employment begins on July 15, coverage will begin on September 1);
      3. c. employee coverage will not become effective unless the employee completes an enrollment form within 30 days following the date employment begins;
      4. d. an employee who transfers employment to another participating employer shall complete a transfer form within 30 days following the date of transfer to maintain coverage without interruption.
   4. 4. Effective Dates of Coverage, Existing Employee. Existing employees may only enroll in a plan during open enrollment or as otherwise specified by the OGB health plan document. Coverage for the employee will be effective on the first day of the new plan year or on the date set forth in the OGB health plan document.

   5. 5. Re-Enrollment Previous Employment for Health Benefits and Life Insurance

      1. a. An employee whose employment terminated while covered who is re-employed within 12 months of the date of termination will be considered a re-enrollment previous employment applicant.
      2. b. If an employee acquires an additional dependent during the period of termination, that dependent may be covered if added within 30 days of re-employment.
   6. 6. Members of Boards and Commissions. Except as otherwise provided by law, members of boards or commissions are not eligible for participation in an OGB plan of benefits. This Section does not apply to members of school boards or members of state boards or commissions who are determined by the participating employer and in accordance with federal and state law to be full-time employees.

   7. 7. Legislative Assistants. Legislative assistants are eligible to participate in an OGB plan if they are determined to be full-time employees by the participating employer under applicable federal and state law or pursuant to R.S. 24:31.5(C), either:

      1. a. receive at least 60 percent of the total compensation available to employ the legislative assistant if a legislator employs only one legislative assistant; or
      2. b. is the primary legislative assistant as defined in R.S. 24:31.5(C) when a legislator employs more than one legislative assistant.

2. B. Retiree Coverage

   1. 1. Eligibility

      1. a. Retirees of participating employers are eligible for retiree coverage under an OGB plan.
      2. b. An employee retired from a participating employer may not be covered as an active employee.
      3. c. Coverage for re-employed retirees is governed by LAC 32:I.323.B, Employer Responsibility.

   2. 2. Effective Date of Coverage

      1. a. Retiree coverage will be effective on the first day of the month following the date of retirement if the retiree and participating employer have agreed to make and are making the required contributions. For purposes of eligibility, the date of retirement shall be the date the person is eligible to receive a retirement plan distribution. (For example, if date of retirement is July 15, retiree coverage will begin August 1; if date of retirement is August 1, retiree coverage will begin September 1.).

   3. 3. Payment of Premiums

      1. a. Unless a retiree’s agency remits the premiums in full, all retirees enrolled in OGB-sponsored coverage or who elect to continue their OGB coverage shall pay their health coverage and life insurance premiums, as applicable, by having the amount(s) deducted on a monthly basis from either their retirement plan distribution or a bank account through an automated clearing house (ACH) payment.

3. C. Documented Dependent Coverage

   1. 1. Eligibility. A documented dependent, in the OGB primary plan document, of an eligible employee or retiree will be eligible for dependent coverage on the later of the following dates:

      1. a. date the employee becomes eligible;
      2. b. date the retiree becomes eligible; or
      3. c. date the covered employee or covered retiree acquires a dependent.

   2. 2. Effective Dates of Coverage. Application for coverage is required to be made within 30 days of eligibility for coverage.

      1. a. Documented Dependents of Employees. Coverage will be effective on the date of marriage for new spouses, the date of birth for newborn children, or the date acquired for other classifications of dependents, if application is made within 30 days of the date of eligibility.
      2. b. Documented Dependents of Retirees. Coverage for dependents of retirees who were covered immediately prior to retirement will be effective on the first day of the month following the date of retirement. Coverage for dependents of retirees first becoming eligible for dependent coverage following the date of retirement will be effective on the date of marriage for new spouses, the date of birth for newborn children, or the date acquired for other classifications of dependents, if application is made within 30 days of the date of eligibility.
4. D. Special Enrollments―HIPAA. Certain eligible persons may enroll as provided for by HIPAA under circumstances, terms, and conditions for special enrollments.
5. E. Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) Option. In lieu of participating in an OGB self-funded health plan, enrollees may elect coverage under an OGB offered fully insured HMO.

6. F. Medicare Advantage Option for Retirees

   1. 1. Any retiree who enrolls in an OGB-sponsored Medicare Advantage plan may enroll in another OGB-sponsored plan of benefits during OGB’s annual open enrollment period unless an OGB-recognized Qualified Life Event applies. Any retiree enrolled in an OGB-sponsored Medicare Advantage plan may enroll in another OGB-sponsored Medicare Advantage plan during OGB’s annual open enrollment period or Medicare’s annual enrollment period.
   2. 2. Any retiree who elects to participate in a Medicare Advantage plan (MA plan) not sponsored by OGB will be allowed to re-enroll in a plan offered by OGB only if re-enrollment is requested within six months of the retiree’s enrollment in the MA plan not sponsored by OGB. Such a retiree who is permitted to re-enroll in OGB coverage will be enrolled retroactively into OGB’s Primary Plan of Benefits upon OGB’s receipt of payment of all premiums due for the months the retiree was not enrolled in OGB coverage, the month payment is received by OGB, and the month following OGB’s receipt of payment. The retiree will remain in OGB’s Primary Plan of Benefits until the retiree makes a different selection during an OGB annual open enrollment period unless the retiree experiences a qualifying life event that permits a plan change.
7. G. Tricare for Life Option for Military Retirees. Retirees eligible to participate in the Tricare for Life (TFL) option on and after October 1, 2001 who cancel participation in an OGB plan of benefits upon enrollment in TFL may re-enroll in an OGB offered plan of benefits in the event that the TFL option is discontinued or its benefits are significantly reduced.
8. H. Eligibility requirements apply to all participants in OGB health coverage and life insurance programs.

Authority Note

AUTHORITY NOTE: Promulgated in accordance with R.S. 42:801(C) and 802(B)(1).

Historical Note

HISTORICAL NOTE: Promulgated by Office of the Governor, Division of Administration, Office of Group Benefits, LR 41:339 (February 2015), effective March 1, 2015, amended LR 41:2350 (November 2015), effective January 1, 2016, LR 51:1857 (November 2025), effective January 1, 2026, amended LR 52:678 (May 2026), effective July 1, 2026.