MS HB595

Expands the definition of "employee" under the State and School Employees Health and Life Insurance Plan to include active county and municipal employees and elected officials for health insurance participation only (not life insurance).

Expands the definition of "retiree" to include retired county and municipal employees and elected officials who participated in the health insurance program for at least 20 years before retirement.

Specifies that the state shall not share in the cost of health insurance for county and municipal employees; instead, the employing county or municipality must pay an amount equal to what they would contribute under existing county/municipal insurance provisions.

Authorizes counties and municipalities to pay the state directly for coverage of their employees in the state plan, with any costs not covered by the employer to be paid by the participating employee.

Effective date: July 1, 2017.