This bill amends RCW 41.26.510 to enhance medical insurance premium reimbursements for the surviving spouses and dependent children of members who die in the line of duty. It introduces provisions that require the retirement allowance paid to these survivors to include reimbursements for premiums on employer-provided medical insurance, COBRA, and Medicare Parts A and B. Specifically, it mandates that eligible survivors must enroll and maintain enrollment in both Medicare parts to qualify for these reimbursements. Additionally, the bill ensures that if a member's death is determined to be in the course of employment, the reimbursement for premiums will be retroactive to the date of the member's death.

Furthermore, the bill provides that if a surviving spouse or domestic partner is not eligible for industrial insurance payments due to remarriage, they will receive an amount equivalent to what they would have received under RCW 51.32.050, despite the remarriage. This provision applies to those whose benefits were suspended or terminated due to remarriage prior to July 24, 2015. The new section also clarifies that the reimbursement provisions for premiums apply retroactively to payments made after June 10, 2010, while other aspects of the bill will apply prospectively.

Statutes affected:
Original bill: 41.26.510