509A.13A  Continuation of group insurance covering spouses.
  1.  As used in this section, unless the context otherwise requires:
  a.  “Eligible retired state employee” means a former employee of the government of the state of Iowa, including but not limited to any departments, agencies, boards, bureaus, or commissions of the state of Iowa, who is receiving the minimum level of retirement benefits for eligibility under this section and who is participating in a state health or medical group insurance plan which covers the former employee and the former employee’s spouse at the time of the death of the former employee.
  b.  “Minimum level of retirement benefits for eligibility under this section” means any of the following:
  (1)  The eligible retired state employee has received retirement benefits under the retirement system established in chapter 97A based upon the completion of at least twenty-two years of membership service.
  (2)  The eligible retired state employee has received retirement benefits under the retirement system established in chapter 97B.
  (3)  The eligible retired state employee has received retirement benefits under the retirement system established in chapter 602, article 9.
  c.  “State health or medical group insurance plan” means a health or medical group insurance plan for employees of the state.
  2.  Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, in the event of the death of an eligible retired state employee, the surviving spouse of the eligible retired state employee whose insurance would otherwise terminate because of the death of the eligible retired state employee may elect to continue to be a member of the state health or medical group insurance plan by requesting continuation in writing to the department of administrative services within thirty-one days after the death of the eligible retired state employee. The surviving spouse shall pay the total premium for the state health or medical group insurance plan and shall have the same rights to change programs or coverage as state employees.
94 Acts, ch 1183, §81; 98 Acts, ch 1183, §71, 79; 99 Acts, ch 200, §21; 2003 Acts, ch 145, §286
For provisions relating to continuation of coverage for state employee retirement incentive program participants, see 2010 Acts, ch 1005, §1, 2