The State Health Benefit Local Government Retired Employees Plan (the Plan) is a cost-sharing multiple-employer defined benefit other postemployment benefit (OPEB) plan with a special funding situation. It covers employees of local government employers that have adopted a resolution to participate in the Plan. The plan meets the definition of an equivalent arrangement as defined in paragraph 4 of GASB Statement No. 75, Accounting and Financial Reporting for the Postemployment Benefits Other Than Pensions; therefore, assets are accumulated to pay associated benefits. For additional information about the Plan, please refer to the State of New Jersey (the State), Division of Pensions and Benefits’ (the Division) Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR), which can be found at https://www.state.nj.us/treasury/pensions/financial-reports.shtml.

The Plan provides medical and prescription drug to retirees and their covered dependents of the participating employers. Under the provisions of Chapter 88, P.L 1974 and Chapter 48, P.L. 1999, local government employers electing to provide postretirement medical coverage to their employees must file a resolution with the Division. Under Chapter 88, local employers elect to provide benefit coverage based on the eligibility rules and regulations promulgated by the State Health Benefits Commission. Chapter 48 allows local employers to establish their own age and service eligibility for employer paid health benefits coverage for retired employees.

Under Chapter 48, the employer may assume the cost of postretirement medical coverage for employees and their dependents who: 1) retired on a disability pension; or 2) retired with 25 or more years of service credit in a State or locally administered retirement system and a period of service of up to 25 years with the employer at the time of retirement as established by the employer; or 3) retired and reached the age of 65 with 25 or more years of service credit in a State or locally administered retirement system and a period of service of up to 25 years with the employer at the time of retirement as established by the employer; or 4) retired and reached age 62 with at least 15 years of service with the employer. Further, the law provides that the employer paid obligations for retiree coverage may be determined by means of a collective negotiations agreement.

In accordance with Chapter 330, P.L. 1997, which is codified in N.J.S.A 52:14-17.32i, the State provides medical and prescription coverage to local police officers and firefighters, who retire with 25 years of service or on a disability from an employer who does not provide postretirement medical coverage. Local employers were required to file a resolution with the Division in order for their employees to qualify for State-paid retiree health benefits coverage under Chapter 330. The State also provides funding for retiree health benefits to survivors of local police officers and firefighters who die in the line of duty under Chapter 271, P.L.1989.

Pursuant to Chapter 78, P.L, 2011, future retirees eligible for postretirement medical coverage who have less than 20 years of creditable service on June 28, 2011 will be required to pay a percentage of the cost of their health care coverage in retirement provided they retire with 25 or more years of pension service credit. The percentage of the premium for which the retiree will be responsible will be determined based on the retiree’s annual retirement benefit and level of coverage.

Plan membership and contributing employers/non-employers consisted of the following at June 30, 2022: