Measure advances requiring lawmakers to pay for health insurance coverage

Beginning next year, state lawmakers would no longer automatically get free healthcare when they retire, under Senate Bill 2292 that was approved unanimously by the Senate. 

The legislation requires any member of the General Assembly after January 2019, who retires as a participating member of the General Assembly Retirement System, to be responsible for 50 percent of the applicable premiums, charges, or other fees for the basic program of group health benefits. 

Senate Bill 2292 also allows retired lawmakers who served prior to January 2019 to choose to pay 50 percent of their healthcare insurance costs upon retirement.