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Bill

Bill

S 4223

Provides health care benefits to disabled members of TPAF and PERS.

2024-2025 Regular Session Introduced by Patrick Diegnan and 3 co-sponsors

New Jersey bill expands health care benefits for disabled members of teacher and public employee pension funds, bridging coverage gap until retirement eligibility.

Referred to Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee
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Bill Summary · S 4223

Legislative bill overview

S 4223 expands health care benefits coverage for disabled members of New Jersey's Teachers Pension and Annuity Fund (TPAF) and Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS). The bill ensures that disabled retirees and their dependents receive continued or enhanced health insurance benefits during their disability period before reaching standard retirement age.

Why is this important

Disabled pension fund members often face a coverage gap between disability onset and retirement eligibility, potentially leaving them without affordable health insurance during a vulnerable period. This bill addresses a concrete gap in social safety net coverage for public employees who became unable to work due to injury or illness.

Potential points of contention

  • Fiscal impact: Expanding health benefits increases costs to pension funds and potentially state budgets; the bill's funding mechanism and cost estimates require scrutiny
  • Eligibility criteria: Questions about how "disabled" is defined, what documentation is required, and whether coverage matches standard retiree benefits
  • Fairness across systems: Whether similar gaps exist for private sector workers or other public pension plans, and why only TPAF/PERS members receive this expansion

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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