Virginia Law

A. Any local employer desiring to participate in the health benefits program shall complete an employer application provided by the department and execute an adoption agreement acknowledging the rights, duties, and responsibilities of the department and the local employer.

As a condition of participation, the department may require the local employer to complete the application in its entirety and deliver it to the department no less than 120 days prior to the effective date of coverage under the health benefits program. The application shall include the designation of a local administrator and include a list of other individuals whose responsibilities may be such that the department may have cause to contact them.

The application of a local employer may be withdrawn without penalty any time within the first 30 days after the department's delivery of rates to the employer. A 15-day extension will be available upon written request by the employer. Thereafter, the department may levy a processing charge not to exceed $500 to cover the cost of processing the application.

B. Except in unusual circumstances to be determined by the department, the completion of any waiting periods will not be required of employees of local employers joining the program at the time of a local employer's initial participation.

C. Local employers may include in the program their active employees, or their active employees and their retirees. Local employers may not elect to cover only retirees. If the local employer wishes to provide benefits to their Medicare-eligible retirees it must also provide coverage for non-Medicare retirees. The local employer's beneficiaries qualified under the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985 (COBRA) or similar legislation may also participate in the program.