EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PROGRAM (i) During the TERM, the EMPLOYEE shall be entitled to participate in all formally established employee benefit, bonus, pension and profit-sharing plans and similar programs that are maintained by the EMPLOYERS from time to time, including programs in respect of group health, disability or life insurance, reimbursement of membership fees in civic, social and professional organizations and all employee benefit plans or programs hereafter adopted in writing by the Boards of Directors of the EMPLOYERS, for which senior management personnel are eligible, including any employee stock ownership plan, stock option plan or other stock benefit plan (hereinafter collectively referred to as the "BENEFIT PLANS"). Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, the EMPLOYERS may discontinue or terminate at any time any such BENEFIT PLANS, now existing or hereafter adopted, to the extent permitted by the terms of such plans and shall not be required to compensate the EMPLOYEE for such discontinuance or termination. (ii) After the expiration of the TERM or the termination of the employment of the employee for any reason other than JUST CAUSE (as defined hereinafter), the EMPLOYERS shall provide a group health insurance program in which the EMPLOYEE and her spouse will be eligible to participate and which shall provide substantially the same benefits as are available to retired employees of the EMPLOYERS on the date of this AGREEMENT until both the EMPLOYEE and her spouse become 65 years of age; provided, however that all premiums for such program shall be paid equally by the EMPLOYERS and the EMPLOYEE and/or her spouse after the EMPLOYEE's retirement; provided further, however, that the EMPLOYEE may only participate in such program for as long as the EMPLOYERS elect in their sole discretion to make available an employee group health insurance program which permits the EMPLOYERS to make coverage available for retirees.
Health Benefits For the eighteen (18) month period following the Termination Date, provided that Executive is eligible for, and timely elects COBRA continuation coverage, the Company will pay on Executive’s behalf, the monthly cost of COBRA continuation coverage under the Company’s group health plan for Executive and, where applicable, her spouse and dependents, at the level in effect as of the Termination Date, adjusted for any increase in such level paid by the Company for active employees, less the employee portion of the applicable premiums that Executive would have paid had she remained employed during the such eighteen (18) month period (the COBRA continuation coverage period shall run concurrently with the eighteen (18) month period that COBRA premium payments are made on Executive’s behalf under this subsection 1(a)(ii)). The reimbursements described herein shall be paid in monthly installments, commencing on the sixtieth (60th) day following the Termination Date, provided that the first such installment payment shall include any unpaid reimbursements that would have been made during the first sixty (60) days following the Termination Date. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company’s payment of the monthly COBRA premiums in accordance with this subsection 1(a)(ii) shall cease immediately upon the earlier of: (A) the end of the eighteen (18) month period following the Termination Date, or (B) the date that Executive is eligible for comparable coverage with a subsequent employer. Executive agrees to notify the Company in writing immediately if subsequent employment is accepted prior to the end of the eighteen (18) month period following the Termination Date and Executive agrees to repay to the Company any COBRA premium amount paid on Executive’s behalf during such period for any period of employment during which group health coverage is available through a subsequent employer. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company reserves the right to restructure the foregoing COBRA premium payment arrangement in any manner necessary or appropriate to avoid fines, penalties or negative tax consequences to the Company or Executive (including, without limitation, to avoid any penalty imposed for violation of the nondiscrimination requirements under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act or the guidance issued thereunder), as determined by the Company in its sole and absolute discretion.
Retiree Health Insurance Retired members of the Department receiving, or to receive City of Lincoln monthly pension checks, may participate in the group comprehensive health care plan for active City employees, provided that each retiree so desiring will execute the required forms in a timely fashion, and further provided that each retiree will be required to pay the full monthly cost at the current rates subject to any rate increases which may occur from time to time. Such payment will be made by payroll deduction from pension checks, or by direct payment in the case of an early retiree.