A bill for an act providing for the continuation of health insurance in certain circumstances for the surviving spouse and each surviving child of employees of the state of Iowa.

This bill (SSB 1039) ensures that the surviving spouse and each surviving child of Iowa state employees who die from a work-related traumatic injury can continue their health insurance coverage. It applies only when the employee’s death is directly caused by a traumatic injury incurred while performing job duties (e.g., accidents), and excludes deaths from stress, chronic illness, intentional misconduct, intoxication, or gross negligence. The state must allow continuation of coverage but is not required to pay for it; if the state doesn’t cover costs, the family can choose to pay for the coverage themselves. Coverage ends if the surviving spouse/child contributed to the employee’s death or becomes ineligible under standard insurance terms (e.g., remarriage).