Reading this proposal carefully, I saw that the taxpayers aren't going to be "footing the bill" for this additional coverage, as some people on this forum have been bemoaning - the employee will pay 100% of coverage for their additional adult non-children/spouse.  If you find you have to miss work to care for an aging parent, and can afford several hundred dollars more a month for insurance coverage, this is a viable alternative to letting the grandparents try to get by with medicare coverage alone.

The coverage will be the same kind of coverage that anyone can receive from Kaiser or COVA if they were to pay out of pocket (you don't need to be a state employee to get on these plans - they just cost a lot more if you are not affiliated with a corporation), and the employee has the benefit of paying pre-tax dollars and getting elder relatives in their home the corporate discounted rate.  It would be the same coverage and cost you will see coming out of your retirement check a few years after you leave state service - a few years down the road after separation, you will be paying 100% of the discounted state rate for insurance without the input of the state's contribution.

I see this as a viable option for those who have to take care of elder parents who didn't have insurance coverage of their own.  I know quite a few people who pay much more out of pocket for elder care for their relatives who were uninsured before retirement and this option may be used by many, but not cost anyone but the employee.