SECTION 1. Section 18 of chapter 32A of the General Laws is amended by inserting at the end thereof the following sentences:-

Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, all retirees, their spouses and dependents, who are insured or eligible to be insured under sections five, ten B and twelve, age 65 or over and not eligible for coverage under medicare part A at no cost to the retiree, spouse, or dependent, shall be transferred by the commission to medicare part A and part B; provided, that the commission shall pay the medicare part A premium and any medicare part A or part B premium penalty assessed by the federal government on said retirees, spouses and dependents as result of transfer into medicare. Each retiree, to be transferred, shall: (a) provide the commission, in such form as the commission shall prescribe, such information as is necessary to transfer to medicare Part A and Part B, and (b) enroll in a medicare health benefits supplement plan offered by the commission under section ten C or section fourteen; provided, that benefits under said plan and medicare part A and part B together shall be of comparable actuarial value to those under the retiree's existing coverage.

SECTION 2. The commission shall transfer retirees, their spouses and dependents, in accordance with section 1 of this act, on or before July 1, 2024.