Section 40 ILCS 5/9-239 - Group Health Benefit(a) For the purposes of this Section, "annuitant" means a person receiving an age and service annuity, a prior service annuity, a widow's annuity, a widow's prior service annuity, a minimum annuity, or a child's annuity on or after January 1, 1990, under Article 9 or 10 by reason of previous employment by Cook County or the Forest Preserve District of Cook County (hereinafter, in this Section, "the County").(b) Beginning December 1, 1991, the Fund may pay, on behalf of each of the Fund's annuitants who chooses to participate in any of the county's health care plans, all or any portion of the total health care premium (including coverage for other family members) due from each such annuitant.(c) The difference between the required monthly premiums for such coverage and the amount paid by the Fund may be deducted from the annuitant's annuity if the annuitant so elects; otherwise such coverage shall terminate and the obligation of the Fund shall also terminate.(d) Amounts contributed by the county as authorized under Section 9-182 for the benefits set forth in this Section shall be credited to the reserve for group hospital care and all such premiums shall be charged to it.(e) The group coverage plan and benefits described in this Section are not and shall not be construed to be pension or retirement benefits for purposes of Section 5 of Article XIII of the Illinois Constitution of 1970.