(

a) The board of retirement may provide a long-term care insurance program for retired members and their spouses, their parents, and their spouses’ parents. (

b) Subject to

Section 31696.5, the board may permit active members and their spouses, their parents, and their spouses’ parents to enroll in the long-term care insurance program. (

c) The long-term care insurance plan shall be made available periodically during open enrollment periods determined by the board. (

d) The board shall award contracts to carriers who are qualified to provide long-term care benefits. (

e) The long-term care insurance plan shall include home, community, and institutional care and shall provide substantially equivalent coverage to that required under

Chapter 2.6 (commencing with

Section 10230) of Part of Division of the Insurance Code and shall meet those requirements set forth in the Knox-Keene Health Care Service Plan Act of 1975 (Chapter 2.2 (commencing with

Section 1340) of Division of the Health and Safety Code). However, the Department of Managed Health Care shall have no jurisdiction over the insurance plan authorized by this article. (

f) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), no person shall be enrolled unless he or she meets the eligibility and underwriting criteria approved by the board. (

g) The board shall approve eligibility criteria for enrollment, approve appropriate underwriting criteria for potential enrollees, approve the scope of covered benefits, approve the criteria to receive benefits, and approve any other standards as needed.