MEAD, J.
[¶ 1] Maine Public Employees Retirement System (the System) appeals from a judgment of the Superior Court (Kennebec County, Murphy, J.) reversing the decision of the System's Board of Trustees that denied Goodrich basic life insurance coverage under the group life insurance plan administered by the System. We vacate the judgment of the Superior Court
[¶ 2] The facts as established in the administrative record for the purposes of this appeal pursuant to M.R. Civ. P. 80C are as follows: At the time of her initial eligibility for group life insurance coverage pursuant to her employment with a Maine school district in 1995, Ellen Goodrich was not given an application form for basic life insurance coverage as provided by 5 M.R.S. § 18058(1) (2010).
[¶ 3] Goodrich was unaware of any of these circumstances until September 2006, when the System informed her by letter that it could not determine whether she was ever given an application when she first became eligible in 1995. Because her coverage had lapsed due to the failure to deduct premiums from her salary, the System applied the version of its Rule 601 § 4(C) that was in effect in 1995 and 2006
[¶ 4] Goodrich did not respond to the offer within thirty days. Rather, in January 2007, she submitted an application for basic life insurance, but advised the System that she did not wish to make back payments. In November 2007, Goodrich submitted an evidence-of-insurability form, but in January 2008, Aetna, the insurance provider, deemed her uninsurable for medical reasons. In February 2008, Goodrich asked the System to provide her with basic life insurance coverage on a prospective basis without requiring her to pay back premiums or to submit evidence of insurability. The System issued a final decision in December 2008 denying her request. Goodrich appealed to the System's Board of Trustees in January 2009.
[¶ 5] In February 2010, the Board found that Goodrich had refused the System's 2006 offer by not timely responding and that, as an employee who had refused insurance, Goodrich was required to provide evidence of insurability pursuant to 5 M.R.S. § 18058(2)(C) (2010).
[¶ 6] We review the Board's decision directly for errors of law, abuse of discretion, or findings not supported by substantial evidence in the record. FPL Energy Me. Hydro LLC v. Dep't of Envtl. Prot., 2007 ME 97, ¶¶ 13-14, 926 A.2d 1197. Statutory construction is a question of law we review de novo. Id. ¶ 11. In interpreting a statute, we begin with its plain language to determine whether it is ambiguous. Id. ¶ 12. When a statute administered by an agency is silent or ambiguous on a particular point, we will review whether the agency's interpretation of the statute is reasonable and uphold its interpretation unless the statute plainly compels a contrary result. Id. ¶ 11.
[¶ 7] Title 5 M.R.S. § 18058(1) (2010) establishes an entitlement to unconditional, automatic basic life insurance for eligible public employees upon commencement of employment. An employee need not demonstrate insurability or initially apply for coverage. As long as premiums are paid, presumably via payroll deduction, basic coverage will continue unabated.
[¶ 8] The statute requires a written waiver of coverage in two instances. An employee who wishes to refuse coverage must do so in writing during the initial eligibility period pursuant to section 18058(2), which provides:
5 M.R.S. § 18058(2) (2010). Additionally, an employee who wishes to cancel coverage after having been insured must do so in writing pursuant to section 18058(2)(A), which provides:
5 M.R.S. § 18058(2)(A) (2010).
[¶ 9] The key historical facts in this case are undisputed by the parties to this matter: (1) Ellen Goodrich was never advised by her employer of the availability of insurance under this section; (2) she did not complete an application for insurance coverage within thirty-one days of becoming eligible; (3) she never opted out of coverage in writing; and (4) because no premiums were received, coverage was terminated by the underwriter. Goodrich now asks that the basic life insurance coverage that was unconditionally available to her seventeen years ago be established prospectively, that she not have to pay back premiums for that seventeen-year period, and that she not be required to establish proof of insurability.
[¶ 10] Although section 18058 does not address this circumstance directly, it offers certain principles that inform the analysis. First, it provides for unconditional basic life insurance coverage "beginning on the first day of the month following one month of employment after the employee becomes eligible." 5 M.R.S. § 18058(1). Second, the entitlement to this automatic basic coverage can be relinquished in only one way — a written opt-out submitted by the employee to the employer and the retirement system. 5 M.R.S. § 18058(2). Absent a written opt-out, the fact that basic life insurance coverage may have been cancelled for non-payment of premiums does not alter the fact that the entitlement to this benefit, established upon initial employment, still remains. This fact is underscored — not contradicted — by Rule 601, which allows an employee, in the event of non-payment of premiums,
[¶ 12] Goodrich argues that she should be relieved of the obligation to pay back premiums that would have accrued during the period when she was not covered by basic insurance. She notes that she is blameless for this state of affairs.
[¶ 13] Accordingly, the judgment of the Superior Court is affirmed, except that the portion that holds Rule 601 invalid and exempts Goodrich from paying the back premiums, retroactive to the date of first eligibility, is vacated. This matter is remanded to the Superior Court for entry of a judgment vacating the decision of the Maine Public Employees Retirement System Board of Trustees in accordance with this opinion.
The entry is:
Judgment vacated in part as provided in this opinion; otherwise affirmed. Remanded to the Superior Court for remand to the Maine Public Employees Retirement System Board of Trustees with instructions to provide Goodrich with basic group life insurance coverage as provided in this opinion.