Section 9C. Upon the death of an insured employee who was killed, or who died from injuries received, in the performance of his duty as a fire fighter his surviving spouse may continue the group hospital, surgical, medical, dental and other health insurance for herself and her dependents under age nineteen, until the remarriage or death of said surviving spouse; provided that application for such insurance shall be filed with the appropriate public authority and a method for the payment of premiums shall be determined in accordance with its rules and regulations; and provided, further that said surviving spouse shall pay fifty per cent of a premium the amount of which may be changed by the governmental unit from time to time as part of the total cost for such hospital, surgical, medical, dental and other health insurance. The governmental unit shall contribute the remaining fifty per cent of said premium together with payment in full of a subsidiary or additional rate which rate may be lower or higher than the governmental unit's share of the aforesaid premium.
This section shall take effect in a county, except Worcester county, city, town or district upon its acceptance in the following manner:—In a county by vote of the county commissioners; in a city having a Plan D or Plan E charter by majority vote of its city council; in any other city by vote of its city council, approved by the mayor; in a district by vote of the registered voters of the district at a district meeting; and in a town by submission for acceptance to the registered voters in the form of the following question which shall be printed upon the official ballot to be used at an election:—''Shall the town pay one half of a premium for group hospital, surgical, medical, dental and other health insurance for the surviving widow and dependents of an insured fire fighter who was killed or who died from injuries received in the performance of his duty, with the survivor paying the remaining one half, and shall the town also pay a subsidiary or additional rate?'' Section nine B shall not apply in any governmental unit which accepts the provisions of this section.