(1) If a person, or the person's dependents, have coverage under a health plan in connection with the person's position of state employment, and the person is absent from his or her position of state employment by reason of service in the uniformed services, the plan shall provide that the person may elect to continue the coverage as provided in this section. The maximum period of coverage of a person and person's dependents under such an election shall be the lesser of:

(a) The eighteen-month period beginning on the date on which the person's absence begins; or

(b) The day after the date on which the person fails to apply for or return to a position of state employment, as determined under RCW 73.16.035.

(2) A person who elects to continue health plan coverage under this section may be required to pay not more than one hundred two percent of the full premium under the plan associated with the coverage for the state employer's other employees, except that in the case of a person who performs service in the uniformed services for less than thirty-one days, the person may not be required to pay more than the employee share, if any, for the coverage.

(3) Except as provided in subsection (2) of this section, if a person's coverage under a health plan was terminated because of service in the uniformed services, an exclusion or waiting period may not be imposed in connection with the reinstatement of the coverage upon reemployment under this chapter if an exclusion or waiting period would not have been imposed under a health plan had coverage of the person by the plan not been terminated as a result of his or her service. This subsection applies to the person who is reemployed and to any dependent who is covered by the plan because of the reinstatement of the coverage of the person.

Effective date—2001 c 133: See note following RCW 73.16.005.