What options for continuation coverage are available to faculty and seasonal employees who are between periods of eligibility?
(1) Faculty may continue any combination of medical or dental, and may also continue life insurance and accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D) insurance by self-paying the premium and applicable premium surcharges set by the health care authority (HCA), with no contribution from the employer, for a maximum of twelve months between periods of eligibility. If life insurance or AD&D insurance is elected, both basic life and basic AD&D insurance must be continued. Employees who continue basic life insurance and basic AD&D insurance may also continue supplemental life and AD&D insurance:
(a) The employee's election must be received by the public employees benefits board (PEBB) program no later than sixty days from the date the employee's PEBB health plan coverage ended or from the postmark date on the election notice sent by the PEBB program, whichever is later;
(b) The employee's first premium payment and applicable premium surcharges are due to the HCA no later than forty-five days after the election period ends as described in (a) of this subsection. Premiums and applicable premium surcharges associated with continuing PEBB medical must be made to the HCA as well as premiums associated with continuing PEBB dental. Premiums associated with continuing life insurance and AD&D insurance coverage must be made to the contracted vendor;
(c) Following the employee's first premium payment, the employee must pay the premium amounts associated with PEBB insurance coverage and applicable premium surcharges as premiums become due; and
(d) If the employee's monthly premium or applicable premium surcharges remain unpaid for sixty days from the original due date, the employee's PEBB insurance coverage will be terminated retroactive to the last day of the month for which the monthly premium and applicable premium surcharges were paid as described in WAC
182-08-180 (1)(c).
(2) Benefits-eligible seasonal employees may continue any combination of medical or dental, and may also continue life insurance and AD&D insurance by self-paying the premium and applicable premium surcharges set by the HCA, with no contribution from the employer, for a maximum of twelve months between periods of eligibility. If life insurance or AD&D insurance is elected, both basic life and basic AD&D insurance must be continued. Employees who continue basic life insurance and basic AD&D insurance may also continue supplemental life and AD&D insurance:
(a) The employee's election must be received by the PEBB program no later than sixty days from the date the employee's PEBB health plan coverage ended or from the postmark date on the election notice sent by the PEBB program, whichever is later;
(b) The employee's first premium payment and applicable premium surcharges are due to the HCA no later than forty-five days after the election period ends as described in (a) of this subsection. Premiums and applicable premium surcharges associated with continuing PEBB medical must be made to the HCA as well as premiums associated with continuing PEBB dental. Premiums associated with continuing life insurance and AD&D insurance coverage must be made to the contracted vendor;
(c) Following the employee's first premium payment, the employee must pay the premium amounts associated with PEBB insurance coverage and applicable premium surcharges as premiums become due; and
(d) If the employee's monthly premium or applicable premium surcharges remain unpaid for sixty days from the original due date, the employee's PEBB insurance coverage will be terminated retroactive to the last day of the month for which the monthly premium and applicable premium surcharges were paid as described in WAC
182-08-180 (1)(c).
(3)
COBRA. An employee who is no longer eligible for continuation coverage as described in subsections (1) and (2) of this section, but who has not used the maximum number of months allowed under the federal Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA), may continue medical, dental, or both for the remaining difference in months by self-paying the premium and applicable premium surcharges set by the HCA under COBRA as described in WAC
182-12-146. The number of months that a faculty or seasonal employee self-pays premiums under the criteria in subsection (1) or (2) of this section will count toward the total months of continuation coverage allowed under COBRA.
[Statutory Authority: RCW
41.05.021 and
41.05.160. WSR 20-16-062 (Admin #2020-03), § 182-12-142, filed 7/28/20, effective 1/1/21. Statutory Authority: RCW
41.05.021,
41.05.160, and PEBB policy resolutions. WSR 19-17-073 (Admin #2019-01), § 182-12-142, filed 8/20/19, effective 1/1/20; WSR 18-20-117 (Admin #2018-02), § 182-12-142, filed 10/3/18, effective 1/1/19; WSR 17-19-077 (Order 2017-01), § 182-12-142, filed 9/15/17, effective 1/1/18. Statutory Authority: RCW
41.05.021,
41.05.160, 2016 c 67, and PEBB policy resolutions. WSR 16-20-080, § 182-12-142, filed 10/4/16, effective 1/1/17. Statutory Authority: RCW
41.05.160. WSR 10-20-147 (Order 10-02), § 182-12-142, filed 10/6/10, effective 1/1/11; WSR 09-23-102 (Order 09-02), § 182-12-142, filed 11/17/09, effective 1/1/10.]
