Section 182-12-142 - [Effective 1/1/2025] 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, dental, or vision, 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 12 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 60 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 45 days after the election period ends as described in (a) of this subsection, except as described in WAC 182-08-180 (1)(a). 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 and PEBB vision. 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 60 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, dental, or vision, 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 12 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 60 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 45 days after the election period ends as described in (a) of this subsection, except as described in WAC 182-08-180 (1)(a). 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 and PEBB vision. 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 60 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, vision, or any combination of these benefits 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.Wash. Admin. Code § 182-12-142
Amended by WSR 16-20-080, Filed 10/4/2016, effective 1/1/2017Amended by WSR 17-19-077, Filed 9/15/2017, effective 1/1/2018Amended by WSR 18-20-117, Filed 10/3/2018, effective 1/1/2019Amended by WSR 19-17-073, Filed 8/20/2019, effective 1/1/2020Amended by WSR 20-16-062, Filed 7/28/2020, effective 1/1/2021Amended by WSR 24-18-076, Filed 8/29/2024, effective 1/1/2025Statutory Authority: RCW 41.05.160. 10-20-147 (Order 10-02), §182-12-142, filed 10/6/10, effective 1/1/11; 09-23-102 (Order 09-02), §182-12-142, filed 11/17/09, effective 1/1/10.