Section 182-12-146 - [Effective 1/1/2025] When is an enrollee eligible to continue public employees benefits board (PEBB) benefits under Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA)?(1) An employee or an employee's dependent who loses eligibility for the employer contribution toward public employees benefits board (PEBB) benefits and who qualifies for continuation coverage under the federal Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) may continue coverage for all or any combination of PEBB medical, dental, or vision.(2) An employee or an employee's dependent who loses eligibility for continuation coverage described in WAC 182-12-133, 182-12-141, 182-12-142, or 182-12-148 but who has not used the maximum number of months allowed under COBRA may continue any combination of PEBB medical, dental, or vision for the remaining difference in months.(3) A retired employee, a retired school employee, or survivor who loses eligibility for PEBB retiree insurance coverage because their employer group ceases participation with the authority may continue PEBB medical, dental, or vision as described in WAC 182-12-232.(4) A dependent of a subscriber enrolled as described in WAC 182-12-232 who is no longer eligible as described in WAC 182-12-260 may continue any combination of PEBB medical, dental, or vision.(5) A retiree or a dependent of a retiree, who is no longer eligible as described in WAC 182-12-171, 182-12-180, or 182-12-260 may continue any combination of PEBB medical, dental, or vision.(6) A blind vendor who ceases to actively operate a facility as described in WAC 182-12-111 (4)(a) may continue enrollment in PEBB medical for the maximum number of months allowed under COBRA as described in this section.(7) An enrollee may continue any combination of PEBB medical, dental, or vision under COBRA by self-paying the premium and applicable premium surcharges set by the health care authority (HCA): (a) The election must be received by the PEBB program no later than 60 days from the date the enrollee'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 first premium payment under COBRA coverage 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). Following the enrollee's first premium payment, premiums and applicable premium surcharges must be paid as described in WAC 182-08-180 (1)(c);(c) COBRA continuation coverage enrollees who voluntarily terminate their COBRA coverage will not be eligible to reenroll in COBRA coverage unless they regain eligibility as described in WAC 182-12-114. Those who request to terminate their COBRA coverage must do so in writing. COBRA coverage will end on the last day of the month in which the PEBB program receives the termination request or on the last day of the month specified in the COBRA enrollee's termination request, whichever is later. If the termination request is received on the first day of the month, COBRA coverage will end on the last day of the previous month; Exception: | When a subscriber or their dependent is enrolled in a medicare advantage plan, a medicare advantage-prescription drug plan, or the Uniform Medical Plan Classic medicare plan, the enrollment will terminate on the last day of the month when the plan disenrollment form is received. |
(d) An employee enrolled in a flexible spending arrangement (FSA) or limited purpose FSA and the employee's dependents will have an opportunity to continue making contributions to their FSA or limited purpose FSA by electing COBRA if on the date of the qualifying event, as described under 42 U.S.C. Sec. 300bb-3, the employee's FSA or limited purpose FSA has a greater amount in remaining benefits than remaining contribution payments for the current year. The election must be received by the contracted vendor no later than 60 days from the date the PEBB health plan coverage ended or from the postmark date on the election notice sent by the contracted vendor, whichever is later. The first premium payment under COBRA coverage is due to the contracted vendor no later than 45 days after the election period ends as described above.(8) A subscriber's state registered domestic partner and the state registered domestic partner's children may continue any combination of PEBB medical, dental, or vision on the same terms and conditions as spouses and other eligible dependents under COBRA as described under RCW 26.60.015.(9) Medical, dental, and vision coverage under COBRA begin on the first day of the month following the day the COBRA enrollee loses eligibility for PEBB health plan coverage as described in WAC 182-12-131, 182-12-133, 182-12-141, 182-12-142, 182-12-148, 182-12-171, 182-12-180, 182-12-250, 182-12-260, or 182-12-265.Wash. Admin. Code § 182-12-146
Amended by WSR 15-22-099, Filed 11/4/2015, effective 1/1/2016Amended 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 22-13-158, Filed 6/21/2022, effective 1/1/2023Amended by WSR 23-14-015, Filed 6/23/2023, effective 1/1/2024Amended by WSR 24-18-081, Filed 8/29/2024, effective 1/1/2025Statutory Authority: RCW 41.05.160 and 2012 2nd sp.s. c 3 . WSR 13-22-019 (Admin 2013-01), §182-12-146, filed 10/28/13, effective 1/1/14. Statutory Authority: RCW 41.05.160. WSR 12-20-022 (Order 2012-01), §182-12-146, filed 9/25/12, effective 11/1/12; WSR 09-23-102 (Order 09-02), §182-12-146, filed 11/17/09, effective 1/1/10; WSR 07-20-129 (Order 07-01), §182-12-146, filed 10/3/07, effective 11/3/07. Statutory Authority: RCW 41.05.160 and 41.05.165. WSR 04-18-039, §182-12-146, filed 8/26/04, effective 1/1/05. WSR 13-21-033, §182-12-146, filed 10/9/2013, effective 11/9/2013