Section 182-31-120 - What options for continuation coverage are available to school employees during their appeal of a grievance?(1) A school employee awaiting the hearing outcome of a grievance action before any of the following may continue their school employees benefits board (SEBB) insurance coverage by self-paying the premium and applicable premium surcharges set by the health care authority (HCA), with no contribution from the SEBB organization, on the same terms as a school employee who is granted leave as described in WAC 182-31-100(1): (b) A grievance or appeals committee established under a collective bargaining agreement for union represented employees; or(2) The school employee must pay premium amounts and applicable premium surcharges associated with SEBB insurance coverage as premiums and applicable premium surcharges become due. If the monthly premium or applicable premium surcharges remain unpaid for sixty days from the original due date, SEBB 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 182-30-040(1)(c).(3) If the dismissal is upheld, all SEBB insurance coverage will terminate at the end of the month in which the decision is entered, or the date to which premiums have been paid, whichever is later, with the exception described in subsection (4) of this section.(4) If the dismissal is upheld and the school employee is eligible under the federal Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA), the school employee may continue SEBB medical, dental, vision, or any combination of them for the remaining months available under COBRA. See WAC 182-31-090 for information on COBRA. The number of months the school employee self-paid premiums during the appeal will count toward the total number of months allowed under COBRA.(5) If the arbitrator, committee, or court sustains the school employee in the appeal and directs reinstatement of SEBB organization paid SEBB insurance coverage retroactively, the SEBB organization must forward to HCA the full employer contribution for the period directed by the arbitrator, committee, or court and collect from the school employee the school employee's share of premiums due, if any. (a) When the employer contribution is reinstated, HCA will refund premiums and applicable premium surcharges the school employee paid only if the school employee retroactively pays their employee contribution amounts for SEBB benefits. In the alternative, at the request of the school employee, HCA may deduct the school employee's contribution amount for SEBB benefits from the refund of premiums and applicable premium surcharges self-paid by the school employee during the appeal period.(b) All supplemental life insurance , supplemental accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D) insurance , and employee-paid long-term disability (LTD) insurance that was in force at the time of dismissal shall be reinstated retroactively only if the school employee makes retroactive payment of premium for any such supplemental coverage and employee-paid LTD insurance that was not continued by self-payment during the appeal process. If the school employee chooses not to pay the retroactive premium, evidence of insurability will be required to enroll in such supplemental coverage and employee-paid LTD insurance.Wash. Admin. Code § 182-31-120
Adopted by WSR 19-14-093, Filed 7/1/2019, effective 8/1/2019Amended by WSR 20-16-067, Filed 7/28/2020, effective 8/28/2020Amended by WSR 21-13-116, Filed 6/21/2021, effective 1/1/2022