Washington State
House of Representatives
Office of Program Research
BILL
ANALYSIS
Appropriations Committee
SB 5322
Brief Description: Prohibiting dual enrollment between school employees' benefits board and public employees' benefits board programs.
Sponsors: Senators Robinson and Wilson, C.; by request of Health Care Authority.
Brief Summary of Bill

 

  • Requires an employee who is eligible for both Public Employees' Benefits Board and School Employees' Benefits Board insurance coverage to choose health, dental, and vision coverage from the same program.

 
Hearing Date: 3/11/21
Staff: David Pringle (786-7310).
Background:

Medical, dental, vision and related insurance benefits for all eligible school employees are provided by the School Employees' Benefits  Board (SEBB).  SEBB is responsible for determining the terms of employee and dependent eligibility and enrollment policies, generally subject to the statewide condition that employees anticipated to work 630 hours per year or more qualify for coverage. 

 

Medical, dental, vision and related insurance benefits for all eligible state employees are provided by the Public Employees' Benefits Board (PEBB).  Similar to SEBB, PEBB is responsible for determining eligibility and enrollment policies, subject to the condition that employees' work half time or more, generally 1,040 hours per year, to qualify for coverage.

 

Beginning with the 2022 plan year, dual coverage under SEBB and PEBB is prohibited for the same type of coverage, though individuals eligible for both programs may be able to choose some insurance benefits from SEBB and others from PEBB.
Summary of Bill:

Beginning in the 2022 plan year, an employee eligible for both PEBB and SEBB health insurance coverage must choose coverage from the same program, rather than selecting some benefits from each program.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.