An employee who is newly eligible or who regains eligibility for the employer contribution toward public employees benefits board (PEBB) benefits enrolls as described in this section.

(1) When an employee is newly eligible for PEBB benefits:

(a) An employee must complete the required forms indicating their enrollment elections, including an election to waive enrollment provided the employee is eligible to waive as described in WAC 182-12-128. The required forms must be returned to the employee's employing agency or contracted vendor. Their employing agency or contracted vendor must receive the forms no later than 31 days after the employee becomes eligible for PEBB benefits under WAC 182-12-114.

(i) An employee may enroll in supplemental life insurance up to the guaranteed issue coverage amount without evidence of insurability if the required forms are returned to the employee's employing agency or contracted vendor as required. An employee may apply for enrollment in supplemental life insurance over the guaranteed issue coverage amount at any time during the calendar year by submitting the required form to the contracted vendor for approval. For an employee who requests a change in their supplemental life insurance after the election period described in this subsection, the change begins the first day of the month following the date the contracted vendor approves the request. An employee may enroll in supplemental accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D) insurance at any time during the calendar year without evidence of insurability by submitting the required form to the contracted vendor.

(ii) Employees are enrolled in employee-paid long-term disability (LTD) insurance automatically. An employee may elect to reduce their employee-paid LTD insurance or decline their employee-paid LTD insurance by returning the form to their employing agency. An employee may apply for a change in their employee-paid LTD insurance at any time during the calendar year by submitting the required form to their employing agency or the contracted vendor. For an employee who requests a change in their employee-paid LTD insurance after the election period described in this subsection, the change begins the first day of the month following the date the employing agency receives the required form requesting to reduce or decline the employee-paid LTD insurance, or the day of the month the contracted vendor approves the required form to increase the employee-paid LTD insurance.

(iii) If an employee is eligible to participate in the salary reduction plan (see WAC 182-12-116), the employee will automatically enroll in the premium payment plan upon enrollment in PEBB medical allowing medical premiums to be taken on a pretax basis. To opt out of the premium payment plan, a new employee must complete the required form and return it to their state agency. The form must be received by their state agency no later than 31 days after the employee becomes eligible for PEBB benefits.

(iv) If an employee is eligible to participate in the salary reduction plan (see WAC 182-12-116), the employee may enroll in the state's medical flexible spending arrangement (FSA), limited purpose FSA, dependent care assistance program (DCAP), or both an FSA and DCAP, except as limited by subsection (4) of this section. To enroll in these PEBB benefits, the employee must return the required form to their state agency. The form must be received by the state agency no later than 31 days after the employee becomes eligible for PEBB benefits.

(b) If a newly eligible employee's employing agency, or the authority's contracted vendor in the case of life insurance and AD&D insurance, does not receive the employee's required forms indicating medical, dental, life insurance, AD&D insurance, and LTD insurance elections, and the employee's tobacco use status attestation within 31 days of the employee becoming eligible, their enrollment will be as follows for those elections not received within 31 days:

(i) A medical plan determined by the health care authority (HCA);

(ii) A dental plan determined by the HCA;

(iii) Basic life insurance;

(iv) Basic AD&D insurance;

(v) Employer-paid LTD insurance and employee-paid LTD insurance;

(vi) Dependents will not be enrolled; and

(vii) A tobacco use premium surcharge will be incurred as described in WAC 182-08-185 (1)(b).

(2) The employer contribution toward PEBB benefits ends according to WAC 182-12-131. When an employee's employment ends, participation in the salary reduction plan ends.

(3) When an employee regains eligibility for the employer contribution toward PEBB benefits, including following a period of leave described in WAC 182-12-133(1), or after being between periods of leave as described in WAC 182-12-142 (1) and (2), or 182-12-131 (3)(e), PEBB medical and dental begin on the first day of the month the employee is in pay status eight or more hours, or the first day of the month in which the quarter or semester begins for faculty who regains eligibility as described in WAC 182-12-131 (3)(e).

(a) An employee must complete the required forms indicating their enrollment elections, including an election to waive enrollment if the employee chooses to waive enrollment as described in WAC 182-12-128. The required forms must be returned to the employee's employing agency except as described in (d) of this subsection. Forms must be received by the employing agency, life insurance contracted vendor, or AD&D contracted vendor, if required, no later than 31 days after the employee regains eligibility, except as described in (a)(i) and (b) of this subsection:

(i) An employee who self-paid for supplemental life insurance or supplemental AD&D coverage after losing eligibility will maintain that level of coverage upon return;

(ii) An employee who was eligible to continue supplemental life insurance but discontinued that supplemental coverage must submit evidence of insurability to the contracted vendor if they choose to reenroll when they regain eligibility for the employer contribution;

(iii) An employee who was eligible to continue employee-paid LTD insurance but discontinued that coverage must submit evidence of insurability for employee-paid LTD insurance to the contracted vendor when they regain eligibility for the employer contribution.

(b) An employee or faculty in any of the following circumstances does not have to return a form indicating employee-paid LTD insurance elections. Their employee-paid LTD insurance will be automatically reinstated effective the first day of the month they are in pay status eight or more hours or the first day of the month in which the quarter or semester begins for faculty who regains eligibility as described in WAC 182-12-131 (3)(e):

(i) The employee continued to self-pay for their employee-paid LTD insurance after losing eligibility for the employer contribution;

(ii) The employee was not eligible to continue employee-paid LTD insurance after losing eligibility for the employer contribution.

(c) If an employee's employing agency, or contracted vendor accepting forms directly, does not receive the required forms within 31 days of the employee regaining eligibility, the employee's enrollment for those elections not received will be as described in subsection (1)(b)(i) through (vii) of this section, except as described in (a)(i) and (b) of this subsection.

(d) If an employee is eligible to participate in the salary reduction plan (see WAC 182-12-116) the employee may enroll in the medical FSA, limited purpose FSA, DCAP, or both an FSA and DCAP, except as limited by subsection (4) of this section. To enroll in these PEBB benefits, the employee must return the required form to the contracted vendor or their state agency. The contracted vendor or employee's state agency must receive the form no later than 31 days after the employee becomes eligible for PEBB benefits.

(4) If an employee who is eligible to participate in the salary reduction plan (see WAC 182-12-116) is hired into a new position that is eligible for PEBB benefits in the same year, the employee may not resume participation in a DCAP, a medical FSA, or a limited purpose FSA until the beginning of the next plan year, unless the time between employments is 30 days or less and within the current plan year. The employee must notify their new state agency of the transfer by providing the new state agency's personnel, payroll, or benefits office the required form no later than 31 days after the employee's first day of work with the new state agency.

(5) An employee's PEBB benefits elections remain the same when an employee transfers from one employing agency to another employing agency without a break in PEBB benefits for one month or more. This includes movement of an employee between any entities described in WAC 182-12-111 and participating in PEBB benefits. PEBB benefits elections also remain the same when an employee has a break in employment that does not interrupt their employer contribution toward PEBB benefits.

(6) When a retiree becomes eligible for the employer contribution toward PEBB benefits, PEBB retiree insurance coverage will be automatically deferred. The subscriber will be exempt from the deferral form requirement. ((When the subscriber is no longer eligible for the employer contribution toward PEBB benefits, they must enroll or defer PEBB retiree insurance coverage as described in WAC 182-12-171, 182-12-200, and 182-12-205.))

An employee who is eligible to participate in the salary reduction plan as described in WAC 182-12-116 may enroll, or revoke their election and make a new election under the premium payment plan, medical flexible spending arrangement (FSA), limited purpose FSA, or dependent care assistance program (DCAP) at the following times:

(1) When newly eligible under WAC 182-12-114 and enrolling as described in WAC 182-08-197(1).

(2) During annual open enrollment: An eligible employee may elect to enroll in or opt out of participation under the premium payment plan during the annual open enrollment by submitting the required form to their employing agency. An eligible employee may elect to enroll or reenroll in the medical FSA, limited purpose FSA, DCAP, or both an FSA and DCAP during the annual open enrollment by submitting the required forms to their employing agency or applicable contracted vendor as instructed. All required forms must be received no later than the last day of the annual open enrollment. The enrollment or new election becomes effective January 1st of the following year.

(d) Employees who are not enrolled in a CDHP with a HSA and elect both a medical FSA and a limited purpose FSA will be enrolled in the medical FSA.

(3) During a special open enrollment: An employee who is eligible to participate in the salary reduction plan may enroll or revoke their election and make a new election under the premium payment plan, medical FSA, limited purpose FSA, or DCAP outside of the annual open enrollment if a special open enrollment event occurs. The enrollment or change in election must be allowable under Internal Revenue Code (IRC) and Treasury regulations, and correspond to and be consistent with the event that creates the special open enrollment. To make a change or enroll, the employee must submit the required form to their employing agency. The employing agency must receive the required form and evidence of the event that created the special open enrollment no later than 60 days after the event occurs.

For purposes of this section, an eligible dependent includes any person who qualifies as a dependent of the employee for tax purposes under IRC 26 U.S.C. Sec. 152 without regard to the income limitations of that section. It does not include a state registered domestic partner unless the state registered domestic partner otherwise qualifies as a dependent for tax purposes under IRC 26 U.S.C. Sec. 152.

(a) Premium payment plan. An employee may enroll or revoke their election and elect to opt out of the premium payment plan when any of the following special open enrollment events occur, if the requested change corresponds to and is consistent with the event. The enrollment or election to opt out will be effective the first day of the month following the later of the event date or the date the required form is received. If that day is the first of the month, the enrollment or change in election begins on that day. If the special open enrollment is due to the birth, adoption, or assumption of legal obligation for total or partial support in anticipation of adoption of a child, the enrollment or change in election will begin the first of the month in which the event occurs.

(i) Employee acquires a new dependent due to:

• Marriage;

• Registering a state registered domestic partnership when the dependent is a tax dependent of the employee;

• Birth, adoption, or when the employee has assumed a legal obligation for total or partial support in anticipation of adoption; or

• A child becoming eligible as an extended dependent through legal custody or legal guardianship.

(ii) Employee's dependent no longer meets public employee benefits board (PEBB) eligibility criteria because:

• Employee has a change in marital status;

• Employee's domestic partnership with a state registered domestic partner who is a tax dependent is dissolved or terminated;

• An eligible dependent child turns age 26 or otherwise does not meet dependent child eligibility criteria;

• An eligible dependent ceases to be eligible as an extended dependent or as a dependent with a disability; or

• An eligible dependent dies.

(iii) Employee or an employee's dependent loses other coverage under a group health plan or through health insurance coverage, as defined by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA);

(iv) Employee has a change in employment status that affects the employee's eligibility for their employer contribution toward their employer-based group health plan;

(v) The employee's dependent has a change in their own employment status that affects their eligibility or their dependent's eligibility for the employer contribution under their employer-based group health plan;

(vi) Employee or an employee's dependent has a change in enrollment under an employer-based group health plan during its annual open enrollment that does not align with the PEBB annual open enrollment;

(vii) Employee or an employee's dependent has a change in residence that affects health plan availability;

(viii) Employee's dependent has a change in residence from outside of the United States to within the United States, or from within the United States to outside of the United States and that change in residence resulted in the dependent losing their health insurance;

(ix) A court order requires the employee or any other individual to provide insurance coverage for an eligible dependent of the subscriber (a former spouse or former state registered domestic partner is not an eligible dependent);

(x) Employee or an employee's dependent enrolls in coverage under medicaid or a state children's health insurance program (CHIP), or the subscriber or a subscriber's dependent loses eligibility for coverage under medicaid or CHIP;

(xi) Employee or an employee's dependent becomes eligible for state premium assistance subsidy for PEBB medical plan coverage from medicaid or CHIP;

(xii) Employee or an employee's dependent enrolls in coverage under medicare or the employee or an employee's dependent loses eligibility for coverage under medicare;

(xiii) Employee or an employee's dependent's current medical plan becomes unavailable because the employee or enrolled dependent is no longer eligible for a health savings account (HSA). The health care authority (HCA) requires evidence that the employee or employee's dependent is no longer eligible for an HSA;

(xiv) Employee or an employee's dependent experiences a disruption of care for active and ongoing treatment, that could function as a reduction in benefits for the employee or the employee's dependent. The employee may not change their health plan election if the employee's or dependent's physician stops participation with the employee's health plan unless the PEBB program determines that a continuity of care issue exists. The PEBB program will consider but not limit its consideration to the following:

• Active cancer treatment such as chemotherapy or radiation therapy;

• Treatment following a recent organ transplant;

• A scheduled surgery;

• Recent major surgery still within the postoperative period; or

• Treatment for a high-risk pregnancy.

(xv) Employee or employee's dependent becomes eligible and enrolls in a TRICARE plan, or loses eligibility for a TRICARE plan.

If the employee is having premiums taken from payroll on a pretax basis, a medical plan change will not be approved if it would conflict with provisions of the salary reduction plan authorized under RCW 41.05.300.

(b) Medical FSA and limited purpose FSA. An employee may enroll or revoke their election and make a new election under the medical FSA or limited purpose FSA when any one of the following special open enrollment events occur, if the requested change corresponds to and is consistent with the event. The enrollment or new election will be effective the first day of the month following the later of the event date or the date the required form and evidence of the event that created the special open enrollment is received by the employing agency. If that day is the first of the month, the enrollment or change in election begins on that day. If the special open enrollment is due to the birth, adoption, or assumption of legal obligation for total or partial support in anticipation of adoption of a child, the enrollment or change in election will begin the first of the month in which the event occurs.

(i) Employee acquires a new dependent due to:

• Marriage;

• Registering a state registered domestic partnership if the domestic partner qualifies as a tax dependent of the employee;

• Birth, adoption, or when the employee has assumed a legal obligation for total or partial support in anticipation of adoption; or

• A child becoming eligible as an extended dependent through legal custody or legal guardianship.

(ii) Employee's dependent no longer meets PEBB eligibility criteria because:

• Employee has a change in marital status;

• Employee's domestic partnership with a state registered domestic partner who qualifies as a tax dependent is dissolved or terminated;

• An eligible dependent child turns age 26 or otherwise does not meet dependent child eligibility criteria;

• An eligible dependent ceases to be eligible as an extended dependent or as a dependent with a disability; or

• An eligible dependent dies.

(iii) Employee or an employee's dependent loses other coverage under a group health plan or through health insurance coverage, as defined by the HIPAA;

(iv) Employee or an employee's dependent has a change in employment status that affects the employee's or a dependent's eligibility for the medical FSA or limited purpose FSA;

(v) A court order requires the employee or any other individual to provide insurance coverage for an eligible dependent of the subscriber (a former spouse or former state registered domestic partner is not an eligible dependent);

(vi) Employee or an employee's dependent enrolls in coverage under medicaid or a state children's health insurance program (CHIP), or the employee or an employee's dependent loses eligibility for coverage under medicaid or CHIP;

(vii) Employee or an employee's dependent enrolls in coverage under medicare.

(c) DCAP. An employee may enroll or revoke their election and make a new election under the DCAP when any one of the following special open enrollment events occur, if the requested change corresponds to and is consistent with the event. The enrollment or new election will be effective the first day of the month following the later of the event date or the date the required form and evidence of the event that created the special open enrollment is received by the employing agency. If that day is the first of the month, the enrollment or change in election begins on that day. If the special open enrollment is due to the birth, adoption, or assumption of legal obligation for total or partial support in anticipation of adoption of a child, the enrollment or change in election will begin the first of the month in which the event occurs.

(i) Employee acquires a new dependent due to:

• Marriage;

• Registering a state registered domestic partnership if the domestic partner qualifies as a tax dependent of the employee;

• Birth, adoption, or when the subscriber has assumed a legal obligation for total or partial support in anticipation of adoption; or

• A child becoming eligible as an extended dependent through legal custody or legal guardianship.

(ii) Employee or an employee's dependent has a change in employment status that affects the employee's or a dependent's eligibility for DCAP;

(iii) Employee or an employee's dependent has a change in enrollment under an employer-based DCAP during its annual open enrollment that does not align with the PEBB annual open enrollment;

(iv) Employee changes dependent care provider; the change to the DCAP election amount can reflect the cost of the new provider;

(v) Employee or the employee's spouse experiences a change in the number of qualifying individuals as defined in IRC 26 U.S.C. Sec. 21 (b)(1);

(vi) Employee's dependent care provider imposes a change in the cost of dependent care; employee may make a change in the DCAP election amount to reflect the new cost if the dependent care provider is not a qualifying relative of the employee as defined in IRC 26 U.S.C. Sec. 152.

This section applies to employer groups as defined in WAC 182-08-015 and board members of school districts and educational service districts. An employer group or board member of a school district or an educational service district may apply to obtain public employees benefits board (PEBB) insurance coverage through a contract with the health care authority (HCA).

(1) Employer groups with less than 500 employees and board members of school districts and educational service districts ((with less than 500 employees)) must apply at least 60 days before the requested coverage effective date. Employer groups with 500 or more employees but with less than 5,000 employees must apply at least 90 days before the requested effective date.

Employer groups with 5,000 or more employees must apply at least 120 days before the requested coverage effective date.

To apply, employer groups must submit the documents and information described in subsection (2) of this section to the PEBB program as follows:

(a) Board members of school districts and educational service districts ((and educational service districts applying for their nonrepresented employees)) are required to provide the documents described in subsection (2)(a) through (c) of this section;

(b) Counties, municipalities, political subdivisions, and tribal governments with fewer than 5,000 employees are required to provide the documents and information described in subsection (2)(a) through (f) of this section;

(c) Counties, municipalities, political subdivisions, and tribal governments with 5,000 or more employees will have their application approved or denied through the evaluation criteria described in WAC 182-08-240 and are required to provide the documents and information described in subsection (2)(a) through (d), (f), and (g) of this section; and

(d) All employee organizations representing state civil services employees and the Washington health benefit exchange, regardless of the number of employees, will have their application approved or denied through the evaluation criteria described in WAC 182-08-240 and are required to provide the documents and information described in subsection (2)(a) through (d), (f), and (g) of this section.

(2) Documents and information required with application:

(a) A letter of application that includes the information described in (a)(i) through (iv) of this subsection:

(i) A reference to the group's authorizing statute;

(ii) A description of the organizational structure of the group and a description of the employee bargaining unit or group of nonrepresented employees for which the group is applying;

(iii) ((Employer group or board members of school district or educational service district tax ID number (TIN)))Tax identification number; and

(iv) A statement of whether the group is applying to obtain only medical or all available PEBB insurance coverages.

(b) A resolution from the group's governing body authorizing the purchase of PEBB insurance coverage.

(c) A signed governmental function attestation document that attests to the fact that employees for whom the group is applying are governmental employees whose services are substantially all in the performance of essential governmental functions.

(d) A member level census file for all of the employees for whom the group is applying. The file must be provided in the format required by the authority and contain the following demographic data, by member, with each member classified as employee, spouse or state registered domestic partner, or child:

(i) Employee ID (any identifier which uniquely identifies the employee; for dependents the employee's unique identifier must be used);

(ii) Age;

(iii) Birth sex;

(iv) First three digits of the member's zip code based on residence;

(v) Indicator of whether the employee is active or retired, if the group is requesting to include retirees; and

(vi) Indicator of whether the member is enrolled in coverage.

(e) Historical claims and cost information that include the following:

(i) Large claims history for 24 months by quarter that excludes the most recent three months;

(ii) Ongoing large claims management report for the most recent quarter provided in the large claims history;

(iii) Summary of historical plan costs; and

(iv) The director or the director's designee may make an exception to the claims and cost information requirements based on the size of the group, except that the current health plan does not have a case management program, then the primary diagnosis code designated by the authority must be reported for each large claimant. If the code indicates a condition which is expected to continue into the next quarter, the claim is counted as an ongoing large claim. If historical claims and cost information as described in (e)(i) through (iii) of this subsection are unavailable, the director or the director's designee may make an exception to allow all of the following alternative requirements:

• A letter from their carrier indicating they will not or cannot provide claims data.

• Provide information about the health plan most employees are enrolled in by completing the actuarial calculator authorized by the PEBB program.

• Current premiums for the health plan.

(f) If the application is for a subset of the group's employees (e.g., bargaining unit), the group must provide a member level census file of all employees eligible under their current health plan who are not included on the member level census file in (d) of this subsection. This includes retired employees participating under the group's current health plan. The file must include the same demographic data by member.

(g) Employer groups described in subsection (1)(c) and (d) of this section must submit to an actuarial evaluation of the group provided by an actuary designated by the PEBB program. The group must pay for the cost of the evaluation. This cost is nonrefundable. A group that is approved will not have to pay for an additional actuarial evaluation if it applies to add another bargaining unit within two years of the evaluation. Employer groups of this size must provide the following:

(i) Large claims history for 24 months, by quarter that excludes the most recent three months;

(ii) Ongoing large claims management report for the most recent quarter provided in the large claims history;

(iii) Executive summary of benefits;

(iv) Summary of benefits and certificate of coverage; and

(v) Summary of historical plan costs.

(3) The authority may automatically deny a group application if the group fails to provide the required information and documents described in this section.

This section applies to an employer group as defined in WAC 182-08-015 or board members of school districts or educational service districts that is approved to purchase insurance for its employees through a contract with the health care authority (HCA).

(1) Prior to enrollment of employees in public employees benefits board (PEBB) insurance coverage, the employer group or board members of school districts or educational service districts must:

(a) Remit to the authority the required start-up fee in the amount publicized by the PEBB program;

(b) Sign a contract with the authority;

(c) Determine employee and dependent eligibility and terms of enrollment for PEBB insurance coverage by the criteria outlined in this chapter and chapter 182-12 WAC unless otherwise approved by the authority in the employer group's contract with the authority;

(d) Determine eligibility in order to ensure the PEBB program's continued status as a governmental plan under Section 3(32) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) as amended. This means the employer group may only consider employees whose services are substantially all in the performance of essential governmental functions, but not in the performance of commercial activities, whether or not those activities qualify as essential governmental functions to be eligible; and

(e) Ensure PEBB insurance coverage is the only employer-sponsored coverage available to groups of employees eligible for PEBB insurance coverage under the contract.

(2) Pay premiums under its contract with the authority ((based on the following premium structure:

(b))). The premium rate structure for employer groups ((other than educational service districts described in (a) of this subsection)) and board members of school districts and educational service districts will be a tiered rate based on health plan election and family enrollment. Employer groups must collect an amount equal to the premium surcharges applied to an employee's account by the authority from their employees and include the funds in their payment to the authority.

(3) Counties, municipalities, political subdivisions, and tribal governments must pay the monthly employer group rate surcharge in the amount invoiced by the authority.

(4) If an employer group or board member of school districts and educational service districts want to make subsequent changes to the contract, the changes must be submitted to the authority for approval.

(5) The employer group or board members of school districts and educational service districts must maintain participation in PEBB insurance coverage for at least one full year. An employer group or board members of school districts and educational service districts may only end participation at the end of a plan year unless the authority approves a mid-year termination. To end participation, an employer group or board members of school districts and educational service districts must provide written notice to the PEBB program at least ((sixty))60 days before the requested termination date. If an employer group terminates participation in PEBB insurance coverage, they must:

(6) Upon approval to purchase insurance through a contract with the authority, the employer group must provide a list of employees and dependents that are enrolled in Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) coverage and the remaining number of months available to them based on their qualifying event. These employees and dependents may enroll in a PEBB health plan as COBRA subscribers for the remainder of the months available to them based on their qualifying event.

(7) Enrollees in PEBB insurance coverage under one of the continuation of coverage provisions allowed under chapter 182-12 WAC or retirees included in the transfer unit as allowed under WAC 182-08-237 cease to be eligible as of the last day of the contract and may not continue enrollment beyond the end of the month in which the contract is terminated.

The following definitions apply throughout this chapter unless the context clearly indicates another meaning:

"Accidental death and dismemberment insurance" or "AD&D" means basic accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D) insurance paid for by the employing agency, as well as supplemental accidental death and dismemberment insurance offered to and paid for by employees for themselves and their dependents.

"Affordable Care Act" means the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, P.L. 111-148, as amended by the federal Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010, P.L. 111-152, or federal regulations or guidance issued under the Affordable Care Act.

"Annual open enrollment" means an annual event set aside for a period of time by the HCA when subscribers may make changes to their health plan enrollment and salary reduction elections for the following plan year. During the annual open enrollment, subscribers may transfer from one health plan to another, enroll or remove dependents from coverage, enroll in coverage, or waive enrollment (see definition of "waive" in this section). Employees eligible to participate in the salary reduction plan may enroll in or change their election under the dependent care assistance program (DCAP), the medical flexible spending arrangement (FSA), or limited purpose FSA. They may also enroll in or opt out of the premium payment plan.

"Authority" or "HCA" means the Washington state health care authority.

"Benefits-eligible position" means any position held by an employee who is eligible for benefits under WAC 182-12-114, with the exception of employees who establish eligibility under WAC 182-12-114 (2) or (3)(a)(ii).

"Blind vendor" means a "licensee" as defined in RCW 74.18.200.

"Board" means the public employees benefits board established under provisions of RCW 41.05.055.

"Calendar days" or "days" means all days including Saturdays, Sundays, and all state legal holidays as set forth in RCW 1.16.050.

"Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act" or "COBRA" means continuation coverage as administered under 42 U.S.C. Secs. 300bb-1 through 300bb-8.

"Continuation coverage" means the temporary continuation of PEBB benefits available to enrollees under the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA), 42 U.S.C. Secs. 300bb-1 through 300bb-8, the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA), 38 U.S.C. Secs. 4301 through 4335, or the public employees benefits board's policies.

"Contracted vendor" means any person, persons, or entity under contract or agreement with the HCA to provide goods or services for the provision or administration of PEBB benefits. The term "contracted vendor" includes subcontractors of the HCA and subcontractors of any person, persons, or entity under contract or agreement with the HCA that provide goods or services for the provision or administration of PEBB benefits.

"Creditable coverage" means coverage that meets the definition of "creditable coverage" under RCW 48.66.020 (13)(a) and includes payment of medical and hospital benefits.

"Defer" means to postpone enrollment or interrupt enrollment in PEBB insurance coverage by a retiree or an eligible survivor.

"Dependent" means a person who meets eligibility requirements in WAC 182-12-260, except that "surviving spouses, state registered domestic partners, and dependent children" of emergency service personnel who are killed in the line of duty is defined in WAC 182-12-250.

"Dependent care assistance program" or "DCAP" means a benefit plan whereby employees may pay for certain employment related dependent care with pretax dollars as provided in the salary reduction plan under chapter 41.05 RCW pursuant to 26 U.S.C. Sec. 129 or other sections of the Internal Revenue Code.

"Director" means the director of the authority.

"Documents" means papers, letters, writings, electronic mail, electronic files, or other printed or written items.

"Effective date of enrollment" means the first date when an enrollee is entitled to receive covered benefits.

"Employee" for the public employees benefits board program includes all employees of the state, whether or not covered by civil service; elected and appointed officials of the executive branch of government, including full-time members of boards, commissions, or committees; justices of the supreme court and judges of the court of appeals and the superior courts; and members of the state legislature. Pursuant to contractual agreement with the authority, "employee" may also include: (a) Employees of a county, municipality, or other political subdivision of the state and members of the legislative authority of any county, city, or town who are elected to office after February 20, 1970, if the legislative authority of the county, municipality, or other political subdivision of the state submits application materials to the authority to provide any of its insurance programs by contract with the authority, as provided in RCW 41.04.205 and 41.05.021 (1)(g); (b) employees of employee organizations representing state civil service employees, at the option of each such employee organization; (c) through December 31, 2019, employees of a school district or represented employees of an educational service district if the authority agrees to provide any of the school districts' or educational service districts' insurance programs by contract with the authority as provided in RCW 28A.400.350; (d) employees of a tribal government, if the governing body of the tribal government seeks and receives the approval of the authority to provide any of its insurance programs by contract with the authority, as provided in RCW 41.05.021 (1)(f) and (g); (e) employees of the Washington health benefit exchange if the governing board of the exchange established in RCW 43.71.020 seeks and receives approval of the authority to provide any of its insurance programs by contract with the authority, as provided in RCW 41.05.021 (1)(g) and (n); (f) through December 31, 2019, employees of a charter school established under chapter 28A.710 RCW; and (g) through December 31, 2023, nonrepresented employees of an educational service district. "Employee" does not include: Adult family home providers; unpaid volunteers; patients of state hospitals; inmates; employees of the Washington state convention and trade center as provided in RCW 41.05.110; students of institutions of higher education as determined by their institution; and any others not expressly defined as employees under RCW 41.05.011 or by the authority under this chapter.

"Employer" for the public employees benefits board program means the state of Washington.

"Employer-based group dental" means group dental related to a current employment relationship. It does not include dental coverage available to retired employees, individual market dental coverage, or government-sponsored programs such as medicaid.

"Employer-based group health plan" means group medical and group dental related to a current employment relationship. It does not include medical or dental coverage available to retired employees, individual market medical or dental coverage, or government-sponsored programs such as medicare or medicaid.

"Employer-based group medical" means group medical related to a current employment relationship. It does not include medical coverage available to retired employees, individual market medical coverage, or government-sponsored programs such as medicare or medicaid.

"Employer contribution" means the funding amount paid to the HCA by a state agency or employer group for its eligible employees as described under WAC 182-12-114 and 182-12-131.

"Employer group" means those counties, municipalities, political subdivisions, the Washington health benefit exchange, tribal governments, employee organizations representing state civil service employees, and through December 31, 2019, school districts and charter schools, and through December 31, 2023, educational service districts obtaining employee benefits through a contractual agreement with the authority to participate in benefit plans developed by the public employees benefits board as described in WAC 182-08-245.

"Employer-paid coverage" means PEBB insurance coverage for which an employer contribution is made by a state agency or an employer group for employees eligible in WAC 182-12-114 and 182-12-131. It also means SEBB insurance coverage for which an employer contribution is made by a SEBB organization, or basic benefits described in RCW 28A.400.270(1) for which an employer contribution is made by an educational service district.

"Employing agency" for the public employees benefits board means a division, department, or separate agency of state government, including an institution of higher education; a county, municipality, or other political subdivision; and a tribal government covered by chapter 41.05 RCW.

"Enrollee" means a person who meets all eligibility requirements defined in chapter 182-12 WAC, who is enrolled in PEBB benefits, and for whom applicable premium payments have been made.

"Exchange" means the Washington health benefit exchange established in RCW 43.71.020, and any other health benefit exchange established under the Affordable Care Act.

"Exchange coverage" means coverage offered by a qualified health plan through an exchange.

"Faculty" means an academic employee of an institution of higher education whose workload is not defined by work hours but whose appointment, workload, and duties directly serve the institution's academic mission, as determined under the authority of its enabling statutes, its governing body, and any applicable collective bargaining agreement.

"Federal retiree medical plan" means the Federal Employees Health Benefits program (FEHB) or TRICARE plans which are not employer-based group medical.

"Forms" or "form" means both paper forms and forms completed electronically.

"Health plan" means a plan offering medical or dental, or both, developed by the board and provided by a contracted vendor or self-insured plans administered by the HCA.

"Institutions of higher education" means the state public research universities, the public regional universities, The Evergreen State College, the community and technical colleges, and the state board for community and technical colleges.

"Layoff," for purposes of this chapter, means a change in employment status due to an employer's lack of funds or an employer's organizational change.

"Life insurance" means basic life insurance paid for by the employing agency, as well as supplemental life insurance or supplemental dependent life insurance offered to and paid for by employees for themselves and their dependents. Life insurance for eligible retirees includes retiree term life insurance offered to and paid for by retirees.

"Limited purpose flexible spending arrangement" or "limited purpose FSA" means a benefit plan whereby eligible state employees may reduce their salary before taxes to pay for dental and vision expenses not reimbursed by insurance as provided in the salary reduction plan established under chapter 41.05 RCW pursuant to 26 U.S.C. Sec. 125 or other sections of the Internal Revenue Code.

"Long-term disability insurance" or "LTD insurance" means employer-paid long-term disability insurance and employee-paid long-term disability insurance offered by the PEBB program.

"Medical flexible spending arrangement" or "medical FSA" means a benefit plan whereby eligible state employees may reduce their salary before taxes to pay for medical expenses not reimbursed by insurance as provided in the salary reduction plan established under chapter 41.05 RCW pursuant to 26 U.S.C. Sec. 125 or other sections of the Internal Revenue Code.

"Pay status" means all hours for which an employee receives pay.

"PEBB" means the public employees benefits board.

"PEBB benefits" means one or more insurance coverages or other employee benefits administered by the PEBB program within the health care authority.

"PEBB insurance coverage" means any health plan, life insurance, accidental death and dismemberment insurance, long-term disability (LTD) insurance, long-term care insurance, or property and casualty insurance administered as a PEBB benefit.

"PEBB program" means the program within the HCA that administers insurance and other benefits for eligible employees (as described in WAC 182-12-114), eligible retired employees (as described in WAC 182-12-171, 182-12-180, and 182-12-211), eligible survivors (as described in WAC 182-12-180, 182-12-250, and 182-12-265), eligible dependents (as described in WAC 182-12-250 and 182-12-260) and others as defined in RCW 41.05.011.

"Plan year" means the time period established by the authority.

"Premium payment plan" means a benefit plan whereby public employees may pay their share of group health plan premiums with pretax dollars as provided in the salary reduction plan under chapter 41.05 RCW pursuant to 26 U.S.C. Sec. 125 or other sections of the Internal Revenue Code.

"Premium surcharge" means a payment required from a subscriber, in addition to the subscriber's medical premium contribution, due to an enrollee's tobacco use or an enrolled subscriber's spouse or state registered domestic partner choosing not to enroll in their employer-based group medical when:

• The spouse's or state registered domestic partner's share of the medical premium is less than 95 percent of the additional cost an employee would be required to pay to enroll a spouse or state registered domestic partner in the public employees benefits board (PEBB) Uniform Medical Plan (UMP) Classic; and

• The benefits have an actuarial value of at least 95 percent of the actuarial value of PEBB UMP Classic benefits.

"Public employee" has the same meaning as employee.

"Qualified health plan" means a medical plan that is certified to be offered through an exchange.

"Salary reduction plan" means a benefit plan whereby public employees may agree to a reduction of salary on a pretax basis to participate in the dependent care assistance program, medical flexible spending arrangement, limited purpose flexible spending arrangement, or premium payment plan offered pursuant to 26 U.S.C. Sec. 125 or other sections of the Internal Revenue Code.

"School employee" ((includes:

(a) Through December 31, 2023,))means all employees of school districts and charter schools established under chapter 28A.710 RCW((, and represented employees of educational service districts. For the exclusive purpose of eligibility for PEBB retiree insurance coverage, the term "school employee" also includes nonrepresented employees of an educational service district; and

(b) Effective January 1, 2024, all employees of school districts, educational service districts, and charter schools established under chapter 28A.710 RCW)); and effective January 1, 2024, all employees of educational service districts.

"SEBB" means the school employees benefits board.

"SEBB insurance coverage" means any medical, dental, vision, life insurance, accidental death and dismemberment insurance, or long-term disability insurance administered as a SEBB benefit.

"SEBB organization" means a public school district or educational service district or charter school established under chapter 28A.710 RCW that is required to participate in benefit plans provided by the school employees benefits board.

"Season" means any recurring annual period of work at a specific time of year that lasts three to 11 consecutive months.

"Seasonal employee" means a state employee hired to work during a recurring, annual season with a duration of three months or more, and anticipated to return each season to perform similar work.

"Special open enrollment" means a period of time when subscribers may make changes to their health plan enrollment and salary reduction elections outside of the annual open enrollment period when specific life events occur. During the special open enrollment subscribers may change health plans and enroll or remove dependents from coverage. Additionally, employees may enroll in or waive enrollment (see definition of "waive" in this section). Employees eligible to participate in the salary reduction plan may enroll in or revoke their election under the DCAP, medical FSA, limited purpose FSA, or the premium payment plan and make a new election. For special open enrollment events related to specific PEBB benefits, see WAC 182-08-198, 182-08-199, 182-12-128, and 182-12-262.

"State agency" means an office, department, board, commission, institution, or other separate unit or division, however designated, of the state government. It includes the legislature, executive branch, and agencies or courts within the judicial branch, as well as institutions of higher education and any unit of state government established by law.

"State registered domestic partner" has the same meaning as defined in RCW 26.60.020(1) and substantially equivalent legal unions from other jurisdictions as defined in RCW 26.60.090.

"Subscriber" means the employee, retiree, continuation coverage enrollee, or survivor who has been determined eligible by the PEBB program, employer group, or state agency, is enrolled in PEBB benefits, and is the individual to whom the PEBB program and contracted vendors will issue all notices, information, requests, and premium bills on behalf of an enrollee.

"Supplemental coverage" means any life insurance or accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D) insurance coverage purchased by the employee in addition to the coverage provided by the employing agency.

"Tobacco products" means any product made with or derived from tobacco that is intended for human consumption, including any component, part, or accessory of a tobacco product. This includes, but is not limited to, cigars, cigarettes, pipe tobacco, chewing tobacco, snuff, and other tobacco products. It does not include e-cigarettes or United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved quit aids.

"Tobacco use" means any use of tobacco products within the past two months. Tobacco use, however, does not include the religious or ceremonial use of tobacco.

"Tribal government" means an Indian tribal government as defined in Section 3(32) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA), as amended, or an agency or instrumentality of the tribal government, that has government offices principally located in this state.

"Waive" means an eligible employee affirmatively declining enrollment in PEBB medical because the employee is enrolled in other employer-based group medical, a TRICARE plan, or medicare as allowed under WAC 182-12-128. An employee on approved educational leave who obtains another employer-based group health plan may waive enrollment as allowed under WAC 182-12-136. An employee may waive enrollment in PEBB medical to enroll in SEBB medical only if they are enrolled in SEBB dental and SEBB vision. An employee who waives enrollment in PEBB medical to enroll in SEBB medical also waives enrollment in PEBB dental.

The following entities and individuals shall be eligible for public employees benefits board (PEBB) benefits subject to the terms and conditions set forth below:

(1) State agencies. State agencies, as defined in WAC 182-12-109, are required to participate in all PEBB benefits. Insurance and health care contributions for ferry employees shall be governed by RCW 47.64.270.

(2) Employer groups. Employer groups may apply to participate in PEBB insurance coverage for groups of employees described in (a)(i) of this subsection and for members of the group's governing authority as described in (a)(i), (ii), and (iii) of this subsection at the option of each employer group:

(a) All eligible employees of the entity must transfer as a unit with the following exceptions:

(i) Bargaining units may elect to participate separately from the whole group;

(ii) Nonrepresented employees may elect to participate separately from the whole group provided all nonrepresented employees join as a group; and

(iii) Members of the employer group's governing authority may participate as described in the employer group's governing statutes and RCW 41.04.205.

(b) Employer groups must apply through the process described in WAC 182-08-235. Applications from employees of employee organizations representing state civil service employees, the Washington health benefit exchange, and employer groups with ((five thousand))5,000 or more employees((, except for educational service districts)) are subject to review and approval by the health care authority (HCA) based on the employer group evaluation criteria described in WAC 182-08-240.

(c) Employer groups participate through a contract with the authority as described in WAC 182-08-245.

(3) ((Washington state educational service districts. In addition to subsection (2) of this section, the following applies to Washington state educational service districts enrolling in PEBB insurance coverage for its nonrepresented employees until December 31, 2023:

(4)))The Washington health benefit exchange. In addition to subsection (2) of this section, the following provisions apply:

(a) The Washington health benefit exchange is subject to the same rules as an employing agency in chapters 182-08, 182-12, and 182-16 WAC.

(b) Employees of the Washington health benefit exchange are subject to the same rules as employees of an employing agency in chapters 182-08, 182-12 and 182-16 WAC.

(((5)))(4)Eligible nonemployees.

(a) Blind vendors actively operating a business enterprise program facility in the state of Washington and deemed eligible by the department of services for the blind (DSB) may voluntarily participate in PEBB medical. Dependents of blind vendors are eligible as described in WAC 182-12-260.

(i) Eligible blind vendors and their dependents may enroll during the following times:

• When newly eligible: The DSB will notify eligible blind vendors of their eligibility in advance of the date they are eligible for enrollment in PEBB medical.

To enroll, blind vendors must submit the required forms to the DSB. The forms must be received by the DSB no later than ((thirty-one))31 days after the blind vendor becomes eligible for PEBB medical;

• During the annual open enrollment: Blind vendors may enroll during the annual open enrollment. The required form must be received by the DSB before the end of the annual open enrollment. Enrollment will begin January 1st of the following year; or

• Following loss of other medical insurance coverage: Blind vendors may enroll following loss of other medical insurance coverage under a group health plan or through health insurance coverage, as defined by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). To enroll, blind vendors must submit the required forms to the DSB. The forms must be received by the DSB no later than ((sixty))60 days after the loss of other medical insurance coverage. In addition to the required forms, the DSB will require blind vendors to provide evidence of loss of other medical insurance coverage.

(ii) Blind vendors who cease to actively operate a facility become ineligible to participate in PEBB medical as described in (a) of this subsection. Enrollees who lose eligibility for coverage may continue enrollment in PEBB medical on a self-pay basis under Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) coverage as described in WAC 182-12-146(5).

(iii) Blind vendors are not eligible for PEBB retiree insurance coverage.

(b) Dislocated forest products workers enrolled in the employment and career orientation program pursuant to chapter 50.70 RCW shall be eligible for PEBB medical and dental while enrolled in that program.

(c) Board members of Washington state school districts and educational service districts eligible to participate under RCW 28A.400.350 may participate in PEBB medical, dental, basic life insurance, basic accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D) insurance, supplemental life insurance, and supplemental AD&D insurance as long as they remain eligible under that section. The board of directors of educational service districts must apply through the process described in WAC 182-08-235 and participate through a contract with the HCA as described in WAC 182-08-245. Dependents of board members are eligible as described in WAC 182-12-260.

(i) Upon contract with the HCA, eligible board members may individually decide to enroll in PEBB insurance coverage each plan year. If they elect not to enroll, they may only enroll at the following times:

• During the annual open enrollment; or

• Following loss of other medical insurance coverage as defined by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).

(ii) Board members who no longer hold a position become ineligible to participate in PEBB insurance coverage as described in (c) of this subsection. Enrollees who lose eligibility for coverage may continue enrollment in PEBB medical, PEBB dental, or both on a self-pay basis under COBRA coverage as described in WAC 182-12-146(6).

(iii) Board members are not eligible for PEBB retiree insurance coverage.

(((6)))(5)Individuals and entities not eligible as employees include:

(a) Adult family home providers as defined in RCW 70.128.010;

(b) Unpaid volunteers;

(c) Patients of state hospitals;

(d) Inmates in work programs offered by the Washington state department of corrections as described in RCW 72.09.100 or an equivalent program administered by a local government;

(e) Employees of the Washington state convention and trade center as provided in RCW 41.05.110;

(f) Students of institutions of higher education as determined by their institutions; and

(g) Any others not expressly defined as an employee.

(1) All state agencies must carry out all actions, policies, and guidance issued by the public employees benefits board (PEBB) program necessary for the operation of benefit plans, education of employees, claims administration, and appeals process including those described in chapters 182-08, 182-12, and 182-16 WAC. State agencies must:

(a) Use the methods provided by the PEBB program to determine eligibility and enrollment in benefits, unless otherwise approved in writing;

(b) Provide eligibility determination reports with content and in a format designed and communicated by the PEBB program or otherwise as approved in writing by the PEBB program; and

(c) Carry out corrective action and pay any penalties imposed by the authority and established by the board when the state agency's eligibility determinations fail to comply with the criteria under these rules.

(2) All state agencies must determine employee eligibility for PEBB benefits and the employer contribution according to the criteria in WAC 182-12-114 and 182-12-131. State agencies must:

(a) Notify newly hired employees of PEBB program rules and guidance for eligibility and appeal rights;

(b) Provide written notice to faculty who are potentially eligible for benefits and employer contribution of their potential eligibility as described in WAC 182-12-114(3) and 182-12-131;

(c) Inform an employee in writing whether or not they are eligible for PEBB benefits upon employment. The written notice must include a description of any hours that are excluded in determining eligibility and information about the employee's right to appeal eligibility and enrollment decisions. An employee eligible for PEBB benefits must have no less than ((ten))10 calendar days after the date of notice to elect coverage;

(d) Routinely monitor all employees' eligible work hours to establish eligibility and maintain the employer contribution toward PEBB benefits;

(e) Make eligibility determinations based on the criteria of the eligibility category that most closely describes the employee's work circumstances per the PEBB program's direction;

(f) Identify when a previously ineligible employee becomes eligible or a previously eligible employee loses eligibility; and

(g) Inform an employee in writing whether or not they are eligible for PEBB benefits and the employer contribution whenever there is a change in work pattern such that the employee's eligibility status changes. Whenever this occurs, state agencies must inform the employee of the right to appeal eligibility and enrollment decisions. An employee eligible for PEBB benefits must have no less than ((ten))10 calendar days after the date of notice to elect coverage.

(3) State agencies must determine employee's dependents eligibility for PEBB health plan coverage according to the criteria in WAC 182-12-260.

Public employees benefits board (PEBB) medical and dental coverage is limited to a single enrollment per individual as described in subsections (1) through (5) of this section. Effective January 1, 2022, individuals are limited to a single enrollment in medical, dental, and vision plans in either the PEBB program or school employees benefits board (SEBB) program as described in subsection (6) of this section.

(1) An individual who has more than one source of eligibility for enrollment in PEBB medical and PEBB dental coverage (called "dual eligibility") is limited to one enrollment.

(2) An eligible employee may waive PEBB medical and enroll as a dependent under the PEBB medical plan of their spouse, state registered domestic partner, or parent as described in WAC 182-12-128.

(3) A dependent enrolled in PEBB medical or PEBB dental who becomes eligible for PEBB benefits as an employee must elect to enroll in PEBB benefits as described in WAC 182-08-197 (1) or (3). This includes making an election to enroll in or waive enrollment in PEBB medical as described in WAC 182-12-128.

(a) If the employee does not waive enrollment in PEBB medical, the employee is not eligible to remain enrolled in their spouse's, state registered domestic partner's, or parent's PEBB medical as a dependent. If the employee's spouse, state registered domestic partner, or parent does not take action to remove the employee (who is enrolled as a dependent) from their subscriber account, the PEBB program will automatically disenroll the employee's enrollment as a dependent the last day of the month before the employee's enrollment in PEBB benefits begins as described in WAC 182-12-114.

(b) If the employee elects to waive their enrollment in PEBB medical, the employee will remain enrolled in PEBB medical under their spouse's, state registered domestic partner's, or parent's PEBB medical as a dependent.

(4) A child who is eligible for PEBB medical and PEBB dental under two subscribers may be enrolled under both subscribers but is limited to a single enrollment in PEBB medical and a single enrollment in PEBB dental.

(5) When an employee is eligible for the employer contribution toward PEBB benefits due to employment in more than one PEBB-participating employing agency the following provisions apply:

(a) The employee must choose to enroll under only one employing agency.

(b) If the employee loses eligibility under the employing agency, they must notify their other employing agency no later than 60 days from the date PEBB benefits end through the employing agency described in (a) of this subsection to transfer coverage.

(c) The employee's elections remain the same when an employee transfers their enrollment under one employing agency to another employing agency without a break in PEBB benefits for one month or more, as described in (b) of this subsection.

(6) An individual who has more than one source of eligibility for enrollment in the PEBB and SEBB programs is limited to a single enrollment in medical, dental, and vision plans in either the PEBB or SEBB program. An employee must elect to enroll in PEBB benefits as described in WAC 182-08-197, waive enrollment as described in WAC 182-12-128, or remove eligible dependents as described in WAC 182-12-262. If the employee takes no action to resolve the dual enrollment, the PEBB program or the SEBB program will automatically enroll or automatically disenroll the individual as described in (d) through (h) of this subsection.

(a) An eligible employee may waive enrollment in PEBB medical to enroll in SEBB medical only if they are enrolled in SEBB dental and SEBB vision as described in WAC 182-12-128. An employee who waives enrollment in PEBB medical to enroll in SEBB medical also waives enrollment in PEBB dental.

(b) An eligible employee who waives enrollment in PEBB medical when they are enrolled in other employer-based group medical, a TRICARE plan, or medicare as described in WAC 182-12-128, and are not enrolled in SEBB medical, may waive enrollment in PEBB dental only if they are enrolled in both SEBB dental and SEBB vision as an eligible dependent in the SEBB program.

(c) A school employee in the SEBB program who waives SEBB medical, SEBB dental, and SEBB vision for PEBB medical must be enrolled in PEBB dental. If the school employee is not already enrolled in PEBB dental, the PEBB program will automatically enroll the school employee in the associated subscriber's PEBB dental.

(d) If the employee is enrolled only in PEBB dental, and is also enrolled in SEBB medical, and no action is taken to resolve their dual enrollment, the employee will remain in SEBB medical. The PEBB program will automatically disenroll the employee from PEBB dental in which they are enrolled. If the employee is not already enrolled in SEBB dental or SEBB vision, the SEBB program will automatically enroll them in both as described in WAC 182-31-070 (6)(g). The employee's enrollment in PEBB program life insurance, accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D) insurance, and long-term disability (LTD) insurance will remain.

(e) If the employee is enrolled in PEBB medical and is also a school employee in the SEBB program and enrolled in SEBB medical, and the employee has been enrolled in SEBB medical longer than they have been enrolled in PEBB medical, and no action is taken by the employee to resolve their dual enrollment, they will remain in SEBB medical. The PEBB program will automatically disenroll the employee from PEBB medical and PEBB dental. The employee's enrollment in PEBB program life insurance, AD&D insurance, and LTD insurance will remain. If the employee is not enrolled in medical under either the PEBB or SEBB program but is enrolled only in PEBB dental and SEBB vision (with or without enrollment in SEBB dental), the employee will remain in SEBB vision and if enrolled, SEBB dental. If the employee is not already enrolled in SEBB dental, the SEBB program will automatically enroll them as described in WAC 182-31-070 (6)(g). The PEBB program will automatically disenroll the employee from PEBB dental.

(f) If the employee's dependent is enrolled in any PEBB medical or PEBB dental plan, and the dependent is also a school employee in the SEBB program and enrolled in SEBB medical, and no action is taken by either the employee or the dependent to resolve the dependent's dual enrollment, the employee's dependent will remain in SEBB medical. The PEBB program will automatically disenroll the employee's dependent from PEBB medical and PEBB dental in which they are enrolled.

(g) If the employee's dependent is enrolled in both PEBB medical and SEBB medical as a dependent and has been enrolled in SEBB medical longer than they have been enrolled in PEBB medical, and no action is taken to resolve the dual enrollment, the employee's dependent will remain in SEBB medical. The PEBB program will automatically disenroll the employee's dependent from PEBB medical and PEBB dental if they are enrolled. If the employee's dependent who is eligible as a dependent in both the PEBB and SEBB programs is not enrolled in any medical but is enrolled only in PEBB dental and SEBB vision (with or without SEBB dental) as a dependent, the dependent will remain in SEBB vision and if enrolled, SEBB dental. The PEBB program will automatically disenroll the employee's dependent from PEBB dental.

(h) If the employee's dependent, who is also a school employee in the SEBB program who the SEBB program automatically disenrolled from SEBB dental and SEBB vision, the PEBB program will automatically enroll the employee's dependent in PEBB dental, if they are not already enrolled.

(i) If the employee who is eligible for the employer contribution toward PEBB benefits was enrolled as a dependent in SEBB medical, SEBB dental, and SEBB vision and is removed by the SEBB subscriber, the employee will be required to return from waived enrollment as described in WAC 182-12-128 (3)(b).

(j) If the PEBB program automatically disenrolls an individual from PEBB medical or PEBB dental to resolve their dual enrollment as described in (e), (f), or (g) of this subsection, but later determines that the employee did take action to resolve their dual enrollment within the required timelines, the PEBB program will reinstate coverage retroactive to the first of the month in which the individual was disenrolled.

(7) A retiree who defers enrollment in PEBB retiree insurance coverage as described in WAC 182-12-200 by enrolling as an eligible dependent in a health plan sponsored by PEBB((, a Washington state educational service district,)) or SEBB and who loses the employer contribution for such coverage must enroll in PEBB retiree insurance coverage as described in WAC 182-12-200 or defer enrollment as described in WAC 182-12-205.

An employee may waive enrollment in public employees benefits board (PEBB) medical ((only)) if they are enrolled in other employer-based group medical, a TRICARE plan, or medicare as described in subsection (1)(a) through (c) of this section. They may not waive enrollment in PEBB medical if they are enrolled in PEBB retiree insurance coverage. An employee who waives enrollment in PEBB medical must enroll in PEBB dental, basic life insurance, basic accidental death and dismemberment insurance, and employer-paid long-term disability (LTD) insurance (unless the employing agency does not participate in these PEBB insurance coverages). For an employing agency that participates in LTD insurance, an employee will also be enrolled in employee-paid LTD insurance automatically unless the employee declines their employee-paid LTD insurance as described in WAC 182-08-197.

(1) To waive enrollment in PEBB medical, the employee must submit the required form to their employing agency at one of the following times:

(a) When the employee becomes eligible: An employee may waive PEBB medical when they become eligible for PEBB benefits. The employee must indicate their election to waive enrollment in PEBB medical on the required form and submit the form to their employing agency. The employing agency must receive the form no later than 31 days after the date the employee becomes eligible for PEBB benefits (see WAC 182-08-197). PEBB medical will be waived as of the date the employee becomes eligible for PEBB benefits.

(b) During the annual open enrollment: An employee may waive PEBB medical during the annual open enrollment. The required form must be received by the employee's employing agency before the end of the annual open enrollment. PEBB medical will be waived beginning January 1st of the following year.

(c) During a special open enrollment: An employee may waive PEBB medical during a special open enrollment only if they are enrolled in other employer-based group medical, a TRICARE plan, or medicare as described in subsection (4) of this section. A special open enrollment event must be an event other than an employee gaining initial eligibility or regaining eligibility for PEBB benefits.

The employee must submit the required form to their employing agency. The employing agency must receive the form no later than 60 days after the event that creates the special open enrollment. In addition to the required form, the employee must provide evidence of the event that creates the special open enrollment to the employing agency.

PEBB medical will be waived the last day of the month following the later of the event date or the date the required form is received. If that day is the first of the month, PEBB medical will be waived the last day of the previous month. If the special open enrollment is due to the birth, adoption, or assumption of legal obligation for total or partial support in anticipation of adoption of a child, PEBB medical will be waived the last day of the previous month.

(2) If an employee waives PEBB medical, the employee may not enroll dependents in PEBB medical.

(3) Once PEBB medical is waived, the employee is only allowed to enroll in PEBB medical at the following times:

(a) During the annual open enrollment. The required form must be received by the employee's employing agency before the end of the annual open enrollment. PEBB medical will begin January 1st of the following year.

(b) During a special open enrollment. A special open enrollment allows an employee to revoke their election and make a new election outside of the annual open enrollment. A special open enrollment may be created when one of the events described in subsection (4) of this section occurs.

The employee must submit the required form to their employing agency. The employing agency must receive the form no later than 60 days after the event that creates the special open enrollment. In addition to the required form, the employee must provide evidence of the event that creates the special open enrollment to the employing agency.

PEBB medical will begin the first day of the month following the later of the event date or the date the required form is received. If that day is the first of the month, coverage is effective on that day. If the special open enrollment is due to the birth, adoption, or assumption of legal obligation for total or partial support in anticipation of adoption of a child, PEBB medical for the employee will begin on the first day of the month in which the event occurs. PEBB medical for the newly born child, newly adopted child, spouse, or state registered domestic partner will begin as described in WAC 182-12-262 (3)(a)(iv).

If an employee who is eligible for the employer contribution toward PEBB benefits was enrolled as a dependent in SEBB medical, SEBB dental, and SEBB vision and is removed by the SEBB subscriber, the health care authority will notify the employee of their removal from the SEBB subscriber's account and that they have experienced a special enrollment event. The employee will be required to return from waived enrollment and elect PEBB medical and PEBB dental. If the employee's employing agency does not receive the employee's required forms indicating their medical and dental elections within 60 days of the employee losing SEBB medical, SEBB dental, and SEBB vision, they will be defaulted into employee-only PEBB medical and PEBB dental as described in WAC 182-08-197 (1)(b)(i) and (ii).

(4) Special open enrollment: Any one of the events in (a) through (k) of this subsection may create a special open enrollment that allows the employee to enroll in PEBB medical after having waived enrollment. The change in enrollment must be allowable under the Internal Revenue Code (IRC) and Treasury regulations, and correspond to and be consistent with the event that creates the special open enrollment for the employee, the employee's dependent, or both.

(a) Employee acquires a new dependent due to:

(i) Marriage or registering a state registered domestic partnership;

(ii) Birth, adoption, or when the subscriber has assumed a legal obligation for total or partial support in anticipation of adoption; or

(iii) A child becoming eligible as an extended dependent through legal custody or legal guardianship.

(b) Employee or an employee's dependent loses other coverage under a group health plan or through health insurance coverage, as defined by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA);

(c) Employee has a change in employment status that affects the employee's eligibility for their employer contribution toward their employer-based group medical;

(d) The employee's dependent has a change in their own employment status that affects their eligibility or their dependent's eligibility for the employer contribution under their employer-based group medical;

(e) Employee or an employee's dependent has a change in enrollment under an employer-based group medical plan during its annual open enrollment that does not align with the PEBB program's annual open enrollment;

(f) Employee's dependent has a change in residence from outside of the United States to within the United States, or from within the United States to outside of the United States and that change in residence resulted in the dependent losing their health insurance;

(g) A court order requires the employee or any other individual to provide a health plan for an eligible dependent of the employee (a former spouse or former state registered domestic partner is not an eligible dependent);

(h) Employee or an employee's dependent enrolls in coverage under medicaid or a state children's health insurance program (CHIP), or the employee or an employee's dependent loses eligibility for coverage under medicaid or CHIP;

(i) Employee or an employee's dependent becomes eligible for state premium assistance subsidy for PEBB health plan coverage from medicaid or CHIP;

(j) Employee or employee's dependent becomes eligible and enrolls in a TRICARE plan, or loses eligibility for a TRICARE plan;

(k) Employee becomes eligible and enrolls in medicare, or loses eligibility for medicare.

This section applies to employees employed by state agencies (as defined in this chapter), including benefits-eligible seasonal employees, and is intended to address situations where an employee moves from one position or job to another due to a layoff, as described in WAC 182-12-109. This section does not apply to employees with an anticipated end date.

If an employee moves from an eligible to an otherwise ineligible position due to layoff, the employee may retain their eligibility for the employer contribution toward public employees benefits board (PEBB) benefits for each month that the employee is in pay status for at least eight hours. To maintain eligibility using this section the employee must:

• Be hired into a position with a state agency within ((twenty-four))24 months of the original eligible position ending; and

• Upon hire, notify the employing state agency that they are potentially eligible to use this section.

This section ceases to apply ((if))when the employee is employed in a position eligible for PEBB benefits under WAC 182-12-114 ((within twenty-four months of leaving the original position.

After the twenty-fourth month, the employee must reestablish eligibility as described in WAC 182-12-114))or at the end of the 24th month after the original eligible position ended, whichever occurs first.

(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 PEBB medical, dental, or both.

(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 PEBB medical, dental, or both for the remaining difference in months.

(3) A retired employee who loses eligibility for PEBB retiree insurance coverage because an employer group((, with the exception of educational service districts,)) ceases participation in PEBB insurance coverage may continue PEBB medical, dental, or both on the same terms and conditions as retirees who are eligible under COBRA.

(4) 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 PEBB medical, dental, or both.

(5) A blind vendor who ceases to actively operate a facility as described in WAC 182-12-111 (((5)))(4)(a) may continue enrollment in PEBB medical for the maximum number of months allowed under COBRA as described in this section.

(6) A board member who no longer qualifies as described in WAC 182-12-111 (((5)))(4)(c) may continue enrollment in PEBB medical, dental, or both for the maximum number of months allowed under COBRA as described in this section.

(7) An enrollee may continue PEBB medical, dental, or both 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. 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;

(d) An employee enrolled in a medical flexible spending arrangement (FSA) or limited purpose FSA and the employee's dependents will have an opportunity to continue making contributions to their medical 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 medical 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 PEBB medical, dental, or both on the same terms and conditions as spouses and other eligible dependents under COBRA as described under RCW 26.60.015.

(9) Medical and dental 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.

A retiring employee or a retiring school employee is eligible to continue enrollment or defer enrollment in public employees benefits board (PEBB) insurance coverage as a retiree if they meet procedural and substantive eligibility requirements as described in subsections (1), (2), and (3) of this section. An elected and full-time appointed official of the legislative and executive branch of state government is eligible as described in WAC 182-12-180.

(1) Procedural requirements. A retiring employee or a retiring school employee must enroll or defer enrollment in PEBB retiree insurance coverage as described in (a) through (d) of this subsection:

(a) To enroll in PEBB retiree insurance coverage, the required form must be received by the PEBB program no later than 60 days after the employee's or the school employee's own employer-paid coverage, Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) coverage, or continuation coverage ends. The effective date of PEBB retiree insurance coverage is the first day of the month after the employee's or the school employee's employer-paid coverage, COBRA coverage, or continuation coverage ends;

(b) The employee's or the school employee's first premium payment for PEBB retiree insurance coverage and applicable premium surcharges are due to the health care authority (HCA) no later than 45 days after the election period ends as described in (a) of this subsection. Following the employee's or the school employee's first premium payment, premiums and applicable premium surcharges must be paid as described in WAC 182-08-180 (1)(c); and

(c) If a retiring employee or a retiring school employee elects to enroll a dependent in PEBB health plan coverage, the dependent must be enrolled in the same PEBB medical and PEBB dental plan as the retiring employee or the retiring school employee;

(d) To defer enrollment in PEBB retiree insurance coverage, the employee or the school employee must meet substantive eligibility requirements in subsection (2) of this section and defer enrollment as described in WAC 182-12-200 or 182-12-205.

(2) Substantive eligibility requirements.

An employee who is eligible for PEBB benefits through an employing agency, or a school employee who is eligible for SEBB benefits through a SEBB organization or basic benefits through an educational service district as defined in RCW 28A.400.270 who ends public employment may enroll or defer enrollment in PEBB retiree insurance coverage if they meet procedural and substantive eligibility requirements.

To be eligible to continue enrollment or defer enrollment in PEBB retiree insurance coverage, the employee or the school employee must be vested in and eligible to retire under a Washington state-sponsored retirement plan when the employee's or school employee's own employer-paid coverage, COBRA coverage, or continuation coverage ends. An exception to the requirement to be vested in and eligible to retire under a Washington state-sponsored retirement plan is provided for employees of an employer group in (c)(i) of this subsection. To satisfy the requirement to immediately begin to receive a monthly retirement plan payment as described in (a), (b), (c)(ii), and (d) of this subsection, the employee or school employee must begin receiving a monthly retirement plan payment no later than the first month following the employee's or school employee's own employer-paid coverage, COBRA coverage, or continuation coverage ending.

(a) A retiring employee of a state agency must immediately begin to receive a monthly retirement plan payment, with exceptions described below:

(i) A retiring employee who receives a lump sum payment instead of a monthly retirement plan payment is only eligible if the department of retirement systems offered the employee the choice between a lump sum actuarially equivalent payment and the ongoing monthly payment, as allowed by the plan; or

(ii) A retiring employee who is a member of a Plan 3 retirement plan, also called a separated employee (defined in RCW 41.05.011(25)), must meet their Plan 3 retirement eligibility criteria. The employee does not have to receive a retirement plan payment to enroll in PEBB retiree insurance coverage.

(b) A retiring employee of a Washington higher education institution who is a member of a higher education retirement plan (HERP) must immediately begin to receive a monthly retirement plan payment, or meet their HERP plan's retirement eligibility criteria, or be at least age 55 with 10 years of state service;

(c) A retiring employee of an employer group participating in PEBB insurance coverage under contractual agreement with the authority must be eligible to retire as described in (c)(i) or (ii) of this subsection to be eligible to continue PEBB retiree insurance coverage((, except for an educational service district employee who must meet the requirements as described in (d) of this subsection)).

(i) A retiring employee who is eligible to retire under a retirement plan sponsored by an employer group or tribal government that is not a Washington state-sponsored retirement plan must meet the same age and years of service requirements as if they were a member of public employees retirement system Plan 1, if their date of hire with that employer group or tribal government was before October 1, 1977, or Plan 2, if their date of hire with that employer group or tribal government was on or after October 1, 1977.

(ii) A retiring employee who is eligible to retire under a Washington state-sponsored retirement plan must immediately begin to receive a monthly retirement plan payment, with exceptions described in (a)(i) and (ii) of this subsection.

(iii) A retired employee of an employer group((, except a Washington state educational service district,)) that ends participation in PEBB insurance coverage is no longer eligible to continue enrollment in PEBB retiree insurance coverage if they enrolled after September 15, 1991. Any retiree who loses eligibility for this reason may continue health plan enrollment as described in WAC 182-12-146.

(iv) A retired employee of a tribal government employer that ends participation in PEBB insurance coverage is no longer eligible to continue enrollment in PEBB retiree insurance coverage. Any retiree who loses eligibility for this reason may continue health plan enrollment as described in WAC 182-12-146.

(d) A retiring school employee must immediately begin to receive a monthly retirement plan payment, with exceptions described below:

(i) A retiring school employee who ends employment before October 1, 1993; or

(ii) A retiring school employee who receives a lump sum payment instead of a monthly retirement plan payment is only eligible if the department of retirement systems offered the school employee the choice between a lump sum actuarially equivalent payment and the ongoing monthly payment, as allowed by the plan, or the school employee enrolled before 1995; or

(iii) A retiring school employee who is a member of a Plan 3 retirement system, also called a separated employee (defined in RCW 41.05.011(25)), must meet their Plan 3 retirement eligibility criteria; or

(iv) A school employee who retired as of September 30, 1993, and began receiving a monthly retirement plan payment from a Washington state-sponsored retirement system (as defined in chapters 41.32, 41.35 or 41.40 RCW) is eligible if they enrolled in a PEBB health plan no later than the HCA's annual open enrollment period for the year beginning January 1, 1995.

(3) A retiring employee or a retiring school employee and their enrolled dependents who are eligible for medicare must enroll and maintain enrollment in both medicare Parts A and B if the employee or the school employee retired after July 1, 1991. If a retiree or an enrolled dependent becomes eligible for medicare after enrollment in PEBB retiree insurance coverage, they must enroll and maintain enrollment in medicare Parts A and B to remain enrolled in a PEBB retiree health plan. If an enrollee who is eligible for medicare does not meet this procedural requirement, the enrollee is no longer eligible for enrollment in a PEBB retiree health plan. The enrollee's eligibility will end as described in the termination notice sent by the PEBB program. The enrollee may continue PEBB health plan enrollment as described in WAC 182-12-146.

(4) Washington state-sponsored retirement plans include:

(a) Higher education retirement plans;

(b) Law enforcement officers' and firefighters' retirement system;

(c) Public employees' retirement system;

(d) Public safety employees' retirement system;

(e) School employees' retirement system;

(f) State judges/judicial retirement system;

(g) Teachers' retirement system; and

(h) State patrol retirement system.

(i) The two federal retirement systems, Civil Service Retirement System and Federal Employees' Retirement System, are considered Washington state-sponsored retirement systems for Washington State University Extension for an employee covered under PEBB benefits at the time of retirement.

(1) A retiring employee or a retiring school employee may defer enrollment in public employees benefits board (PEBB) retiree insurance coverage at retirement if they meet substantive eligibility requirements as described in WAC 182-12-171(2) or as described in WAC 182-12-180(1). An enrolled retiree may defer enrollment after enrolling in PEBB retiree insurance coverage. Enrollment in PEBB retiree insurance coverage may be deferred when they are enrolled as a dependent in a health plan sponsored by PEBB((, a Washington state educational service district,)) or school employees benefits board (SEBB), including such coverage under the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) or continuation coverage.

(2) A retiring employee, a retiring school employee, or a retiree who defers enrollment in PEBB retiree insurance coverage defers enrollment in PEBB medical and PEBB dental. A retiree must be enrolled in PEBB medical to enroll in PEBB dental. A retiree who defers enrollment also defers enrollment for all eligible dependents. A retiree may only defer enrollment in PEBB retiree term life insurance as described in WAC 182-12-209 (3)(b).

(3) A retiring employee, a retiring school employee, or a retiree who defers enrollment as described in this section may later enroll themselves and their dependents in a PEBB health plan by submitting the required forms as described below and evidence of continuous enrollment in a health plan sponsored by PEBB((, a Washington state educational service district,)) or SEBB. Evidence of continuous enrollment in a health plan sponsored by a Washington state educational service district may be required if a retiring employee, a retiring school employee, or a retiree deferred enrollment under this section prior to January 1, 2024. A gap of 31 days or less is allowed between the date PEBB retiree insurance coverage is deferred and the start date of enrollment in a health plan sponsored by PEBB, a Washington state educational service district, or SEBB, and between each period of enrollment in qualifying coverages as described in WAC 182-12-205 (3)(a) through (e) during the deferral period:

(a) During the PEBB annual open enrollment period. The required form must be received by the PEBB program no later than the last day of the open enrollment period. PEBB health plan coverage begins January 1st of the following year; or

(b) When enrollment in a health plan sponsored by PEBB, a Washington state educational service district, or SEBB ends, or such coverage under COBRA or continuation coverage ends. The required forms to enroll must be received by the PEBB program no later than 60 days after coverage ends. PEBB health plan coverage begins the first day of the month following the date the other coverage ends. To continue in a deferred status, the retiree must defer enrollment as described in WAC 182-12-205.

(c) If a retiree elects to enroll a dependent in PEBB health plan coverage as described in this subsection, the dependent must be enrolled in the same PEBB medical or PEBB dental plan as the retiree.

(1) The following individuals may defer enrollment in public employees benefits board (PEBB) retiree insurance coverage:

(a) A retiring employee or a retiring school employee;

(b) A dependent becoming eligible as a survivor; or

(c) A retiree or a survivor enrolled in PEBB retiree insurance coverage.

(2) A subscriber described in subsection (1) of this section who defers enrollment in PEBB retiree insurance coverage also defers enrollment for all eligible dependents, except as described in subsection (3)(c) of this section.

(3) A subscriber described in subsection (1) of this section who chooses to defer enrollment in PEBB retiree insurance coverage must maintain continuous enrollment in one or more qualifying coverages as described in this subsection or WAC 182-12-200. A gap of 31 days or less is allowed between the date PEBB retiree insurance coverage is deferred and the start date of a qualifying coverage, and between each period of enrollment in qualifying coverages during the deferral period. A subscriber who chooses to defer enrollment, defers enrollment in PEBB medical and PEBB dental. A subscriber must be enrolled in PEBB medical to enroll in PEBB dental. A retiree may only defer enrollment in PEBB retiree term life insurance as described in WAC 182-12-209 (3)(b).

(a) Beginning January 1, 2001, enrollment in PEBB retiree insurance coverage may be deferred when the subscriber is enrolled in employer-based group medical as an employee or the dependent of an employee, or such medical insurance continued under Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) coverage or continuation coverage.

(b) Beginning January 1, 2001, enrollment in PEBB retiree insurance coverage may be deferred when the subscriber is enrolled as a retiree or the dependent of a retiree in a federal retiree medical plan.

(c) Beginning January 1, 2006, enrollment in PEBB retiree insurance coverage may be deferred when the subscriber is enrolled in medicare Parts A and B and a medicaid program that provides creditable coverage as defined in WAC 182-12-109. Dependents may continue their PEBB health plan enrollment if they meet PEBB eligibility criteria and are not eligible for creditable coverage under a medicaid program.

(d) Beginning January 1, 2014, subscribers who are not eligible for Parts A and B of medicare may defer enrollment in PEBB retiree insurance coverage when the subscriber is enrolled in exchange coverage.

(e) Beginning July 17, 2018, enrollment in PEBB retiree insurance coverage may be deferred when the subscriber is enrolled in the Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs (CHAMPVA).

(4) To defer enrollment in PEBB retiree insurance coverage, the required forms must be submitted to the PEBB program.

(a) For a retiring employee or a retiring school employee who meets the substantive eligibility requirements as described in WAC 182-12-171(2), enrollment will be deferred the first of the month following the date their own employer-paid coverage, COBRA coverage, or continuation coverage ends. The forms must be received by the PEBB program no later than 60 days after ((the))their own employer-paid coverage, COBRA coverage, or continuation coverage ends.

(b) For an official leaving public office who meets the requirements as described in WAC 182-12-180(1), enrollment will be deferred the first of the month following the date the official leaves public office. The forms must be received by the PEBB program no later than 60 days after the official leaves public office.

(c) For an employee or a school employee determined to be retroactively eligible for disability retirement who meets the requirements as described in WAC 182-12-211 (1)(a) through (c), enrollment will be deferred as described in WAC 182-12-211 (2) or (3). The forms and formal determination letter must be received by the PEBB program no later than 60 days after the date on the determination letter.

(d) For an eligible survivor, the dependent must meet the requirements described below and the forms must be received by the PEBB program within the time described:

(i) For a survivor of an employee or a school employee who meets the requirements as described in WAC 182-12-265 (1) or (3), enrollment will be deferred the first of the month following the later of the date of the employee's or the school employee's death or the date the survivor's PEBB insurance coverage, educational service district coverage, or school employees benefits board (SEBB) insurance coverage ends. The forms must be received by the PEBB program no later than 60 days after the later of the date of the employee's or the school employee's death or the date the survivor's PEBB insurance coverage, educational service district coverage, or SEBB insurance coverage ends.

(ii) For a survivor of an official who meets the requirements as described in WAC 182-12-180(2), enrollment will be deferred the first of the month following the later of the date of the official's death or the date the survivor's PEBB insurance coverage ends. The forms must be received by the PEBB program no later than 60 days after the later of the date of the official's death or the date the survivor's PEBB insurance coverage ends.

(iii) For a survivor of a retiree who meets the requirements as described in WAC 182-12-265(2), enrollment will be deferred the first of the month following the date of the retiree's death. The forms must be received by the PEBB program no later than 60 days after the retiree's death.

(iv) For a survivor of an emergency service personnel killed in the line of duty who meets the requirements as described in WAC 182-12-250, enrollment will be deferred the first of the month following the later of one of the events described in WAC 182-12-250 (5)(a) through (d). The forms must be received by the PEBB program no later than 180 days after the later of one of the events described in WAC 182-12-250 (5)(a) through (d).

(e) For an enrolled retiree or survivor who submits the required forms to defer enrollment in PEBB retiree insurance coverage, enrollment will be deferred effective the first of the month following the date the required forms are received by the PEBB program. If the forms are received on the first day of the month, enrollment will be deferred effective that day.

(5) A retiree who meets substantive eligibility requirements in WAC 182-12-171(2) and whose own employer-paid coverage, COBRA coverage, or continuation coverage ended between January 1, 2001, and December 31, 2001, was not required to have submitted the deferral form at that time, but must meet all procedural requirements as stated in this section, WAC 182-12-171, and 182-12-200.

(6) A subscriber described in subsection (1) of this section who defers enrollment while enrolled in qualifying coverage as described in subsection (3)(a) through (e) of this section may later enroll themselves and their dependents in a PEBB health plan by submitting the required forms as described below and evidence of continuous enrollment in one or more qualifying coverages as described in subsection (3)(a) through (e) of this section. A gap of 31 days or less is allowed between the date PEBB retiree insurance coverage is deferred and the start date of a qualifying coverage, and between each period of enrollment in qualifying coverages during the deferral period:

(a) A subscriber who defers enrollment while enrolled in employer-based group medical or such medical insurance continued under COBRA coverage or continuation coverage may enroll in a PEBB health plan by submitting the required forms and evidence of continuous enrollment to the PEBB program:

(i) During the PEBB annual open enrollment period. The required forms must be received by the PEBB program no later than the last day of the open enrollment period. PEBB health plan coverage begins January 1st of the following year; or

(ii) When their employer-based group medical or such coverage under COBRA coverage or continuation coverage ends. The required forms and evidence of continuous enrollment must be received by the PEBB program no later than 60 days after coverage ends. PEBB health plan coverage begins the first day of the month after the employer-based group medical coverage, COBRA coverage, or continuation coverage ends.

(b) A subscriber who defers enrollment while enrolled as a retiree or dependent of a retiree in a federal retiree medical plan will have a one-time opportunity to enroll in a PEBB health plan by submitting the required forms and evidence of continuous enrollment to the PEBB program:

(i) During the PEBB annual open enrollment period. The required forms must be received by the PEBB program no later than the last day of the open enrollment period. PEBB health plan coverage begins January 1st of the following year; or

(ii) When the federal retiree medical plan coverage ends. The required forms and evidence of continuous enrollment must be received by the PEBB program no later than 60 days after coverage ends. PEBB health plan coverage begins the first day of the month after coverage under the federal retiree medical plan ends.

(c) A subscriber who defers enrollment while enrolled in medicare Parts A and B and a medicaid program that provides creditable coverage as defined in WAC 182-12-109 may enroll in a PEBB health plan by submitting the required forms and evidence of continuous enrollment to the PEBB program:

(i) During the PEBB annual open enrollment period. The required forms must be received by the PEBB program no later than the last day of the open enrollment period. PEBB health plan coverage begins January 1st of the following year; or

(ii) When their medicaid coverage ends. The required forms and evidence of continuous enrollment must be received by the PEBB program no later than 60 days after coverage ends. PEBB health plan coverage begins the first day of the month after the medicaid coverage ends; or

(iii) No later than the end of the calendar year when their medicaid coverage ends if the retiree or survivor was also determined eligible under 42 U.S.C. § 1395w-114 and subsequently enrolled in a medicare Part D plan. Enrollment in the PEBB health plan will begin January 1st following the end of the calendar year when the medicaid coverage ends. The required forms must be received by the PEBB program no later than the last day of the calendar year in which the medicaid coverage ends.

(d) A subscriber who defers enrollment while enrolled in exchange coverage will have a one-time opportunity to enroll or reenroll in a PEBB health plan by submitting the required forms and evidence of continuous enrollment to the PEBB program:

(i) During the PEBB annual open enrollment period. The required forms must be received by the PEBB program no later than the last day of the open enrollment period. PEBB health plan coverage begins January 1st of the following year; or

(ii) When exchange coverage ends. The required forms and evidence of continuous enrollment must be received by the PEBB program no later than 60 days after coverage ends. PEBB health plan coverage begins the first day of the month after exchange coverage ends.

(e) A subscriber who defers enrollment while enrolled in CHAMPVA will have a one-time opportunity to enroll in a PEBB health plan by submitting the required forms and evidence of continuous enrollment to the PEBB program:

(i) During the PEBB annual open enrollment period. The required forms must be received by the PEBB program no later than the last day of the open enrollment period. PEBB health plan coverage begins January 1st of the following year; or

(ii) When CHAMPVA coverage ends. The required forms and evidence of continuous enrollment must be received by the PEBB program no later than 60 days after coverage ends. PEBB health plan coverage begins the first day of the month after CHAMPVA coverage ends.

(7) A subscriber described in subsection (1) of this section who defers enrollment while enrolled in qualifying coverage as described in subsection (3)(a) through (e) of this section may later enroll themselves and their dependents in a PEBB health plan if they receive formal notice that the authority has determined it is more cost-effective to enroll them or their eligible dependents in PEBB medical than a medical assistance program.

(8) If a subscriber elects to enroll a dependent in PEBB health plan coverage as described in subsection (6) or (7) of this section, the dependent must be enrolled in the same PEBB medical and PEBB dental plan as the subscriber.

(9) An enrolled retiree or a survivor who requests to voluntarily terminate their enrollment in PEBB retiree insurance coverage must do so in writing. The written termination request must be received by the PEBB program. A retiree or a survivor who voluntarily terminates their enrollment in a PEBB health plan also terminates enrollment for all eligible dependents. Once coverage is terminated, a retiree or a survivor may not enroll again in the future unless they reestablish eligibility for PEBB insurance coverage by becoming newly eligible. Enrollment in a PEBB health plan will terminate on the last day of the month in which the PEBB program receives the termination request. If the termination request is received on the first day of the month, enrollment will terminate on the last day of the previous month.

(10) When a retiree becomes eligible for the employer contribution toward PEBB benefits, PEBB retiree insurance coverage will be automatically deferred. The subscriber will be exempt from the deferral form requirement. ((When the subscriber is no longer eligible for the employer contribution toward PEBB benefits, they must enroll or defer PEBB retiree insurance coverage as described in WAC 182-12-171, 182-12-200, and this section.))

(1) Enrolling dependents in public employees benefits board (PEBB) health plan coverage, supplemental dependent life insurance, and accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D) insurance. A dependent must be enrolled in the same health plan coverage as the subscriber except as described in WAC 182-12-171 (1)(c). The subscriber must be enrolled in health plan coverage to enroll their dependent in health plan coverage except as provided in WAC 182-12-205 (3)(c). A dependent with more than one source of eligibility for enrollment in the PEBB and school employees benefits board (SEBB) programs is limited to a single enrollment in medical, dental, and vision plans in either the PEBB or SEBB program. Subscribers must satisfy the enrollment requirements as described in subsection (4) of this section and may enroll eligible dependents at the following times:

(a) When the subscriber becomes eligible and enrolls in PEBB benefits. If eligibility is verified the dependent's effective date will be as follows:

(i) PEBB health plan coverage will be the same as the subscriber's effective date;

(ii) Supplemental dependent life insurance or AD&D insurance, if elected, will be effective the first day of the month following the date the contracted vendor receives the required form or approves the enrollment. A newly born child must be at least 14 days old before supplemental dependent life insurance or AD&D insurance coverage is effective.

(b) During the annual open enrollment. PEBB health plan coverage begins January 1st of the following year;

(c) During special open enrollment. Subscribers may enroll dependents during a special open enrollment as described in subsection (3) of this section;

(d) When a National Medical Support Notice (NMSN) requires a subscriber to cover a dependent child in health plan coverage as described in WAC 182-12-263; or

(e) Any time during the calendar year for supplemental dependent life insurance or AD&D insurance by submitting the required form to the contracted vendor for approval. Evidence of insurability may be required for supplemental dependent life insurance but will not be required for supplemental AD&D insurance. Supplemental dependent life insurance or AD&D insurance will be effective the first day of the month following the date the contracted vendor receives the required form or approves the enrollment. A newly born child must be at least 14 days old before supplemental dependent life insurance or AD&D insurance coverage is effective.

(2) Removing dependents from a subscriber's PEBB health plan coverage or supplemental dependent life insurance or AD&D insurance.

(a) A dependent's eligibility for enrollment in PEBB health plan coverage or supplemental dependent life insurance or AD&D insurance ends the last day of the month the dependent meets the eligibility criteria as described in WAC 182-12-250 or 182-12-260. Subscribers must provide notice when a dependent is no longer eligible due to divorce, annulment, dissolution, or qualifying event of a dependent ceasing to be eligible as a dependent child, as described in WAC 182-12-260(3). For supplemental dependent life insurance or AD&D insurance, subscribers must notify the contracted vendor on the required form, in writing, or by telephone when a dependent is no longer eligible. Contact information for the contracted vendor may be found at hca.wa.gov/employees-contact-plan. For PEBB health plan coverage, the notice must be received within 60 days of the last day of the month the dependent loses eligibility. Employees must notify their employing agency when a dependent is no longer eligible for PEBB health plan coverage, except as required under WAC 182-12-260 (3)(g)(ii). All other subscribers must notify the PEBB program. Consequences for not submitting notice within the required 60 days include, but are not limited to:

(i) The dependent may lose eligibility to continue PEBB medical or dental under one of the continuation coverage options described in WAC 182-12-270;

(ii) The subscriber may be billed for claims paid by the health plan for services that were rendered after the dependent lost eligibility as described in WAC 182-12-270;

(iii) The subscriber may not be able to recover subscriber-paid insurance premiums for dependents that lost their eligibility; and

(iv) The subscriber may be responsible for premiums paid by the state for the dependent's health plan coverage after the dependent lost eligibility.

(b) Employees have the opportunity to remove eligible dependents:

(i) During the annual open enrollment. The dependent will be removed from PEBB health plan coverage the last day of December;

(ii) During a special open enrollment as described in subsections (3) and (4)(f) of this section;

(iii) When a NMSN requires a spouse, former spouse, or other individual to provide health plan coverage for a dependent who is already enrolled in PEBB coverage, and that health plan coverage is in fact provided as described in WAC 182-12-263(2); or

(iv) Any time during the calendar year from supplemental dependent life insurance or AD&D insurance by submitting a request to the contracted vendor on the required form, in writing, or by telephone. Contact information for the contracted vendor may be found at hca.wa.gov/employees-contact-plan.

(c) Retirees (see WAC 182-12-171, 182-12-180, or 182-12-211), survivors (see WAC 182-12-180, 182-12-250, or 182-12-265), and PEBB continuation coverage enrollees (see WAC 182-12-133, 182-12-141, 182-12-142, 182-12-146, or 182-12-148) may remove dependents from their PEBB health plan coverage outside of the annual open enrollment or a special open enrollment by providing written notice to the PEBB program. The dependent will be removed from the subscriber's PEBB health plan coverage prospectively. PEBB health plan coverage will end on the last day of the month in which the written notice is received by the PEBB program or on the last day of the month specified in the subscriber's written notice, whichever is later. If the written notice is received on the first day of the month, PEBB health plan coverage will end on the last day of the previous month. PEBB continuation coverage enrollees may remove dependents from supplemental dependent life insurance or AD&D insurance any time during the calendar year by submitting a request to the contracted vendor on the required form, in writing, or by telephone. Contact information for the contracted vendor may be found at hca.wa.gov/employees-contact-plan.

(3) Special open enrollment.

(a) Subscribers may enroll or remove their eligible dependents outside of the annual open enrollment if a special open enrollment event occurs. The change in enrollment must be allowable under the Internal Revenue Code and Treasury Regulations, and correspond to and be consistent with the event that creates the special open enrollment for the subscriber, the subscriber's dependents, or both. To disenroll from a medicare advantage (MA) or medicare advantage-prescription drug (MA-PD) plan, the change in enrollment must be allowable under 42 C.F.R. Secs. 422.62(b) and 423.38(c).

(i) PEBB health plan coverage will begin the first of the month following the later of the event date or the date the required form is received. If that day is the first of the month, the change in enrollment begins on that day except for a MA or MA-PD plan which will begin the first day of the month following the date the form is received.

(ii) PEBB health plan coverage for an extended dependent or a dependent with a disability will begin the first day of the month following the later of the event date or eligibility certification.

(iii) The dependent will be removed from the subscriber's PEBB health plan coverage the last day of the month following the later of the event date or the date the required form and proof of the event is received. If that day is the first of the month, the change in enrollment will be made the last day of the previous month.

(iv) If the special open enrollment is due to the birth or adoption of a child, or when the subscriber has assumed a legal obligation for total or partial support in anticipation of adoption of a child, PEBB health plan coverage will begin or end as follows:

• For the newly born child, PEBB health plan coverage will begin the date of birth;

• For a newly adopted child, PEBB health plan coverage will begin on the date of placement or the date a legal obligation is assumed in anticipation of adoption, whichever is earlier;

• For a spouse or state registered domestic partner of a subscriber, PEBB health plan coverage will begin the first day of the month in which the event occurs. The spouse or state registered domestic partner will be removed from PEBB health plan coverage the last day of the month in which the event occurred.

(v) Supplemental dependent life insurance or AD&D insurance will begin the first day of the month following the date the contracted vendor receives the required form or approves the enrollment. A newly born child must be at least 14 days old before supplemental dependent life insurance or AD&D insurance coverage is effective.

(b) The events described in this subsection (3)(b)(i) of this section create a special open enrollment to enroll eligible dependents in supplemental dependent life insurance or AD&D insurance. Any one of the following events may create a special open enrollment to enroll or remove eligible dependents from PEBB health plan coverage:

(i) Subscriber acquires a new dependent due to:

• Marriage or registering a state registered domestic partnership;

• Birth, adoption, or when a subscriber has assumed a legal obligation for total or partial support in anticipation of adoption; or

• A child becoming eligible as an extended dependent through legal custody or legal guardianship.

(ii) Subscriber or a subscriber's dependent loses other coverage under a group health plan or through health insurance coverage, as defined by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA);

(iii) Subscriber has a change in employment status that affects the subscriber's eligibility for their employer contribution toward their employer-based group health plan;

(iv) The subscriber's dependent has a change in their own employment status that affects their eligibility or their dependent's eligibility for the employer contribution under their employer-based group health plan;

(v) Subscriber or a subscriber's dependent has a change in enrollment under an employer-based group health plan during its annual open enrollment that does not align with the PEBB program's annual open enrollment;

(vi) Subscriber's dependent has a change in residence from outside of the United States to within the United States, or from within the United States to outside of the United States and that change in residence resulted in the dependent losing their health insurance;

(vii) A court order requires the subscriber or any other individual to provide insurance coverage for an eligible dependent of the subscriber (a former spouse or former state registered domestic partner is not an eligible dependent);

(viii) Subscriber or a subscriber's dependent enrolls in coverage under medicaid or a state children's health insurance program (CHIP), or the subscriber or a subscriber's dependent loses eligibility for coverage under medicaid or CHIP;

(ix) Subscriber or a subscriber's dependent becomes eligible for state premium assistance subsidy for PEBB health plan coverage from medicaid or CHIP;

(x) Subscriber's dependent enrolls in medicare, or loses eligibility for medicare.

(4) Enrollment requirements. A subscriber must submit the required forms within the time frames described in this subsection. For PEBB health plan coverage, an employee must submit the required forms to their employing agency, a subscriber on continuation coverage or PEBB retiree insurance coverage must submit the required forms to the PEBB program. In addition to the required forms indicating dependent enrollment, the subscriber must provide the required documents as evidence of the dependent's eligibility; or as evidence of the event that created the special open enrollment. All required forms and documents must be received within the required time frames. An employee enrolling a dependent in supplemental dependent life insurance or AD&D insurance must submit the required form to the contracted vendor for approval within the required time frames.

(a) If a subscriber wants to enroll their eligible dependents in PEBB health plan coverage when the subscriber becomes eligible to enroll in PEBB benefits, the subscriber must include the dependent's enrollment information on the required forms and submit them within the required time frame described in WAC 182-08-197, 182-12-171, 182-12-180, 182-12-211, or 182-12-250. If an employee enrolls a dependent in supplemental dependent life insurance or AD&D insurance, the required form must be submitted within the required time frame described in WAC 182-08-197.

(b) If a subscriber wants to enroll eligible dependents in PEBB health plan coverage during the PEBB annual open enrollment period, the required forms must be received no later than the last day of the annual open enrollment.

(c) If a subscriber wants to enroll newly eligible dependents, the required forms must be received no later than 60 days after the dependent becomes eligible. An employee enrolling a dependent in supplemental dependent life insurance or AD&D insurance must submit the required form to the contracted vendor for approval. An employee may enroll a dependent in supplemental dependent life insurance up to the guaranteed issue coverage amount without evidence of insurability if the required form is submitted to the contracted vendor as required. Evidence of insurability will be required for supplemental dependent life insurance over the guaranteed issue coverage amount. Evidence of insurability is not required for supplemental AD&D insurance.

(d) If a subscriber wants to enroll a newborn or child whom the subscriber has adopted or has assumed a legal obligation for total or partial support in anticipation of adoption in PEBB health plan coverage, the subscriber should notify the PEBB program by submitting the required forms as soon as possible to ensure timely payment of claims. If adding the child increases the premium, the required forms must be received no later than 60 days after the date of the birth, adoption, or the date the legal obligation is assumed for total or partial support in anticipation of adoption. An employee enrolling a dependent in supplemental dependent life insurance or AD&D insurance must submit the required form to the contracted vendor for approval no later than 60 days after the date of the birth, adoption, or the date the legal obligation is assumed for total or partial support in anticipation of adoption. A newly born child must be at least 14 days old before supplemental dependent life insurance or AD&D insurance coverage can become effective.

(e) If the subscriber wants to enroll a child age 26 or older as a child with a disability in PEBB health plan coverage, the required forms must be received no later than 60 days after the child reaches age 26 or within the relevant time frame described in (a), (b), and (f) of this subsection. To recertify an enrolled child with a disability, the required forms must be received by the PEBB program or the contracted vendor by the child's scheduled PEBB health plan coverage termination date.

(f) If the subscriber wants to change a dependent's enrollment status in PEBB health plan coverage during a special open enrollment, the required forms must be received no later than 60 days after the event that creates the special open enrollment.

(g) An employee may enroll a dependent in supplemental dependent life insurance or AD&D insurance at any time during the calendar year by submitting the required form to the contracted vendor for approval. Evidence of insurability may be required for supplemental dependent life insurance but will not be required for supplemental AD&D insurance.

The survivor of an eligible employee, an eligible school employee, or a retiree who meets the eligibility criteria and submits the required forms as described in subsection (1), (2), or (3) of this section is eligible to enroll or defer enrollment as a survivor under public employees benefits board (PEBB) retiree insurance coverage. If enrolling in PEBB retiree insurance coverage, the survivor's first premium payment and applicable premium surcharges are due to the health care authority (HCA) no later than 45 days after the election period ends as described in subsection (1), (2), or (3) of this section. Following the survivor's first premium payment, premiums and applicable premium surcharges must be paid as described in WAC 182-08-180 (1)(c).

(1) An employee's spouse, state registered domestic partner, or child who loses eligibility due to the death of an eligible employee may enroll or defer enrollment as a survivor under PEBB retiree insurance coverage provided they immediately begin receiving a monthly retirement benefit from any state of Washington sponsored retirement system. To satisfy the requirement to immediately receive a monthly retirement benefit they must begin receiving monthly benefit payments no later than 120 days from the date of death of the employee. The required forms to enroll or defer enrollment must be received by the PEBB program no later than 60 days after the later of the date of the employee's death or the date the survivor's PEBB insurance coverage ends.

(a) The employee's spouse or state registered domestic partner may continue health plan enrollment until death.

(b) The employee's children may continue health plan enrollment until they lose eligibility as described in WAC 182-12-260.

(2) A retiree's spouse, state registered domestic partner, or child who loses eligibility due to the death of an eligible retiree may enroll or defer enrollment as a survivor under PEBB retiree insurance coverage. The required forms to enroll or defer enrollment must be received by the PEBB program no later than 60 days after the retiree's death.

(a) The retiree's spouse or state registered domestic partner may continue health plan enrollment until death.

(b) The retiree's children may continue health plan enrollment until they lose eligibility as described in WAC 182-12-260.

(c) If a spouse, state registered domestic partner, or child of an eligible retiree is not enrolled in a PEBB health plan at the time of the retiree's death, the survivor is eligible to enroll or defer enrollment as a survivor under PEBB retiree insurance coverage. The required forms to enroll or defer enrollment must be received by the PEBB program no later than 60 days after the retiree's death. For a survivor to enroll in a PEBB health plan who is not enrolled due to the retiree electing to defer enrollment in PEBB retiree insurance coverage as described in WAC 182-12-200 or 182-12-205, the survivor must also provide evidence of continuous enrollment in one or more qualifying coverages as described in WAC 182-12-205 (3)(a) through (e) from the most recent open enrollment for which the survivor was not enrolled in a PEBB medical plan prior to the retiree's death. A gap of 31 days or less is allowed between the date PEBB retiree insurance coverage was deferred and the start date of a qualifying coverage, and between each period of enrollment in qualifying coverages during the deferral period.

(3) A school employee's spouse, state registered domestic partner, or child who loses eligibility due to the death of an eligible school employee may enroll or defer enrollment as a survivor under PEBB retiree insurance coverage at the time of the school employee's death, provided the employee died on or after October 1, 1993. The survivor must immediately begin receiving a retirement benefit allowance under chapter 41.32, 41.35 or 41.40 RCW. The required forms to enroll or defer enrollment must be received by the PEBB program no later than 60 days after the later of the date of the school employee's death or the date the survivor's educational service district coverage, or school employees benefits board (SEBB) insurance coverage ends.

(a) The school employee's spouse or state registered domestic partner may continue health plan enrollment until death.

(b) The school employee's children may continue health plan enrollment until they lose eligibility as described in WAC 182-12-260.

(4) If premiums and applicable premium surcharges received by the HCA are sufficient as described in WAC 182-08-180 (1)(d)(ii) to maintain PEBB health plan enrollment after the employee, school employee, or retiree's death, the PEBB program will consider the payment as notice of the survivor's intent to continue enrollment.

If the survivor's enrollment ended due to the death of the employee, school employee, or retiree, the PEBB program will reinstate the survivor's enrollment without a gap subject to payment of premium and applicable premium surcharges.

(5) If a survivor elects to enroll a dependent in PEBB health plan coverage, the dependent must be enrolled in the same PEBB medical and PEBB dental plan as the survivor.

(6) In order to avoid duplication of group medical coverage, a survivor may defer enrollment in PEBB retiree insurance coverage as described in WAC 182-12-200 and 182-12-205.