(1) The following individuals may defer enrollment in a public employees benefits board (PEBB) health plan:

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

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

(2) A subscriber described in subsection (1) of this section who defers enrollment in a PEBB health plan 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 defers enrollment in a PEBB health plan must maintain continuous enrollment in other medical as described in this section or WAC 182-12-200. A subscriber who defers enrollment in medical must defer enrollment in dental. A subscriber must be enrolled in medical to enroll in dental.

(a) Beginning January 1, 2001, enrollment in a PEBB health plan 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 a PEBB health plan 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 a PEBB health plan may be deferred when the subscriber is enrolled in medicare Parts A and B and a medicaid program that provides creditable coverage as described in this chapter. 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 a PEBB health plan when the subscriber is enrolled in exchange coverage.

(e) Beginning July 17, 2018, enrollment in a PEBB health plan 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 PEBB health plan enrollment, 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 employer-paid coverage, COBRA coverage, or continuation coverage ends. The forms must be received by the PEBB program no later than sixty days after the 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 sixty 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 sixty 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 sixty 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 sixty 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 sixty 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 one hundred eighty 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 a PEBB health plan, 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.

Exception:

When a subscriber or their dependent is enrolled in a medicare advantage plan, then enrollment in a PEBB health plan will be deferred effective the first of the month following the date the medicare advantage plan disenrollment form is received.

(5) A retiree who meets substantive eligibility requirements in WAC 182-12-171(2) and whose 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) 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 sixty 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:

(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 sixty 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 described in this chapter may enroll in a PEBB health plan by submitting the required forms and evidence of continuous enrollment to the PEBB program:

(ii) When their medicaid coverage ends. The required forms and evidence of continuous enrollment must be received by the PEBB program no later than sixty 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:

(ii) When exchange coverage ends. The required forms and evidence of continuous enrollment must be received by the PEBB program no later than sixty 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:

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

(f) A subscriber who defers enrollment may enroll 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.

(g) If a subscriber 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 subscriber.

Exception:

If a subscriber selects a medicare supplement plan, nonmedicare enrollees will be enrolled in the Uniform Medical Plan (UMP) Classic. If a subscriber selects any other medicare plan, they must also select a nonmedicare plan with the same contracted vendor available to nonmedicare enrollees.

(7) An enrolled retiree or a survivor who requests to voluntarily terminate their enrollment in a PEBB health plan 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 in a PEBB health plan will terminate on the last day of the previous month.

Exception:

When a subscriber or their dependent is enrolled in a medicare advantage plan, then enrollment in a PEBB health plan will terminate on the last day of the month when the medicare advantage plan disenrollment form is received.

PDFWAC 182-12-205

May a retiree or a survivor defer or voluntarily terminate public employees benefits board (PEBB) health plan enrollment under PEBB retiree insurance coverage?