School employees benefits board (SEBB) benefits premiums and applicable premium surcharges for all subscribers are due as described in this section, except when a SEBB organization is correcting its enrollment error as described in WAC 182-30-060.

(1) Premium payments. SEBB benefits premiums and applicable premium surcharges for all subscribers become due the first of the month in which SEBB benefits are effective. Premiums and applicable premium surcharges are due from the subscriber for the entire month of SEBB benefits and will not be prorated during any month.

(a) For subscribers not eligible for the employer contribution that are electing to enroll in continuation coverage as described in WAC 182-31-090, 182-31-091, 182-31-100, 182-31-120, or 182-31-130, the first premium payment and applicable premium surcharges are due to the health care authority (HCA) no later than forty-five days after the election period ends as described within the Washington Administrative Code applicable to the subscriber. Premiums and applicable premium surcharges associated with continuing SEBB medical must be made to the HCA as well as premiums associated with continuing SEBB dental or vision insurance coverage. Premiums associated with life insurance coverage and accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D) coverage must be made to the contracted vendor. Following the first premium payment, premiums and applicable premium surcharges must be paid as premiums become due.

(b) For school employees who are eligible for the employer contribution, premiums and applicable premium surcharges are due to the SEBB organization. If a school employee elects supplemental coverage, the school employee is responsible for payment of premiums from the month the supplemental coverage begins.

(c) Unpaid or underpaid premiums or applicable premium surcharges for all subscribers must be paid, and are due from the SEBB organization, subscriber, or a subscriber's legal representative to the HCA. For subscribers not eligible for the employer contribution or school employees eligible for the employer contribution as described in WAC 182-31-110, monthly premiums or applicable premium surcharges that remain unpaid for thirty days will be considered delinquent. A subscriber is allowed a grace period of thirty days from the date the monthly premiums or applicable premium surcharges become delinquent to pay the unpaid premium balance or applicable premium surcharges. If a subscriber's monthly premiums or applicable premium surcharges remain unpaid for sixty days from the original due date, the subscriber's SEBB benefits will be terminated retroactive to the last day of the month for which the monthly premiums and any applicable premium surcharges were paid. If it is determined by the HCA that payment of the unpaid balance in a lump sum would be considered a hardship, the HCA may develop a reasonable payment plan up to twelve months in duration with the subscriber or the subscriber's legal representative upon request.

(d) Monthly premiums or applicable premium surcharges due from a subscriber who is not eligible for the employer contribution will be considered unpaid if one of the following occurs:

(i) No payment of premiums or applicable premium surcharges are received by the HCA and the monthly premiums or applicable premium surcharges remain unpaid for thirty days; or

(ii) Premium payments or applicable premium surcharges received by the HCA are underpaid by an amount greater than an insignificant shortfall and the monthly premiums or applicable premium surcharges remain underpaid for thirty days past the date the monthly premiums or applicable premium surcharges were due.

(2) Premium refunds. SEBB benefits premiums and applicable premium surcharges will be refunded using the following methods:

(a) When a subscriber submits an enrollment change affecting subscriber or dependent eligibility, HCA may allow up to three months of accounting adjustments. HCA will refund to the individual or the SEBB organization any excess premiums and applicable premium surcharges paid during the three month adjustment period, except as indicated in WAC 182-31-120.

(b) If a SEBB subscriber, dependent, or beneficiary submits a written appeal as described in WAC 182-32-2010, and provides clear and convincing evidence of extraordinary circumstances, such that the subscriber could not timely submit the necessary information to accomplish an allowable enrollment change within sixty days after the event that created a change of premiums, the SEBB director, the SEBB director's designee, or the SEBB appeals unit may:

(i) Approve a refund of premiums and applicable premium surcharges that does not exceed twelve months of premiums; and

(ii) Approve the enrollment change that was originally requested and which forms the basis for the refund.

(c) If a federal government entity determines that an enrollee is retroactively enrolled in coverage (for example, medicare) the subscriber or beneficiary may be eligible for a refund of premiums and applicable premium surcharges paid during the time they were enrolled under the federal program if approved by SEBB director or the SEBB director's designee.

(d) HCA errors will be corrected by returning all excess premiums and applicable premium surcharges paid by the SEBB organization, subscriber, or beneficiary.

(e) SEBB organization errors will be corrected by returning all excess premiums and applicable premium surcharges paid by the school employee or beneficiary as described in WAC 182-30-060.