A subscriber may change health plans at the following times:

(1) During the annual open enrollment: A subscriber may change health plans during the school employees benefits board (SEBB) annual open enrollment period. The subscriber must submit the required enrollment forms to change their health plan. A school employee submits the enrollment forms to their SEBB organization. A subscriber on continuation coverage submits the enrollment forms to the SEBB program. The required enrollment forms must be received no later than the last day of the annual open enrollment. Enrollment in the new health plan will begin January 1st of the following year.

(2) During a special open enrollment: A subscriber may revoke their health plan election and make a new election outside of the annual open enrollment if a special open enrollment event occurs. A special open enrollment event must be an event other than a school employee gaining initial eligibility for SEBB benefits as described in WAC 182-31-040 or regaining eligibility for SEBB benefits as described in WAC 182-30-080. The change in enrollment 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 for the subscriber, the subscriber's dependent, or both. To make a health plan change, a subscriber must submit the required enrollment forms. The forms must be received no later than sixty days after the event occurs. A school employee submits the enrollment forms to their SEBB organization. A subscriber on continuation coverage submits the enrollment forms to the SEBB program. In addition to the required forms, a subscriber must provide evidence of the event that created the special open enrollment. New health plan coverage will begin the first day of the month following the later of the event date or the date the form is received. If that day is the first of the month, the change in enrollment 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, health plan coverage will begin the month in which the birth, adoption, or assumption of legal obligation for total or partial support in anticipation of adoption occurs. If the special open enrollment is due to the enrollment of an extended dependent or a dependent with a disability, the change in health plan coverage will begin the first day of the month following the later of the event date or the eligibility certification. Any one of the following events may create a special open enrollment:

(a) Subscriber 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) 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);

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

(d) Subscriber has a change in employment from a SEBB organization to a public school district that results in the subscriber having different medical plans available. The subscriber may change their election if the change in employment causes:

(i) The subscriber's current medical plan to no longer be available, in this case the subscriber may select from any available medical plan; or

(ii) The subscriber has one or more new medical plans available, in this case the subscriber may select to enroll in a newly available plan.

(iii) As used in this subsection the term "public school district" shall be interpreted to not include charter schools and educational service districts.

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

(f) Subscriber or a subscriber's dependent has a change in residence that affects health plan availability. If the subscriber moves and the subscriber's current health plan is not available in the new location the subscriber must select a new health plan, otherwise there will be limited accessibility to network providers and covered services;

(g) 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);

(h) 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;

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

(j) Subscriber or a subscriber's dependent enrolls in coverage under medicare, or the subscriber or a subscriber's dependent loses eligibility for coverage under medicare. If the subscriber's current medical plan becomes unavailable due to the subscriber's or a subscriber's dependent's enrollment in medicare, the subscriber must select a new medical plan as described in WAC 182-30-085(2);

(k) Subscriber or a subscriber's dependent's current health plan becomes unavailable because the subscriber or enrolled dependent is no longer eligible for a health savings account (HSA). The authority may require evidence that the subscriber or subscriber's dependent is no longer eligible for an HSA;

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

(i) Active cancer treatment such as chemotherapy or radiation therapy;

(ii) Treatment following a recent organ transplant;

(iii) A scheduled surgery;

(iv) Recent major surgery still within the postoperative period; or

(v) Treatment for a high-risk pregnancy.

(3) If the school 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.