This section applies to school board members as defined in WAC 182-31-020. A school board member may enroll in health plans offered by the school employees benefits board (SEBB) by self-paying the premium and applicable premium surcharges set by the health care authority (HCA). A school board member must enroll in SEBB medical, SEBB dental, and SEBB vision.

(1) ((Newly))Effective May 14, 2026, a school board member may enroll in SEBB medical, SEBB dental, and SEBB vision during the following times:

(a) Upon being elected or appointed as a school board ((members must submit their))member. The required forms ((to the SEBB program, and they)) must be received by the SEBB program no later than 60 days from the beginning of their elected or appointed term;

(c) Following the loss of other coverage under a group health plan or through health insurance coverage as defined by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). The required forms must be received by the SEBB program no later than 60 days after the date of the loss of other coverage.

(2) A school board member may elect to enroll in SEBB health plan coverage by submitting the required forms along with the first premium payment and applicable premium surcharges to the SEBB program. The first premium payment and applicable premium surcharges must be received no later than 45 days after the 60-day election period ends or the last day of the annual open enrollment.

(a) If the required forms are received no later than 60 days from the beginning of their elected or appointed term, the school board member's SEBB health plan coverage will begin the first day of the month following the day the SEBB program receives the required forms;

(c) If the required forms are received no later than 60 days after the date of loss of other coverage under a group health plan or through health insurance coverage as defined by HIPAA, the school board member's SEBB health plan coverage will begin the first day of the month following the later of the date of loss of other coverage or the date the SEBB program receives the required forms.

(((2)))(3) If the school board member elects to enroll a dependent in SEBB health plan coverage, the dependent will be enrolled in the same SEBB medical, SEBB dental, and SEBB vision plans as the school board member.

(((3)))(4) A school board member may participate in SEBB health plan coverage for the duration of their elected term as a school board member as long as:

(a) Premiums and applicable premium surcharges continue to be paid as described in WAC 182-30-040; and

(b) May renew their participation at the start of each subsequent term as a school board member. If a school board member is reelected for a new term consecutive from their previous term, the school board member will not be required to make new elections.

(((4)))(5) If a school board member is terminated due to no longer paying the premium and applicable premium surcharges as described in WAC 182-30-040 (1)(c) or requests to voluntarily terminate their enrollment in SEBB health plan coverage prior to the end of their elected term, they are no longer eligible under this section to participate in SEBB health plan coverage for the remainder of their elected term. Those who request to voluntarily terminate their SEBB health plan coverage must do so in writing. SEBB health plan coverage will end on the last day of the month in which the SEBB program receives the termination request or on the last day of the month specified in the school board member's termination request, whichever is later. If the termination request is received on the first day of the month, SEBB health plan coverage will end on the last day of the previous month.