Section 182-08-187. How do employing agencies correct enrollment errors and is there a limit on retroactive enrollment?

An employing agency that fails to timely enroll an employee, or his or her dependent, in public employees benefits board (PEBB) benefits must correct the error as described in this section. An agency must correct a failure to notify an employee timely of his or her eligibility for PEBB benefits and the employer contribution; or a failure to accurately enroll insurance coverage; or a failure to accurately enroll insurance coverage as required by WAC 182-08-197 (1)(b); or a failure to accurately reflect premium surcharge status.

The employing agency or the PEBB program's designee must enroll the employee and the employee's dependent, as elected, in PEBB benefits as described in subsection (1) of this section, reconcile premium payments and premium surcharges as described in subsection (2) of this section, and provide recourse as described in subsection (3) of this section.

Note:

If the employing agency failed to provide the notice required in WAC 182-12-113 or the employer group contract before the end of the employee's thirty-one day enrollment period described in WAC 182-08-197 (1)(a), the employing agency must provide the employee a written notice of eligibility for PEBB benefits and offer a new enrollment period. Employees who do not return the required enrollment forms default to enrollment according to WAC 182-08-197 (1)(b).

(1) Enrollment.

(a) PEBB medical and dental enrollment is effective the first day of the month following the date the enrollment error is identified, unless the authority determines additional recourse is warranted, as described in subsection (3) of this section. If the enrollment error is identified on the first day of the month, the enrollment correction is effective that day;

(b) Basic life and basic long-term disability (LTD) insurance enrollment is retroactive to the first day of the month following the day the employee became newly eligible, or the first day of the month the employee regained eligibility, as described in WAC 182-08-197. If the employee became newly eligible on the first working day of a month, basic life and basic LTD insurance coverage begins on that date;

(c) Optional life and optional LTD insurance is retroactive to the first day of the month following the day the employee became newly eligible if the employee elects to enroll in this coverage (or if previously elected, the first of the month following the signature date of the employee's application for this coverage). If an employing agency enrollment error occurred when the employee regained eligibility for the employer contribution following a period of leave as described in WAC 182-08-197(3):

(i) Optional insurance coverage is enrolled the first day of the month the employee regained eligibility, at the same level of coverage the employee continued during the period of leave, without evidence of insurability.

(ii) If the employee was not eligible to continue optional LTD insurance coverage during the period of leave, optional LTD insurance coverage is reinstated the first day of the month the employee regained eligibility, to the level of coverage the employee was enrolled in prior to the period of leave, without evidence of insurability.

(iii) If the employee was eligible to continue optional insurance coverage under the period of leave but did not, the employee must provide evidence of insurability and receive approval from the contracted vendor.

(d) If the employee is eligible and elects (or elected) to enroll in the medical flexible spending arrangement (FSA) or dependent care assistance program (DCAP), enrollment is limited to three months prior to the date enrollment is processed, but not earlier than the current plan year. If an employee was not enrolled in an FSA or DCAP as elected, the employee may adjust his or her election. The employee may either participate at the amount originally elected with a corresponding increase in contributions for the balance of the plan year, or participate at a reduced amount for the plan year by maintaining the per-pay period contribution in effect.

(2) Premium payments.

(a) The employing agency must remit to the authority the employer contribution and the employee contribution for health plan premiums, premium surcharges, basic life, and basic LTD from the date insurance coverage begins as described in subsections (1) and (3)(a)(i) of this section. If a state agency failed to notify a newly eligible employee of his or her eligibility for PEBB benefits, the state agency may only collect the employee contribution for health plan premiums and premium surcharges for coverage for months following notification of a new enrollment period.

(b) When an employing agency fails to correctly enroll the amount of optional life insurance or optional LTD insurance coverage elected by the employee, premiums will be corrected as follows:

(i) When additional premiums are due to the authority, the employee is responsible for premiums for the most recent twenty-four months of coverage. The employing agency is responsible for additional months of premiums.

(ii) When premium refunds are due to the employee, the optional life insurance or optional LTD insurance vendor is responsible for premium refunds for the most recent twenty-four months of coverage. The employing agency is responsible for additional months of premium refunds.

(3) Recourse.

(a) Employee eligibility for PEBB benefits begins on the first day of the month following the date eligibility is established as described in WAC 182-12-114. Dependent eligibility is described in WAC 182-12-260, and dependent enrollment is described in WAC 182-12-262. When retroactive correction of an enrollment error is limited as described in subsection (1) of this section, the employing agency must work with the employee, and the authority, to implement retroactive insurance coverage within the following parameters:

(i) Retroactive enrollment in a PEBB health plan;

(ii) Reimbursement of claims paid;

(iii) Reimbursement of amounts paid for medical and dental premiums; or

(iv) Other recourse, upon approval by the authority.

(b) Recourse must not contradict a specific provision of federal law or statute and does not apply to requests for noncovered services or in the case of an individual who is not eligible for PEBB benefits.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 41.05.160, 2015 c 116, and PEBB policy resolutions. WSR 15-22-099 (PEBB Admin # 2015-01 Rev 1), § 182-08-187, filed 11/4/15, effective 1/1/16. Statutory Authority: RCW 41.05.160 and 2013 2nd sp.s. c 4. WSR 14-20-058 (PEBB Admin 2014-02), § 182-08-187, filed 9/25/14, effective 1/1/15. Statutory Authority: RCW 41.05.160 and 2012 2nd sp.s. c 3. WSR 13-22-019 (Admin. 2013-01), § 182-08-187, filed 10/28/13, effective 1/1/14.]

(Effective January 1, 2017.)

WAC 182-08-187

How do employing agencies correct enrollment errors and is there a limit on retroactive enrollment?

An employing agency that fails to timely enroll an employee, or his or her dependent, in public employees benefits board (PEBB) benefits must correct the error as described in this section. An agency must correct a failure to notify an employee timely of his or her eligibility for PEBB benefits and the employer contribution; or a failure to accurately enroll PEBB insurance coverage; or a failure to accurately enroll PEBB insurance coverage as described in WAC 182-08-197 (1)(b); or a failure to accurately reflect premium surcharge status.

The employing agency or the PEBB program's designee must enroll the employee and the employee's dependent, as elected, in PEBB benefits as described in subsection (1) of this section, reconcile premium payments and premium surcharges as described in subsection (2) of this section, and provide recourse as described in subsection (3) of this section.

Note:

If the employing agency failed to provide the notice required in WAC 182-12-113 or the employer group contract before the end of the employee's thirty-one day enrollment period described in WAC 182-08-197 (1)(a), the employing agency must provide the employee a written notice of eligibility for PEBB benefits and offer a new enrollment period. Employees who do not return the required enrollment forms default to enrollment according to WAC 182-08-197 (1)(b).

(1) Enrollment.

(a) PEBB medical and dental enrollment is effective the first day of the month following the date the enrollment error is identified, unless the authority determines additional recourse is warranted, as described in subsection (3) of this section. If the enrollment error is identified on the first day of the month, the enrollment correction is effective that day;

(b) Basic life and basic long-term disability (LTD) insurance enrollment is retroactive to the first day of the month following the day the employee became newly eligible, or the first day of the month the employee regained eligibility, as described in WAC 182-08-197. If the employee became newly eligible on the first working day of a month, basic life and basic LTD insurance begins on that date;

(c) Optional life and optional LTD insurance is retroactive to the first day of the month following the day the employee became newly eligible if the employee elects to enroll in this coverage (or if previously elected, the first of the month following the signature date of the employee's application for this coverage). If an employing agency enrollment error occurred when the employee regained eligibility for the employer contribution following a period of leave as described in WAC 182-08-197(3):

(i) Optional life and optional LTD insurance is enrolled the first day of the month the employee regained eligibility, at the same level of coverage the employee continued during the period of leave, without evidence of insurability.

(ii) If the employee was not eligible to continue optional LTD insurance during the period of leave, optional LTD insurance is reinstated the first day of the month the employee regained eligibility, to the level of coverage the employee was enrolled in prior to the period of leave, without evidence of insurability.

(iii) If the employee was eligible to continue optional life insurance and optional LTD insurance under the period of leave but did not, the employee must provide evidence of insurability and receive approval from the contracted vendor.

(d) If the employee is eligible and elects (or elected) to enroll in the medical flexible spending arrangement (FSA) or dependent care assistance program (DCAP), enrollment is limited to three months prior to the date enrollment is processed, but not earlier than the current plan year. If an employee was not enrolled in an FSA or DCAP as elected, the employee may adjust his or her election. The employee may either participate at the amount originally elected with a corresponding increase in contributions for the balance of the plan year, or participate at a reduced amount for the plan year by maintaining the per-pay period contribution in effect.

(2) Premium payments.

(a) The employing agency must remit to the authority the employer contribution and the employee contribution for health plan premiums, premium surcharges, basic life, and basic LTD from the date insurance coverage begins as described in subsections (1) and (3)(a)(i) of this section. If a state agency failed to notify a newly eligible employee of his or her eligibility for PEBB benefits, the state agency may only collect the employee contribution for health plan premiums and premium surcharges for coverage for months following notification of a new enrollment period.

(b) When an employing agency fails to correctly enroll the amount of optional life insurance or optional LTD insurance elected by the employee, premiums will be corrected as follows:

(i) When additional premiums are due to the authority, the employee is responsible for premiums for the most recent twenty-four months of coverage. The employing agency is responsible for additional months of premiums.

(ii) When premium refunds are due to the employee, the optional life insurance or optional LTD insurance vendor is responsible for premium refunds for the most recent twenty-four months of coverage. The employing agency is responsible for additional months of premium refunds.

(3) Recourse.

(a) Employee eligibility for PEBB benefits begins on the first day of the month following the date eligibility is established as described in WAC 182-12-114. Dependent eligibility is described in WAC 182-12-260, and dependent enrollment is described in WAC 182-12-262. When retroactive correction of an enrollment error is limited as described in subsection (1) of this section, the employing agency must work with the employee, and the authority, to implement retroactive PEBB insurance coverage within the following parameters:

(i) Retroactive enrollment in a PEBB health plan;

(ii) Reimbursement of claims paid;

(iii) Reimbursement of amounts paid for medical and dental premiums; or

(iv) Other recourse, upon approval by the authority.

(b) Recourse must not contradict a specific provision of federal law or statute and does not apply to requests for noncovered services or in the case of an individual who is not eligible for PEBB benefits.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 41.05.021, 41.05.160, 2016 c 67, and PEBB policy resolutions. WSR 16-20-080, § 182-08-187, filed 10/4/16, effective 1/1/17. Statutory Authority: RCW 41.05.160, 2015 c 116, and PEBB policy resolutions. WSR 15-22-099 (PEBB Admin # 2015-01 Rev 1), § 182-08-187, filed 11/4/15, effective 1/1/16. Statutory Authority: RCW 41.05.160 and 2013 2nd sp.s. c 4. WSR 14-20-058 (PEBB Admin 2014-02), § 182-08-187, filed 9/25/14, effective 1/1/15. Statutory Authority: RCW 41.05.160 and 2012 2nd sp.s. c 3. WSR 13-22-019 (Admin. 2013-01), § 182-08-187, filed 10/28/13, effective 1/1/14.]

RCW 41.05.160, 2015 c 116, and PEBB policy resolutions. WSR 15-22-099 (PEBB Admin # 2015-01 Rev 1), § 182-08-187, filed 11/4/15, effective 1/1/16. Statutory Authority: RCW 41.05.160 and 2013 2nd sp.s. c 4. WSR 14-20-058 (PEBB Admin 2014-02), § 182-08-187, filed 9/25/14, effective 1/1/15. Statutory Authority: RCW 41.05.160 and 2012 2nd sp.s. c 3. WSR 13-22-019 (Admin. 2013-01), § 182-08-187, filed 10/28/13, effective 1/1/14.] [Statutory Authority: RCW 41.05.021, 41.05.160, 2016 c 67, and PEBB policy resolutions. WSR 16-20-080, § 182-08-187, filed 10/4/16, effective 1/1/17. Statutory Authority: RCW 41.05.160, 2015 c 116, and PEBB policy resolutions. WSR 15-22-099 (PEBB Admin # 2015-01 Rev 1), § 182-08-187, filed 11/4/15, effective 1/1/16. Statutory Authority: RCW 41.05.160 and 2013 2nd sp.s. c 4. WSR 14-20-058 (PEBB Admin 2014-02), § 182-08-187, filed 9/25/14, effective 1/1/15. Statutory Authority: RCW 41.05.160 and 2012 2nd sp.s. c 3. WSR 13-22-019 (Admin. 2013-01), § 182-08-187, filed 10/28/13, effective 1/1/14.

Rules

182-08-197,182-12-113,182-08-197,182-08-197,182-08-197,182-08-197,182-12-114,182-12-260,182-12-262,