Section 182-08-197. When must a newly eligible employee, or an employee who regains eligibility for the employer contribution, select public employees benefits board (PEBB) benefits and complete required forms?

An employee who is newly eligible or who regains eligibility for the employer contribution toward public employees benefits board (PEBB) benefits enrolls as described in this section.

(1) When an employee is newly eligible for PEBB benefits:

(a) An employee must complete the required forms indicating his or her enrollment elections, including an election to waive PEBB medical if the employee chooses to waive PEBB medical as described in WAC 182-12-128. The required forms must be returned to the employee's employing agency. Forms must be received by his or her employing agency no later than thirty-one days (sixty days for life insurance) after the employee becomes eligible for PEBB benefits under WAC 182-12-114.

(i) An employee may enroll in optional life and optional long-term disability (LTD) insurance up to the guaranteed issue without evidence of insurability if the required forms are returned to the employee's employing agency as required. An employee may apply for enrollment in optional life and LTD insurance coverage over the guaranteed issue at any time during the calendar year by submitting the required form to the vendor for approval.

(ii) If an employee is eligible to participate in the state's salary reduction plan (see WAC 182-12-116) the employee will automatically enroll in the premium payment plan upon enrollment in PEBB medical so employee medical premiums are taken on a pretax basis. To opt out of the premium payment plan, a new employee must complete the required form and return it to his or her state agency. The form must be received by his or her state agency no later than thirty-one days after the employee becomes eligible for PEBB benefits.

(iii) If an employee is eligible to participate in the state's salary reduction plan (see WAC 182-12-116) the employee may enroll in the state's medical flexible spending arrangement (FSA) or dependent care assistance program (DCAP) or both, except as limited by subsection (4) of this section. To enroll in these optional PEBB benefits, the employee must return the required form to his or her state agency or the PEBB program's designee. The form must be received by the state agency or the PEBB program's designee no later than thirty-one days after the employee becomes eligible for PEBB benefits.

(b) If a newly eligible employee's employing agency does not receive the employee's required forms indicating medical, dental, and LTD elections and the employee's tobacco use status attestation within thirty-one days and life insurance elections within sixty days of the employee becoming eligible, his or her enrollment will be as follows:

(i) Uniform Medical Plan Classic;

(ii) Uniform Dental Plan;

(iii) Basic life insurance;

(iv) Basic long-term disability insurance;

(v) Dependents will not be enrolled; and

(vi) A tobacco use surcharge will be incurred as described in WAC 182-08-185 (1)(b).

(2) The employer contribution toward insurance coverage ends according to WAC 182-12-131. When an employee's employment ends, participation in the state's salary reduction plan ends.

(3) When an employee loses and later regains eligibility for the employer contribution toward insurance coverage following a period of leave described in WAC 182-12-133(1) and 182-12-142 (1) and (2):

(a) The employee must complete the required forms indicating his or her enrollment elections, including an election to waive PEBB medical if the employee chooses to waive PEBB medical as described in WAC 182-12-128. The required forms must be returned to the employee's employing agency except as described in (d) of this subsection. Forms must be received by the employing agency no later than thirty-one days after the employee regains eligibility, except as described in subsection (3)(b) of this section:

(i) An employee who self-paid for optional life insurance coverage after losing eligibility will have that level of coverage reinstated without evidence of insurability;

(ii) An employee who was eligible to continue optional life under continuation coverage but discontinued that insurance coverage must submit evidence of insurability;

(iii) An employee who was eligible to continue optional LTD under continuation coverage but discontinued that insurance coverage must submit evidence of insurability for optional LTD insurance when he or she regains eligibility for the employer contribution.

(b) An employee in any of the following circumstances does not have to return a form indicating optional LTD insurance elections. His or her optional LTD insurance will be automatically reinstated:

(i) The employee continued to self-pay for his or her optional LTD insurance after losing eligibility for the employer contribution;

(ii) The employee was not eligible to continue optional LTD insurance after losing eligibility for the employer contribution.

(c) If an employee's employing agency does not receive the required forms within thirty-one days of the employee regaining eligibility, medical, dental, life, tobacco use surcharge, and LTD enrollment will be as described in subsection (1)(b) of this section, except as described in (b) of this subsection.

(d) If an employee is eligible to participate in the state's salary reduction plan (see WAC 182-12-116) the employee may enroll in the state's medical FSA or DCAP or both, except as limited by subsection (4) of this section. To enroll in these optional PEBB benefits, the employee must return the required form to his or her state agency or the PEBB program's designee. The form must be received by the employee's state agency or the PEBB program's designee no later than thirty-one days after the employee becomes eligible for PEBB benefits.

(4) If an employee who is eligible to participate in the state's salary reduction plan (see WAC 182-12-116) is hired into a new position that is eligible for PEBB benefits in the same year, the employee may not resume participation in DCAP or medical FSA until the beginning of the next plan year, unless the time between employments is less than thirty days and the employee notifies the new state agency and the DCAP or FSA administrator of his or her employment transfer within the current plan year.

(5) An employee's insurance coverage elections remain the same when an employee transfers from one employing agency to another employing agency without a break in PEBB coverage. This includes movement of an employee between any entities described in WAC 182-12-111 and participating in PEBB benefits. Insurance coverage elections also remain the same when an employee has a break in employment that does not interrupt his or her employer contribution toward insurance coverage.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 41.05.160, 2015 c 116, and PEBB policy resolutions. WSR 15-22-099 (PEBB Admin # 2015-01 Rev 1), § 182-08-197, 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), § 182-08-197, 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), § 182-08-197, filed 10/28/13, effective 1/1/14. Statutory Authority: RCW 41.05.160. WSR 12-20-022 (Order 2012-01), § 182-08-197, filed 9/25/12, effective 11/1/12. Statutory Authority: RCW 41.05.160 and 2011 c 8. WSR 11-22-036 (Order 11-02), § 182-08-197, filed 10/26/11, effective 1/1/12. Statutory Authority: RCW 41.05.160. WSR 10-20-147 (Order 10-02), § 182-08-197, filed 10/6/10, effective 1/1/11; WSR 09-23-102 (Order 09-02), § 182-08-197, filed 11/17/09, effective 1/1/10; WSR 08-20-128 (Order 08-03), § 182-08-197, filed 10/1/08, effective 1/1/09; WSR 07-20-129 (Order 07-01), § 182-08-197, filed 10/3/07, effective 11/3/07; WSR 06-11-156 (Order 06-02), § 182-08-197, filed 5/24/06, effective 6/24/06. Statutory Authority: RCW 41.05.160, 41.05.350, and 41.05.165. WSR 05-16-046 (Order 05-01), § 182-08-197, filed 7/27/05, effective 8/27/05.]

(Effective January 1, 2017.)

WAC 182-08-197

When must a newly eligible employee, or an employee who regains eligibility for the employer contribution, select public employees benefits board (PEBB) benefits and complete required forms?

An employee who is newly eligible or who regains eligibility for the employer contribution toward public employees benefits board (PEBB) benefits enrolls as described in this section.

(1) When an employee is newly eligible for PEBB benefits:

(a) An employee must complete the required forms indicating his or her enrollment elections, including an election to waive PEBB medical if the employee chooses to waive PEBB medical as described in WAC 182-12-128. The required forms must be returned to the employee's employing agency. Forms must be received by his or her employing agency no later than thirty-one days after the employee becomes eligible for PEBB benefits under WAC 182-12-114.

(i) An employee may enroll in optional life and optional long-term disability (LTD) insurance up to the guaranteed issue without evidence of insurability if the required forms are returned to the employee's employing agency as required. An employee may apply for enrollment in optional life and optional LTD insurance over the guaranteed issue at any time during the calendar year by submitting the required form to the vendor for approval.

(ii) If an employee is eligible to participate in the state's salary reduction plan (see WAC 182-12-116) the employee will automatically enroll in the premium payment plan upon enrollment in PEBB medical so employee medical premiums are taken on a pretax basis. To opt out of the premium payment plan, a new employee must complete the required form and return it to his or her state agency. The form must be received by his or her state agency no later than thirty-one days after the employee becomes eligible for PEBB benefits.

(iii) If an employee is eligible to participate in the state's salary reduction plan (see WAC 182-12-116) the employee may enroll in the state's medical flexible spending arrangement (FSA) or dependent care assistance program (DCAP) or both, except as limited by subsection (4) of this section. To enroll in these optional PEBB benefits, the employee must return the required form to his or her state agency or the PEBB program's designee. The form must be received by the state agency or the PEBB program's designee no later than thirty-one days after the employee becomes eligible for PEBB benefits.

(b) If a newly eligible employee's employing agency does not receive the employee's required forms indicating medical, dental, life insurance, and LTD insurance elections, and the employee's tobacco use status attestation within thirty-one days of the employee becoming eligible, his or her enrollment will be as follows for those elections not received within thirty-one days:

(i) Uniform Medical Plan Classic;

(ii) Uniform Dental Plan;

(iii) Basic life insurance;

(iv) Basic long-term disability insurance;

(v) Dependents will not be enrolled; and

(vi) A tobacco use surcharge will be incurred as described in WAC 182-08-185 (1)(b).

(2) The employer contribution toward PEBB insurance coverage ends according to WAC 182-12-131. When an employee's employment ends, participation in the state's salary reduction plan ends.

(3) When an employee loses and later regains eligibility for the employer contribution toward PEBB insurance coverage following a period of leave described in WAC 182-12-133(1) and 182-12-142 (1) and (2). PEBB medical and dental begins on the first day of the month the employee is in pay status eight or more hours:

(a) The employee must complete the required forms indicating his or her enrollment elections, including an election to waive PEBB medical if the employee chooses to waive PEBB medical as described in WAC 182-12-128. The required forms must be returned to the employee's employing agency except as described in (d) of this subsection. Forms must be received by the employing agency no later than thirty-one days after the employee regains eligibility, except as described in subsection (3)(b) of this section:

(i) An employee who self-paid for optional life insurance coverage after losing eligibility will have that level of coverage reinstated without evidence of insurability effective the first day of the month in which the employee is in pay status eight or more hours;

(ii) An employee who was eligible to continue optional life under continuation coverage but discontinued that insurance coverage must submit evidence of insurability;

(iii) An employee who was eligible to continue optional LTD under continuation coverage but discontinued that insurance coverage must submit evidence of insurability for optional LTD insurance to the PEBB designee when he or she regains eligibility for the employer contribution.

(b) An employee in any of the following circumstances does not have to return a form indicating optional LTD insurance elections. His or her optional LTD insurance will be automatically reinstated effective the first day of the month he or she is in pay status eight or more hours:

(i) The employee continued to self-pay for his or her optional LTD insurance after losing eligibility for the employer contribution;

(ii) The employee was not eligible to continue optional LTD insurance after losing eligibility for the employer contribution.

(c) If an employee's employing agency does not receive the required forms within thirty-one days of the employee regaining eligibility, medical, dental, life insurance, tobacco use surcharge, and LTD insurance enrollment will be as described in subsection (1)(b) of this section, except as described in (b) of this subsection.

(d) If an employee is eligible to participate in the state's salary reduction plan (see WAC 182-12-116) the employee may enroll in the state's medical FSA or DCAP or both, except as limited by subsection (4) of this section. To enroll in these optional PEBB benefits, the employee must return the required form to his or her state agency or the PEBB program's designee. The form must be received by the employee's state agency or the PEBB program's designee no later than thirty-one days after the employee becomes eligible for PEBB benefits.

(4) If an employee who is eligible to participate in the state's salary reduction plan (see WAC 182-12-116) is hired into a new position that is eligible for PEBB benefits in the same year, the employee may not resume participation in DCAP or medical FSA until the beginning of the next plan year, unless the time between employments is less than thirty days and the employee notifies the new state agency and the DCAP or FSA administrator of his or her employment transfer within the current plan year.

(5) An employee's PEBB insurance coverage elections remain the same when an employee transfers from one employing agency to another employing agency without a break in PEBB coverage. This includes movement of an employee between any entities described in WAC 182-12-111 and participating in PEBB benefits. PEBB insurance coverage elections also remain the same when an employee has a break in employment that does not interrupt his or her employer contribution toward PEBB insurance coverage.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 41.05.021, 41.05.160, 2016 c 67, and PEBB policy resolutions. WSR 16-20-080, § 182-08-197, 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), § 182-08-197, 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), § 182-08-197, 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), § 182-08-197, filed 10/28/13, effective 1/1/14. Statutory Authority: RCW 41.05.160. WSR 12-20-022 (Order 2012-01), § 182-08-197, filed 9/25/12, effective 11/1/12. Statutory Authority: RCW 41.05.160 and 2011 c 8. WSR 11-22-036 (Order 11-02), § 182-08-197, filed 10/26/11, effective 1/1/12. Statutory Authority: RCW 41.05.160. WSR 10-20-147 (Order 10-02), § 182-08-197, filed 10/6/10, effective 1/1/11; WSR 09-23-102 (Order 09-02), § 182-08-197, filed 11/17/09, effective 1/1/10; WSR 08-20-128 (Order 08-03), § 182-08-197, filed 10/1/08, effective 1/1/09; WSR 07-20-129 (Order 07-01), § 182-08-197, filed 10/3/07, effective 11/3/07; WSR 06-11-156 (Order 06-02), § 182-08-197, filed 5/24/06, effective 6/24/06. Statutory Authority: RCW 41.05.160, 41.05.350, and 41.05.165. WSR 05-16-046 (Order 05-01), § 182-08-197, filed 7/27/05, effective 8/27/05.]

RCW 41.05.160, 2015 c 116, and PEBB policy resolutions. WSR 15-22-099 (PEBB Admin # 2015-01 Rev 1), § 182-08-197, 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), § 182-08-197, 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), § 182-08-197, filed 10/28/13, effective 1/1/14. Statutory Authority: RCW 41.05.160. WSR 12-20-022 (Order 2012-01), § 182-08-197, filed 9/25/12, effective 11/1/12. Statutory Authority: RCW 41.05.160 and 2011 c 8. WSR 11-22-036 (Order 11-02), § 182-08-197, filed 10/26/11, effective 1/1/12. Statutory Authority: RCW 41.05.160. WSR 10-20-147 (Order 10-02), § 182-08-197, filed 10/6/10, effective 1/1/11; WSR 09-23-102 (Order 09-02), § 182-08-197, filed 11/17/09, effective 1/1/10; WSR 08-20-128 (Order 08-03), § 182-08-197, filed 10/1/08, effective 1/1/09; WSR 07-20-129 (Order 07-01), § 182-08-197, filed 10/3/07, effective 11/3/07; WSR 06-11-156 (Order 06-02), § 182-08-197, filed 5/24/06, effective 6/24/06. Statutory Authority: RCW 41.05.160, 41.05.350, and 41.05.165. WSR 05-16-046 (Order 05-01), § 182-08-197, filed 7/27/05, effective 8/27/05.] [Statutory Authority: RCW 41.05.021, 41.05.160, 2016 c 67, and PEBB policy resolutions. WSR 16-20-080, § 182-08-197, 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), § 182-08-197, 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), § 182-08-197, 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), § 182-08-197, filed 10/28/13, effective 1/1/14. Statutory Authority: RCW 41.05.160. WSR 12-20-022 (Order 2012-01), § 182-08-197, filed 9/25/12, effective 11/1/12. Statutory Authority: RCW 41.05.160 and 2011 c 8. WSR 11-22-036 (Order 11-02), § 182-08-197, filed 10/26/11, effective 1/1/12. Statutory Authority: RCW 41.05.160. WSR 10-20-147 (Order 10-02), § 182-08-197, filed 10/6/10, effective 1/1/11; WSR 09-23-102 (Order 09-02), § 182-08-197, filed 11/17/09, effective 1/1/10; WSR 08-20-128 (Order 08-03), § 182-08-197, filed 10/1/08, effective 1/1/09; WSR 07-20-129 (Order 07-01), § 182-08-197, filed 10/3/07, effective 11/3/07; WSR 06-11-156 (Order 06-02), § 182-08-197, filed 5/24/06, effective 6/24/06. Statutory Authority: RCW 41.05.160, 41.05.350, and 41.05.165. WSR 05-16-046 (Order 05-01), § 182-08-197, filed 7/27/05, effective 8/27/05.

Rules

182-12-128,182-12-114,182-12-116,182-12-116,182-08-185,182-12-131,182-12-133,182-12-142,182-12-128,182-12-116,182-12-116,182-12-111,