Washington Administrative Code
Title 182 - Health Care Authority
PUBLIC EMPLOYEES BENEFITS BOARD (PEBB) PROGRAM
Chapter 182-08 - Procedures
Section 182-08-198 - When may a subscriber change health plans?

Universal Citation: WA Admin Code 182-08-198

Current through Register Vol. 24-18, September 15, 2024

A subscriber may change health plans at the following times:

(1) During the annual open enrollment: A subscriber may change health plans during the public employees benefits board (PEBB) annual open enrollment period. A subscriber must submit the required enrollment forms to change their health plan. An employee submits the enrollment forms to their employing agency. Any other subscriber submits the enrollment forms to the PEBB 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 an employee gaining initial eligibility for PEBB benefits as described in WAC 182-12-114 or regaining eligibility for PEBB benefits as described in WAC 182-08-197. The change in enrollment must be allowable under Internal Revenue Code 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.

A subscriber may not change their health plan during a special open enrollment if their state registered domestic partner or state registered domestic partner's child is not a tax dependent. A subscriber may change their health plan as described in subsection (1) of this section.

To disenroll from a medicare advantage (MA) plan, medicare advantage-prescription drug (MA-PD) plan, or the Uniform Medical Plan (UMP) Classic medicare plan, the change in enrollment must be allowable under 42 C.F.R. Secs. 422.62(b) and 423.38(c). To make a health plan change, a subscriber must submit the required enrollment forms (and a completed disenrollment form, if required). The forms must be received no later than 60 days after the event occurs, except as described in (i) of this subsection. An employee submits the enrollment forms to their employing agency. Any other subscriber submits the enrollment forms to the PEBB 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 except for a MA plan, a MA-PD plan, or the UMP Classic medicare plan which will begin the first day of the month following the date the form is received.

Exception:

When a subscriber or their dependent is enrolled in a MA plan, a MA-PD plan, or the UMP Classic medicare plan, they may disenroll during a special enrollment period as allowed under 42 C.F.R. Secs. 422.62(b) and 423.38(c). The new medical plan coverage will begin the first day of the month following the date the plan disenrollment form is received.

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 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 their employer contribution toward their employer-based group health plan;

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

Note:

As used in (d) of this subsection, "employer contribution" means contributions made by the dependent's current or former employer toward health coverage as described in Treasury Regulation 26 C.F.R. 54.9801-6.

(e) Subscriber or a subscriber's dependent has a change in residence that affects health plan availability.
(i) If the subscriber has a change in residence and the subscriber's current medical plan is no longer available, the subscriber must select a new medical plan as described in WAC 182-08-196(3);

(ii) If the subscriber or the subscriber's dependent has a change in residence and the subscriber's current dental plan does not have available providers within 50 miles of the subscriber or the subscriber's dependent's new residence, the subscriber may select a new dental plan;

(f) 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);

(g) 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;

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

(i) 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, or enrolls in or terminates enrollment in a MA-PD or a Part D plan. 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 182-08-196(2).
(i) A subscriber enrolled in PEBB retiree insurance coverage, a retired employee, a retired school employee, or a survivor enrolled in PEBB health plan coverage after their employer group ceased participation, or an eligible subscriber enrolled in Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) coverage has six months from the date of their or their dependent's enrollment in medicare Part B to enroll in a PEBB medicare supplement plan for which they or their dependent is eligible. The forms must be received by the PEBB program no later than six months after the enrollment in medicare Part B for either the subscriber or the subscriber's dependent;

(ii) A subscriber enrolled in PEBB retiree insurance coverage, a retired employee, a retired school employee, or a survivor enrolled in PEBB health plan coverage after their employer group ceased participation, or an eligible subscriber enrolled in COBRA coverage has seven months to enroll in a MA plan, MA-PD plan, or the UMP Classic medicare plan that begins three months before they or their dependent first enrolled in both medicare Part A and Part B and ends three months after the month of medicare eligibility. A subscriber may also enroll themselves or their dependent in a MA plan, MA-PD plan, or the UMP Classic medicare plan before their last day of the medicare Part B initial enrollment period. The forms must be received by the PEBB program no later than the last day of the month prior to the month the subscriber or the subscriber's dependent enrolls in the MA plan, MA-PD plan, or the UMP Classic medicare plan.

(j) Subscriber or a subscriber's dependent's current medical 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;

(k) 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. A 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 PEBB program determines that a continuity of care issue exists. The PEBB 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;

(l) The PEBB program determines that there has been a substantial decrease in the providers available under a PEBB medical plan.

(3) If the 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.

Statutory Authority: RCW 41.05.160 and 2012 2nd sp.s. c 3 . WSR 13-22-019 (Admin. 2013-01), §182-08-198, filed 10/28/13, effective 1/1/14. Statutory Authority: RCW 41.05.160. WSR 12-20-022 (Order 2012-01), §182-08-198, 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), §182-08-198, filed 10/26/11, effective 1/1/12. Statutory Authority: RCW 41.05.160. WSR 10-20-147 (Order 10-02), §182-08-198, filed 10/6/10, effective 1/1/11; WSR 09-23-102 (Order 09-02), §182-08-198, filed 11/17/09, effective 1/1/10; WSR 08-20-128 (Order 08-03), §182-08-198, filed 10/1/08, effective 1/1/09; WSR 08-09-027 (Order 08-01), §182-08-198, filed 4/8/08, effective 4/9/08; WSR 07-20-129 (Order 07-01), §182-08-198, filed 10/3/07, effective 11/3/07. Statutory Authority: RCW 41.05.160 and 41.05.068. WSR 06-23-165 (Order 06-09), §182-08-198, filed 11/22/06, effective 12/23/06. Statutory Authority: RCW 41.05.160, 41.05.350, and 41.05.165. WSR 05-16-046 (Order 05-01), §182-08-198, filed 7/27/05, effective 8/27/05. WSR 13-21-033, §182-08-198, filed 10/9/2013, effective 11/9/2013

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