Washington Administrative Code
Title 182 - Health Care Authority
PUBLIC EMPLOYEES BENEFITS BOARD (PEBB) PROGRAM
Chapter 182-12 - Eligible and noneligible employees
Section 182-12-146 - When is an enrollee eligible to continue public employees benefits board (PEBB) benefits under Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA)?

Universal Citation: WA Admin Code 182-12-146

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

(1) An employee or an employee's dependent who loses eligibility for the employer contribution toward public employees benefits board (PEBB) benefits and who qualifies for continuation coverage under the federal Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) may continue coverage for PEBB medical, dental, or both.

(2) An employee or an employee's dependent who loses eligibility for continuation coverage described in WAC 182-12-133, 182-12-141, 182-12-142, or 182-12-148 but who has not used the maximum number of months allowed under COBRA may continue PEBB medical, dental, or both for the remaining difference in months.

(3) A retired employee who loses eligibility for PEBB retiree insurance coverage because an employer group ceases participation in PEBB insurance coverage may continue PEBB medical, dental, or both on the same terms and conditions as retirees who are eligible under COBRA.

(4) A retiree or a dependent of a retiree, who is no longer eligible as described in WAC 182-12-171, 182-12-180, or 182-12-260 may continue PEBB medical, dental, or both.

(5) A blind vendor who ceases to actively operate a facility as described in WAC 182-12-111(4)(a) may continue enrollment in PEBB medical for the maximum number of months allowed under COBRA as described in this section.

(6) A board member who no longer qualifies as described in WAC 182-12-111(4)(c) may continue enrollment in PEBB medical, dental, or both for the maximum number of months allowed under COBRA as described in this section.

(7) An enrollee may continue PEBB medical, dental, or both under COBRA by self-paying the premium and applicable premium surcharges set by the health care authority (HCA):

(a) The election must be received by the PEBB program no later than 60 days from the date the enrollee's PEBB health plan coverage ended or from the postmark date on the election notice sent by the PEBB program, whichever is later;

(b) The first premium payment under COBRA coverage and applicable premium surcharges are due to the HCA no later than 45 days after the election period ends as described in (a) of this subsection. Following the enrollee's first premium payment, premiums and applicable premium surcharges must be paid as described in WAC 182-08-180(1)(c);

(c) COBRA continuation coverage enrollees who voluntarily terminate their COBRA coverage will not be eligible to reenroll in COBRA coverage unless they regain eligibility as described in WAC 182-12-114. Those who request to terminate their COBRA coverage must do so in writing. COBRA coverage will end on the last day of the month in which the PEBB program receives the termination request or on the last day of the month specified in the COBRA enrollee's termination request, whichever is later. If the termination request is received on the first day of the month, COBRA coverage will end on the last day of the previous month;

(d) An employee enrolled in a medical flexible spending arrangement (FSA) or limited purpose FSA and the employee's dependents will have an opportunity to continue making contributions to their medical FSA or limited purpose FSA by electing COBRA if on the date of the qualifying event, as described under 42 U.S.C. Sec. 300bb-3, the employee's medical FSA or limited purpose FSA has a greater amount in remaining benefits than remaining contribution payments for the current year. The election must be received by the contracted vendor no later than 60 days from the date the PEBB health plan coverage ended or from the postmark date on the election notice sent by the contracted vendor, whichever is later. The first premium payment under COBRA coverage is due to the contracted vendor no later than 45 days after the election period ends as described above.

(8) A subscriber's state registered domestic partner and the state registered domestic partner's children may continue PEBB medical, dental, or both on the same terms and conditions as spouses and other eligible dependents under COBRA as described under RCW 26.60.015.

(9) Medical and dental coverage under COBRA begin on the first day of the month following the day the COBRA enrollee loses eligibility for PEBB health plan coverage as described in WAC 182-12-131, 182-12-133, 182-12-141, 182-12-142, 182-12-148, 182-12-171, 182-12-180, 182-12-250, 182-12-260, or 182-12-265.

Statutory Authority: RCW 41.05.160 and 2012 2nd sp.s. c 3 . WSR 13-22-019 (Admin 2013-01), §182-12-146, filed 10/28/13, effective 1/1/14. Statutory Authority: RCW 41.05.160. WSR 12-20-022 (Order 2012-01), §182-12-146, filed 9/25/12, effective 11/1/12; WSR 09-23-102 (Order 09-02), §182-12-146, filed 11/17/09, effective 1/1/10; WSR 07-20-129 (Order 07-01), §182-12-146, filed 10/3/07, effective 11/3/07. Statutory Authority: RCW 41.05.160 and 41.05.165. WSR 04-18-039, §182-12-146, filed 8/26/04, effective 1/1/05. WSR 13-21-033, §182-12-146, filed 10/9/2013, effective 11/9/2013

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