Wash. Admin. Code § 182-12-148 - What options for continuation coverage are available to employees during their appeal of dismissal?

(1) Employees awaiting the hearing outcome of a dismissal action before any of the following may continue their public employees benefits board (PEBB) insurance coverage by self-paying the premium and applicable premium surcharges set by the health care authority (HCA), with no contribution from the employer, on the same terms as an employee who is granted leave as described in WAC 182-12-133:

(a) The personnel resources board;

(b) An arbitrator;

(c) A grievance or appeals committee established under a collective bargaining agreement for union represented employees; or

(d) A court.

(2) The employee must pay premium amounts and applicable premium surcharges associated with PEBB insurance coverage as premiums and applicable premium surcharges become due. If the monthly premium or applicable premium surcharges remain unpaid for 60 days from the original due date, PEBB insurance coverage will be terminated retroactive to the last day of the month for which the monthly premium and applicable premium surcharges were paid as described in WAC 182-08-180(1)(c).

(3) If the dismissal is upheld, all PEBB insurance coverage will terminate at the end of the month in which the decision is entered, or the date to which premiums have been paid, whichever is later, with the exception described in subsection (4) of this section.

(4) If the dismissal is upheld and the employee is eligible under the federal Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA), the employee may continue any combination of PEBB medical, dental, or vision for the remaining months available under COBRA. See WAC 182-12-146 for information on COBRA. The number of months the employee self-paid premiums during the appeal will count toward the total number of months allowed under COBRA.

(5) If the board, arbitrator, committee, or court sustains the employee in the appeal and directs reinstatement of employer paid PEBB insurance coverage retroactively, the employing agency must forward to HCA the full employer contribution for the period directed by the board, arbitrator, committee, or court and collect from the employee the employee's share of premiums due, if any.

(a) When the employer contribution is reinstated, the HCA will refund to the employee any premiums and applicable premium surcharges the employee paid. In the alternative, at the request of the employee, HCA may deduct the employee's contribution amount for PEBB benefits from the refund of premiums and applicable premium surcharges self-paid by the employee during the appeal period.

(b) All supplemental life, supplemental accidental death and dismemberment, and employee-paid LTD insurance which was in force at the time of dismissal shall be reinstated retroactively only if the employee makes retroactive payment of premium for any such supplemental coverage and employee-paid LTD insurance which was not continued by self-payment during the appeal process. If the employee chooses not to pay the retroactive premium, evidence of insurability will be required to enroll in such supplemental coverage and employee-paid LTD insurance.

Notes

Wash. Admin. Code § 182-12-148

Amended by WSR 16-20-080, Filed 10/4/2016, effective 1/1/2017 Amended by WSR 17-19-077, Filed 9/15/2017, effective 1/1/2018 Amended by WSR 18-20-117, Filed 10/3/2018, effective 1/1/2019 Amended by WSR 19-17-073, Filed 8/20/2019, effective 1/1/2020 Amended by WSR 20-16-062, Filed 7/28/2020, effective 1/1/2021 Amended by WSR 21-13-103, Filed 6/18/2021, effective 1/1/2022 Amended by WSR 24-18-076, Filed 8/29/2024, effective 1/1/2025

Statutory Authority: RCW 41.05.160. 12-20-022 (Order 2012-01), §182-12-148, filed 9/25/12, effective 11/1/12; 09-23-102 (Order 09-02), §182-12-148, filed 11/17/09, effective 1/1/10; 07-20-129 (Order 07-01), §182-12-148, filed 10/3/07, effective 11/3/07. Statutory Authority: RCW 41.05.160, 41.05.350, and 41.05.165. 05-16-046 (Order 05-01), §182-12-148, filed 7/27/05, effective 8/27/05. Statutory Authority: RCW 41.05.160 and 41.05.165. 04-18-039, §182-12-148, filed 8/26/04, effective 1/1/05.