School employees who have established eligibility for school employees benefits board (SEBB) benefits as described in WAC 182-31-040 may continue coverage for themselves and their dependents during certain types of leave or when their employment ends due to a layoff.

1. (1) School employees who are no longer eligible for the employer contribution toward SEBB benefits due to an event described in (b)(i) through (v) of this subsection may continue coverage by self-paying the premium and applicable premium surcharges set by the health care authority (HCA) from the date eligibility for the employer contribution is lost:

   1. (a) School employees may continue any combination of medical, dental, or vision, and may also continue life insurance and accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D) insurance. If life insurance or AD&D insurance is elected, both basic life and basic AD&D insurance must be continued. School employees who continue basic life insurance and basic AD&D insurance may also continue supplemental life and AD&D insurance;

   2. (b) School employees in the following circumstances who lose their eligibility for the employer contribution toward SEBB benefits qualify to continue coverage under this subsection:

      1. (i) School employees who are on authorized leave without pay;
      2. (ii) School employees who are receiving time-loss benefits under workers' compensation;
      3. (iii) School employees who are called to active duty in the uniformed services as defined under USERRA;
      4. (iv) School employees whose employment ends due to a layoff as defined in WAC 182-31-020; and
      5. (v) School employees who are applying for disability retirement.
   3. (c) The school employee's elections must be received by the SEBB program no later than 60 days from the date the school employee's SEBB health plan coverage ended or from the postmark date on the election notice sent by the SEBB program, whichever is later;

   4. (d) School employees may self-pay for a maximum of 29 months. The school employee's first premium payment and applicable premium surcharges are due no later than 45 days after the election period ends as described in (c) of this subsection, except as described in WAC 182-30-040 (1)(a).

      Premiums and applicable premium surcharges associated with continuing SEBB medical, must be made to the HCA as well as premiums associated with continuing SEBB dental and vision insurance coverage. Premiums associated with continuing life insurance coverage or AD&D insurance coverage must be made to the contracted vendor. Following the school employee's first premium payment, the school employee must pay the premium amounts for SEBB insurance coverage and applicable premium surcharges as premiums become due; and

   5. (e) If the school employee's monthly premium or applicable premium surcharges remain unpaid for 60 days from the original due date, the school employee's SEBB 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 182-30-040 (1)(c).
2. (2) The number of months that school employees self-pay the premium while eligible as described in subsection (1) of this section will count toward the total months of continuation coverage allowed under the federal Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA). School employees who are no longer eligible for continuation coverage as described in subsection (1) of this section but who have not used the maximum number of months allowed under COBRA coverage may continue medical, dental, vision, or any combination of them for the remaining difference in months by self-paying the premium and applicable premium surcharges as described in WAC 182-31-090.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 41.05.021, 41.05.160, 41.05.740, 2023 c 13 § 2, and 2023 c 51 § 3. WSR 24-15-107 (Admin #2024-01), § 182-31-100, filed 7/22/24, effective 1/1/25. Statutory Authority: RCW 41.05.021, 41.05.160 and 2020 c 231. WSR 20-16-067 (Admin #2020-04), § 182-31-100, filed 7/28/20, effective 8/28/20. Statutory Authority: RCW 41.05.021, 41.05.160, 2017 3rd sp.s. c 13, 2018 c 260, and SEBB policy resolutions. WSR 19-14-093 (Admin #2019-01), § 182-31-100, filed 7/1/19, effective 8/1/19.]