Frequently Asked Questions -- Medical
What is the effective date of health insurance coverage
Coverage begins on the first day of the month following your date of employment. An exception is made if you begin work on the first working day of the month, in this case, coverage begins that day.
When can dependents be added to my medical coverage?
You may add family members to your coverage during the year if you have a change in family status. To add an eligible dependent, you must send a completed Employee Enrollment/Change form and appropriate dependent certification form(s), if required, within 60 days of the event. You may add an eligible dependent to your coverage due to one of the following situations: marriage or establishment of a same-sex domestic partnership, birth of a child, adoption or placement of a child for adoption and loss of other continuous medical coverage for dependents who have previously been waived.
How do I remove dependents from my medical coverage?
You must notify Human Resource Services by completing an Employee Enrollment/Change form within 60 days after your spouse, qualified same-sex domestic partner, or child is no longer an eligible dependent. The following are examples of events that affect dependent eligibility: divorce, dissolution of your qualified same-sex domestic partnership, death, your dependent student is no longer enrolled in school and your dependent becomes capable of self-support.
Who should be notified if a change in medical coverage (marriage, death, divorce, birth of child) occurs?
Notify Human Resource Services at (360) 546-9094or msain@vancouver.wsu.edu immediately so that appropriate forms can be sent to you for completion.
What can be done for dependents who are no longer eligible for PEBB coverage?
Dependents may continue their PEBB enrollment, after they are no longer eligible, as long as you notify Human Resource Services of the dependent's eligibility within the 60-day period. Options for continuing coverage vary, depending on the reason eligibility was lost.
What if my dependent returns to school before reaching 24 years of age?
Coverage for your dependent starts the first of the month following the start of school. Contact Human Resource Services for the appropriate forms to re-enroll the dependent The employee is responsible for reporting their dependents student eligibility to the Health Care Authority on an annual basis.
When is open enrollment?
Open enrollment is every fall from mid-October through November. During this time employees may change medical and/or dental plans and add dependents. Coverage changes are effective the following January 1st.
Are employees who are appointed for less than twelve months covered during their cyclic break?
Coverage continues during the employees non-work period. If the regular nine month or cyclic appointment ends on May 15th, premiums are taken from the May 25th paycheck to cover the non-work period months. If the employee will not be returning to work at Washington State University following the cyclic break, coverage will cease the end of the month in which employment ends.
What state agency manages the health insurance benefits and how can I contact them?
Contact information for the Health Care Authority can be found at www.pebb.hca.wa.gov.