Bookmark & ShareAre you leaving K-12/ESD employment, and want information on your health coverage options?
Use this checklist to follow steps to enroll in, continue, or defer PEBB coverage.
The Public Employees Benefits Board (PEBB) Program is pleased to offer a comprehensive health care package that provides choice, access, value, and stability to retirees. The PEBB Program also contracts with other insurers to accommodate your range of insurance needs.
You Have a Limited Time to Enroll in PEBB Retiree Coverage
You have 60 days to complete and submit an application to enroll in or defer PEBB retiree coverage
after your active employment or continuous COBRA coverage ends. If you do not complete an application within this timeline, you lose all rights to
enroll in the PEBB Program. (Please see the sections on Enrollment and Deferring Your Coverage in the
2012 Retiree Enrollment Guide (1.4 MB))
What Benefits Are Included?
As an eligible retired public employee, you can apply for medical and dental coverage through the PEBB Program. You also can enroll in retiree term life insurance if you meet retiree eligibility criteria, had PEBB life insurance as an active employee, and are not on a waiver of premium due to disability.
How Do I Enroll?
Enrolling is simple. Just follow this timeline:
| About 90 days before you retire | Contact the Social Security Administration to enroll in Medicare Part A and Part B if you or any family members you wish to cover are entitled to Medicare either due to age (65) or disability. |
| 60 days before you retire | Request a packet. Call 1-800-200-1004 or 360-412-4200 in the Olympia area. We will send you a complete retiree insurance packet (that includes applications and all the information you need). |
| No later than 60 days after the date your employer-sponsored or COBRA coverage ends | Return your completed retiree application and/or any applicable forms to the Health Care Authority. |
Note: If you or any covered dependents are entitled to Medicare, you must enroll in Part A and Part B to remain on PEBB coverage. Please include a copy of the Medicare card with your enrollment form(s).
How Much Does It Cost?
Please look at our monthly rates with Medicare and without Medicare. Generally, rates change every January 1.
How Do I Pay My Health Plan Premiums?
You can pay for your retiree medical and dental coverage through:
- Pension deductions. (The premium deduction for the current month comes out of your end-of-the-month pension check.)
- Automatic bank account withdrawals.
- Direct payment by personal check or money order payable to the Washington State Treasurer.
- Volunteer Employee Benefits Association (VEBA) account reimbursements, if you are a VEBA member. You must contact VEBA (1-888-828-4953) to make reimbursement arrangements.
We will not enroll you until we receive your first month's premium payment. If you tell us on your enrollment form to have your premiums deducted from your monthly pension check, you do not need to send payment for your first month's premium.
Who Can Answer My Questions?
| About payments | Call our Accounting Department at 1-800-200-1004. |
| About a plan's providers, benefits, or formulary (a list of approved drugs that the plan will cover) | Call the health plan directly. Plan phone numbers are shown on pages 2-3 of the Retiree Enrollment Guide. |
| About eligibility, enrollment, or deferring your retiree coverage | Call us at 1-800-200-1004. This information is also available at www.pebb.hca.wa.gov/policy. |
