Long-term disability insurance (Unpaid Leave only)

Who is eligible?

Employees who are on approved educational leave or called to active duty in the uniformed services as defined under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA) are eligible for PEBB Continuation Coverage (Unpaid Leave) long-term disability (LTD) benefits. Ask your payroll or benefits office for a definition of educational leave.

Employee-paid LTD is not available to port commissioners or seasonal employees who work a season that is less than nine months.

Continuing LTD benefits while on Unpaid Leave

To continue your LTD insurance coverage while on USERRA or educational leave, use Benefits 24/7 or fill out the LTD section of the PEBB Continuation Coverage Election/Change (Unpaid Leave) form.

• If you continue LTD coverage while on USERRA or educational leave: You must self-pay the $2.10 monthly premium for your employer-paid coverage. You must also continue to pay premiums for employee-paid LTD coverage if you choose to keep it.
• If you choose not to continue employee-paid LTD coverage while on USERRA or educational leave: You will have to provide evidence of insurability (proof of good health) and be approved by the insurer to reenroll when you regain eligibility.

Reinstating employer-paid LTD insurance when you return to work from USERRA or educational leave

Your employer-paid LTD insurance will be reinstated the first day of the month you are in pay status eight or more hours, or the first day of the month in which the quarter or semester begins for faculty who regain eligibility. You do not have to submit any forms.

When an employee who is called to active duty in the uniformed services under Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA) loses eligibility for the employer contribution toward PEBB benefits, they regain eligibility for the employer contribution toward PEBB benefits the day they return from active duty. Employer-paid PEBB benefits will begin the first day of the month in which they return from active duty.

Reinstating employee-paid LTD when you return to work

USERRA or educational leave: If you elected to continue employee-paid LTD insurance while on Unpaid Leave, the employee-paid LTD insurance will be reinstated the first day of the month you are in pay status eight or more hours or the first day of the month in which the quarter or semester begins for faculty who regain eligibility.

If you elected not to continue employee-paid LTD insurance while on PEBB Continuation Coverage (Unpaid Leave), you must provide evidence of insurability as described in WAC 182-08-197(3)(a)(iii).

Other kinds of leave: If you were not eligible to continue employee-paid LTD coverage while on Unpaid Leave, your employer-paid and employee-paid LTD insurance will be reinstated to the same coverage level you were enrolled in before your leave, the first day of the month you are in pay status eight or more hours or the first day of the month in which the quarter or semester begins for faculty who regain eligibility. You do not have to submit any forms.

How to reduce, increase, decline, or reenroll in your employee-paid LTD

At any time, you can reduce or increase your coverage level use Benefits 24/7 or submit a Long-Term Disability Insurance Enrollment/Change form to your payroll or benefits office. You can also use this form to decline the coverage or reenroll if you previously declined. If you increase or reenroll in coverage, you will have to provide evidence of insurability and be approved by the insurer.

If you request an increase or reenroll in employee-paid LTD coverage, it is effective the day of the month the evidence of insurability is approved. A decrease in coverage or declination of coverage takes effect the first day of the month following the date the employing agency receives the required form.