Enroll as a survivor

If you are a survivor of an eligible employee, retiree, or emergency service personnel killed in the line of duty, this page will help you understand what you need to do and by when to enroll in PEBB retiree insurance coverage. 

You may need to submit Retiree Election Form (form A) to enroll in coverage, along with any other forms and documents based on your situation. 

Looking for answers to eligibility questions? Visit Are my survivors eligible? Need to defer coverage? Visit Defer as a survivor.

On this page

For survivors of eligible employees and retirees

When an employee or retiree passes away, their spouse, state-registered domestic partner, or child who loses eligibility due to the death may enroll in or defer PEBB retiree insurance coverage as a survivor. 

What do I do? 

An enrolled dependent of a retiree who passed away, will need to notify the PEBB Program of your loved one's death. We will automatically move you to your own account. If you want to make changes to your health plan enrollment, you must submit Retiree Election Form (form A) and any other required forms and documents no later than 60 days after the date of your loved one's death.

A survivor of an eligible employee or retiree who was not enrolled in PEBB retiree insurance coverage when they passed away must submit: 

Note: If you are a survivor of a retiree who deferred PEBB retiree insurance coverage, you must also provide proof of continuous enrollment in qualifying medical coverage from the most recent open enrollment for which you were not enrolled in a PEBB medical plan before the retiree's death.

By when?

The PEBB Program must receive your forms and documents within the following timelines. For eligible survivors of an: 

Employee

No later than 60 days after the date of your loved one's death or the date your PEBB, SEBB, or educational service district insurance coverage ends, whichever is later. 

Retiree

No later than 60 days after the date of your loved one's death. 

Elected or full-time appointed official

No later than 60 days after the date of your loved one's death or the date your PEBB insurance coverage ends, whichever is later. 

Exceptions to the 60-day timeline

If you select a Medicare Advantage plan, enrollment may not be retroactive. If the required forms are received after the date the PEBB retiree insurance coverage is to begin, you and your enrolled dependents will be enrolled in another medical plan during the gap months prior to when the Medicare Advantage plan begins.

For survivors of emergency service personnel

What do I do?

To enroll in PEBB retiree insurance coverage, you must submit: 

By when?

The PEBB Program must receive your forms and documents no later than 180 days after the later of these events:

  • The death of your loved one.
  • The date on the letter from the Department of Retirement Systems (DRS) or the Board for Volunteer Firefighters and Reserve Officers that informs you that you are eligible.
  • The last day you are covered under any health plan (including COBRA coverage) through your loved one's employer.

Exception: If you select a Medicare Advantage plan, enrollment may not be retroactive. If the required forms are received after the date the PEBB retiree insurance coverage is to begin, you and your enrolled dependents will be enrolled in another medical plan during the gap months prior to when the Medicare Advantage plan begins.

Questions about enrolling or deferring?

Please call the PEBB Program at 1-800-200-1004 (TRS: 711) or send us a secure message. You need to set up an account to protect your privacy and sensitive health information. Using our secure messaging system helps us ensure that your data is protected.

Supporting information

What is qualified medical coverage?

Qualified medical coverage is enrollment in other insurance, for example, through your spouse or state-registered domestic partner, or military affiliation. This may include:

  • Enrollment as a dependent in a Washington State educational service district-sponsored, PEBB-sponsored, or SEBB-sponsored health plan
  • Employer-based group medical (including COBRA and continuation coverage)
  • Federal retiree medical plan such as a TRICARE plan or Federal Employees Health Benefits Program
  • Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs (CHAMPVA)
  • Medicare Part A and Part B and a Medicaid program that provides creditable coverage
  • Enrollment in health benefit exchange coverage that is not Medicaid – for retirees not enrolled in Medicare Part A and Part B
Forms and documents you may need to submit

Required forms

  • Retiree Election Form (form A). Based on your situation, you may need to submit this form to enroll. Everyone must submit this form to defer enrollment. 

You may also need to submit any of the following forms, depending on your situation. 

Supporting documents you may need

Note: If you are a survivor of a retiree who deferred PEBB retiree insurance coverage, you must also provide proof of continuous enrollment in qualifying medical coverage from the most recent open enrollment for which you were not enrolled in a PEBB medical plan before the retiree's death.

Related laws and rules

Continuing enrollment when an employee or retiree dies

WAC 182-12-265: What options for continuing health plan enrollment are available to a surviving spouse, state registered domestic partner, or child, if an employee, a school employee, or a retiree dies?

For elected or full-time appointed officials

WAC 182-12-180: When is an elected and full-time appointed official of the legislative and executive branch of state government, or their survivor eligible to continue enrollment in public employees benefits board (PEBB) retiree insurance coverage?

For survivors of emergency service personnel killed in the line of duty

WAC 182-12-250:  Public employees benefits board (PEBB) insurance coverage eligibility for survivors of emergency service personnel killed in the line of duty.