Find information on the open enrollment page that’s right for you: PEBB retirees, PEBB employees and PEBB continuation coverage subscribers, and SEBB employees and SEBB continuation coverage subscribers.
The process to enroll in a PEBB retiree health plan after deferring is much the same as enrolling as a new retiree (or survivor), except you must include proof that you had continuous qualified medical coverage during your deferral period.
Looking to defer? Visit How do I defer?
When you apply for enrollment after your deferral, you must provide proof that you were continuously enrolled in one or more qualifying medical coverages, including the start date and in most cases the end dates for each coverage. You will need proof of coverage for each qualified coverage while you are in a deferred status.
If you defer enrollment while enrolled in Medicare and permanently living outside of the United States, you must provide proof of enrollment in Medicare Parts A and B to return to a PEBB retiree health plan after deferral. Evidence of continuous enrollment in a qualified coverage is waived while you live outside of the United States.
You can have a gap of 31 days or less
If you or a dependent are eligible for Medicare, the eligible person must enroll and stay enrolled in Medicare Part A and Part B to enroll in and remain enrolled in a PEBB retiree health plan.
You can enroll in a PEBB retiree health plan after you defer:
You can use Benefits 24/7 to enroll in PEBB retiree insurance coverage. If you prefer a paper form, find the forms you need below.
The forms are labeled with letters in the upper right corner to help you identify them. You will often need to submit more than one form.
To enroll in a PEBB retiree health plan after you defer, you may need one or more of these retiree forms:
To enroll in any of the following medical plans:
Submit these forms and documentation:
No later than 60 days after the date your other qualifying medical coverage ends.
Note: If you choose a Medicare Advantage with Part D plan or UMP Classic Medicare with Part D, enrollment may not be retroactive. We encourage you to submit your forms so we receive them no later than the last day of the month before the date your PEBB retiree insurance coverage is to begin. Otherwise, you and your dependents will be enrolled in another medical plan during the gap months prior to when the Medicare plan begins.
Coverage will begin the first day of the month after your other qualifying medical coverage ends.
To enroll in the following medical plan:
Submit these forms and documentation:
No later than 60 days after the date your other qualifying medical coverage ends.
Coverage will begin the first day of the month after your other qualifying medical coverage ends.
During annual open enrollment.
No later than the last day of open enrollment.
January 1 of the next year.
Yes. If you deferred while enrolled in Medicare Part A and Part B and a Medicaid program that provides creditable coverage and you do not enroll during the timeframes described above, you may enroll in a PEBB retiree health plan:
No later than the end of the calendar year in which your Medicaid coverage ends.
Yes. Although you have 60 days to enroll, you must pay your first monthly premiums and applicable premium surcharges no later than 45 days after your 60-day enrollment window ends. Premiums are due back to when your other qualifying medical coverage ended.
We cannot enroll you in coverage until we receive your first payment.
Qualified medical coverage is enrollment in other insurance, for example, through your spouse or state-registered domestic partner, or military affiliation. This may include:
WAC 182-12-200: May a retiring employee, a retiring school employee, or a retiree enrolled as a dependent in a health plan sponsored by public employees benefits board (PEBB), a Washington State educational service district, or school employees benefits board (SEBB) defer enrollment under PEBB retiree insurance coverage?
WAC 182-12-205: May a retiree or a survivor defer enrollment or voluntarily terminate enrollment under public employees benefits board (PEBB) retiree insurance coverage?
The PEBB Program
Phone: 1-800-200-1004
TRS: 711
Hours: 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday
HCA Support (secure, login portal with your personal account)
Send us a secure message through HCA Support, a secure website that allows you to log into your own account to communicate with us. You will need to set up a SecureAccess Washington (SAW) account to use this option.