For survivors

Survivor eligibility?

As an eligible employee or a retiree, your surviving spouse, state-registered domestic partner, or child who:

• Immediately receives a monthly retirement benefit. (Exception: Survivors of an elected official or survivors of a retiree enrolled in PEBB retiree insurance coverage (or eligible to enroll) do not need to receive a monthly retirement benefit.)
• Submits the required forms and first premium payment (including applicable premium surcharges) by the deadlines. 
• Survivors of emergency service personnel killed in the line of duty may be eligible to enroll in or defer (postpone) enrollment in PEBB retiree insurance coverage if they meet the eligibility and procedural requirements. For eligibility details refer to Related laws and rules at the bottom of the page.

Enroll or defer

When an employee or retiree passes away, their dependents who lose 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 enrollment, 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 employee or retiree who was not enrolled in PEBB retiree insurance coverage when they passed away, submit Retiree Election Form (form A) and any other required forms and documents based on your situation. 
• If you are already enrolled in coverage, you may want to defer enrollment if you have other qualified medical coverage. Submit Retiree Change Form (form E). 

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. If you are a survivor of a retiree who deferred PEBB retiree insurance coverage due to enrollment in Medicare and permanently living outside of the United States, you must provide proof of enrollment in Medicare Parts A and B.

By when?

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

• Retiree: No later than 60 days after the date of your loved one's death. 
• Employee: No later than 60 days after the date of your loved one's death or the date your PEBB or SEBB insurance coverage ends, whichever is later. 
• 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. 
• Emergency service personnel: 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 with Part D plan or UMP Classic Medicare with Part D (PDP), 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 with Part D plan or UMP Classic Medicare with Part D (PDP) begins.

How long does coverage last?

• For a surviving spouse or state-registered domestic partner: Coverage lasts indefinitely.
• For all other dependents: They may continue enrollment until they are no longer eligible under PEBB Program rules (for example, the end of the month in which they turn age 26).

How do survivors pay for coverage?

Your dependent will be enrolled under their own account. In most cases, there will be no gap in coverage.

Paying premiums and surcharges: Your survivor must pay monthly premiums and applicable premium surcharges as they become due. For survivor payment details, visit the Paying for benefits webpage or call the PEBB Program at 1-800-200-1004 (TRS: 711).

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 survivors of elected and 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.

For retirees and survivors: defer or voluntarily terminate

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?

For retiring employees and retirees

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) or school employees benefits board (SEBB) defer enrollment under PEBB retiree insurance coverage?