Introduction

This information applies to employees who are being laid off, not reduced in per cent time. If you are being reduced in the number of months you work per year, contact Benefits/WorkLife to learn about how to continue your insurance coverage during any months you are not working.

If you are enrolled in the state Public Employees’ Benefits Board (PEBB) insurance plans and your position ends due to lack of work, lack of funding, or reorganization, you may have options for continuing some of your benefits for up to 24 months - we call this "Layoff Benefits Eligibility".

Medical & Dental Insurance

There are two ways to continue your medical/dental insurance eligibility following layoff:

• Self-pay for your insurances for any month that you do not work for the University for at least 8 hours. Complete the self-pay form and send it, along with your check, to the Washington State Health Care Authority in Olympia for any month in which you are not eligible for the UW-paid employer contribution. Medical and dental insurance premium rates and the self-pay form are available online.
• The UW will make the employer insurance contribution for any month in which you work a minimum of 8 hours at the UW in a non-student position. However, there is no guarantee that temporary hourly work will be available for employees who have been laid off. Eight hours of work is required even if you were laid off from a part-time position. Email benefits@u.washington.edu to let us know if you work 8+ hours in a month. This helps us keep your benefits current. If the employee-paid share of the medical premium is not taken or not made in full by payroll deduction, you must arrange payment with the Benefits Office.

At the end of the 24 month layoff benefit eligibility period you may be eligible to purchase additional months of coverage under the federal COBRA law. Please contact the Washington State Health Care Authority at 1-800-200-1004 for more information.

Other Health Insurance Options

You can explore other health insurance options and compare these to self-pay and COBRA.

Life, Optional life, and Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D) Insurance

Life Insurance

Your group term life insurance plan coverage terminates at the end of the month in which your paid UW employment ends. You can convert your life insurance coverage (not AD&D) to an individual whole life policy. As an alternative, you can self-pay your life insurance during the 24 months of layoff benefits eligibility or pay via payroll deduction if you work at least 8 hours of eligible UW employment in a month.

Life insurance ends if your premiums are not continued and kept current. You would have to reapply with Evidence of Insurability upon return to eligible UW employment. Life insurance employee premiums are paid at the same rate as while you were in UW pay-status, with the addition that you must also pay the employer basic life insurance premium. Once layoff benefits eligibility ends, there is a conversion option which can allow you to retain the life insurance at individual whole life rates. AD&D cannot be converted.

Long Term Disability Insurance (LTD)

Basic and optional LTD insurances end the last day of the month in which your paid UW employment ends. LTD insurances can be reinstated on your return to either a temporary or permanent position at the UW.

Removal from Layoff Benefits Eligibility

Removal from layoff benefits eligibility occurs only if you are re-employed into a regular, benefits-eligible UW appointment or if you retire. Layoff benefits eligibility is not available for:

• Temporary staff, including those employees in hourly, fixed duration appointments and professional staff project appointments. However, medical and dental insurance can be continued under the federal COBRA law.
• Staff who are released due to probationary period rejection. These employees should contact the Benefits Office to verify eligibility for COBRA.

On-Site Child Care

A child enrolled at one of the UW's on-site childcare centers may remain enrolled for up to 30 days after your employment end date. Please notify the childcare center directly of your situation.

For assistance in making new child care arrangements, contact Child Care Resources at 206-329-1011, extension 0. You are eligible to use the Child Care Resources service for up to 30 days after your employment end date.

Flexible Spending Account (FSA)

Your medical FSA ends at the end of the month in which you received your last paycheck (i.e. the 10th or 25th of the month). Claims for services up to the end of that month will be honored. After layoff, you may continue your FSA through the end of the calendar year by special arrangement directly with the vendor, ASI. Contact ASI at 1-800-659-3035. If you do not continue your FSA by arrangement with ASI, remember that only claims incurred prior to the end of the month in which you received your last paycheck can be submitted to the account for reimbursement.

Parking

If you have an un-expired U-PASS which you do not wish to retain or you leave University employment, you must return the U-PASS to Commuter Services to have payroll deductions stopped. You are responsible for the cost of the annual U-PASS if you fail to return it. No refunds are issued for the quarterly U-PASS. Learn more.

Benefits-related Contacts

• UW Benefits & WorkLife – Email: benefits@u.washington.edu; Phone: 206-543-2800
• Washington State Health Care Authority – Phone: 1-800-200-1004
• Liberty Mutual- Auto, homeowner and renters insurance. Phone: 1-800-706-5525

• uwhr@u.washington.edu |
• HR Contacts

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