*Contact HRS for clarification

When your appointment is …

  • at least 50% Full Time Equivalency, and
  • for more than six consecutive months.

Coverage starts …

On the first day of the month following the date of employment, unless the appointment begins on the first working day of the month, in which case eligibility/benefits will begin on that date.

For example:

  • If your appointment begins on August 16, 2012 – your benefits would begin the first of the month following the date of employment, therefore your benefits would begin on September 1, 2012.
  • If your appointment begins on September 4, 2012 – this is the first working day of the month, therefore your benefits would begin on September 4, 2012.

Coverage continues if …

  • a 50% or greater appointment in an eligible job classification is maintained, and
  • the employee is in paid status for eight hours or more in each month*.

*Exception: benefits can be continued during periods of full Leave Without Pay during Family Medical Leave provided the employee pays their portion of the premiums.

Note: Eight hour rule. HCA/PEBB states that if an employee is in paid status for eight hours a month, they are eligible for maintaining benefits. HRS/WSU must determine how that eight hours of pay is arrived at. Employees/departments cannot arbitrarily plug in eight hours of leave a month to maintain benefits – the use of leave must be in compliance with state and university leave rules.

Summer/Off-Season Benefit Eligibility

Eligible for summer coverage: if the faculty member works half time or more throughout the instructional year (or equivalent nine month period) AND works each semester.

Not eligible for summer coverage: if they are not anticipated to be reappointed and they have been issued a non-reappointment letter, OR as of the date specified in the employee’s resignation letter.