Benefits - Event: Leaving City Service
Life Event: You Leave City Service (Not Retiring)
Individuals planning to leave City service who are not retiring, should refer to the Employee Exit which covers steps in involved in the separation process in detail. Should you have further questions, please ask your Benefits or Human Resources representative.

  • Advise your immediate supervisor of your plan to leave City employment
  • Review the Employee Exit guide.
  • Make sure your department has your forwarding address for COBRA notification.
  • Forms to convert to individual optional plan coverages are available from your Department's Human Resources/Payroll office and are submitted directly to the carrier. If you have questions, please contact your department Human Resources representative or email the Benefits Unit.
  • If you participate in the Deferred Compensation Program, contact Prudential Retirement, our deferred compensation provider, for retirement advice (800-833-5761).
  • Talk with your Benefits or Human Resources representative about converting your accrued vacation leave into your deferred compensation account.
  • Turn in your transit pass to your department HR representative.

Benefits Termination List
Your medical, dental/vision coverage, Basic and Supplemental Long-Term Disability, Basic and Supplemental Life and AD&D coverage end on the last day of the calendar month upon the occurrence of the earliest of one of the following:
  • You are no longer eligible, or
  • You resign, retire or are terminated, or
  • You stop making any required payment, or
  • You plan terminates, or
  • You die. (Your dependents' coverage will end on the last day of the calendar month in which you die. A representative of your estate should contact your Department's Human Resources office for more information.)

Accidental Death & Dismemberment
Your coverage ends the last day of the month for which you've paid premiums. Payroll deductions are taken from the first check of each month for that month's coverage.

Dental Insurance
Your dental coverage with the City will terminate the last day of the month in which you leave employment. You may then continue your Dental coverage through COBRA for up to 18 months if you are continuing your medical coverage under COBRA. You will receive a letter at your home address which explains COBRA coverage. You will pay your premiums by personal check or money order payable to the City of Seattle. PLEASE MAKE SURE YOUR ADDRESS IS SHOWN CORRECTLY ON YOUR PAYCHECK to insure you receive COBRA information on a timely basis. You have 60 days to respond to the COBRA letter.

Accidental Death & Dismemberment
Your coverage ends the last day of the month for which you've paid premiums. Payroll deductions are taken from the first check of each month for that month's coverage.

Group Term Life Insurance + Supplement GTL
You may convert your group term life insurance by submitting the postage paid application card to Standard Insurance Company within 31 days of termination.

Medical Insurance
Your medical coverage ends the last day of the month in which you terminate. You may continue coverage through COBRA for up to 18 months after termination. Please see information under Dental Insurance above. You may elect to continue medical coverage under COBRA alone or with dental and vision coverage. There is an 11 month extension available if you qualify for Social Security disability benefits.

Vision Insurance
Your vision coverage ends the last day of the month in which you terminate. You may continue coverage through COBRA for up to 18 months after termination if you are continuing your medical coverage under COBRA. Please see information under Dental Insurance above.

COBRA Coverage
Congress passed the Consolidated Omnibus Reconciliation Act (COBRA) in 1986. Under this law you are eligible to purchase continued medical only or medical, dental and vision coverage under certain circumstances when your group health plan coverage with the City ends.

If you are a City employee and are receiving medical, dental and vision coverage, you and your covered dependents have the right to elect COBRA continuation coverage for up to 18 months if your coverage is lost because of one of these qualifying events:
  • Your employment ends for reason other than gross misconduct.
  • Your work hours are reduced to the point where you no longer are eligible for benefits.

The 18-month COBRA continuation period may be extended to 29 months if you or a family member (who is a qualified beneficiary) is disabled according to Social Security at the time of one of the aforementioned qualifying events. This 11-month extension is available to all qualified beneficiaries who lose coverage due to termination of employment or a reduction of hours at an additional cost. Covered family members have the right to choose COBRA continuation coverage for up to 36 months if coverage is lost for any of the following qualifying events:
  • Death of the employee.
  • Divorce or legal separation of the employee and spouse or dissolution of the domestic partnership.
  • A dependent child loses dependent child status under the City's plan.

Page: http://www.seattle.gov/personnel/benefits/life/leaving.asp
Printed: 6/19/2013 3:50PM