Medical & Dental Open Enrollment
for UW Retirees
UNDERSTAND
As a UW retiree eligible for Public Employee Benefits Board (PEBB) insurance, you can change your
medical and dental plan insurance enrollment during the annual open enrollment
period. The State's healthcare open enrollment period typically runs through the entire month of November with specific dates announced by the Health Care Authority in mid-summer.
Medical and dental plan benefits and premiums change yearly. Open enrollment is a good time to evaluate your health insurance plans and decide whether to make a change. If your current plan is being discontinued, you must identify and enroll in your preferred alternate plan. If this is the case and you do not select a new medical plan by November 30, you and your dependent(s) will be automatically enrolled in a similar plan starting January 1.
Some life circumstances may be considered a "qualifying life event," which may trigger a Special Open Enrollment opportunity allowing you to make insurance plan changes outside of the fall open enrollment.
When Changing Enrollment is Necessary
If you are satisfied with your current plan and it will be offered next year, you do not need to do anything and your plan election will remain the same. However, if any of the following circumstances apply to you, then you must change your plan enrollment.
- Remove a dependent child from your coverage if the child's eligibility changes based on their birth date within the year.
- Reinstate medical coverage for those whom insurance coverage was previously waived.
- Add dependent(s), spouse, Qualified Domestic Partner (QDP), or children not previously covered on your plan. Note: You will need to provide documents that prove their eligibility. See Valid Dependent Verification Documents.
- Choose a different health plan if your current plan is no longer offered.
- Choose a different health plan if you moved during the year and your current plan is not available in your new area.
Important Note: Per WAC 182-12-262, you are required to notify the Health Care Authority (HCA) of changes in dependent eligibility within 60 days of the date in which your dependent is no longer eligible. The HCA's phone number is 1-800-200-1004.
Retiree Benefit Changes for 2013
At their July 25 meeting, the state's Public Employees Benefits Board (PEBB) voted to approve changes to state employees' and retirees' monthly premiums and cost-sharing in 2013. Cost-sharing refers to the member's annual deductible, annual out-of-pocket limit, coinsurance, or copay. All changes take effect January 1, 2013.
- View estimated monthly medical premiums here, then watch for final premiums to be announced in PEBB's retiree open enrollment newsletter (mid-October), a personalized letter (late October), and at the PEBB website this fall.
- No changes to life and long-term disability insurance premiums for 2013.
- Retirees not enrolled in Medicare will see the same cost-sharing in 2013 as for employees, namely:
- Group Health will increase emergency room copays from $150 to $250 in the Classic and Value plans.
- Kaiser Permanente Classic plan will increase annual out-of-pocket maximums (from $1,500 to $2,000) and annual deductibles (from $150 to $250) plus durable medical equipment and ambulance benefits are subject to these deductibles and out-of-pocket maximums.
- The PEB Board does not vote on cost-sharing changes for Medicare Supplement Plan F, which is regulated by federal rules. The federal government will release any 2013 changes to Plan F in October.
PEBB Materials
The PEBB provides the following materials to help you make choices:
- Retirees will receive a personalized letter in late October explaining their plan options and premiums for the coming year.
- A PEBB newsletter will be mailed to retirees' homes in October.
- Web based information is available at www.pebb.hca.wa.gov
ACT
Online option for making changes to your insurance plan enrollment
Review your current enrollment in one of two ways:
- UW Employee Self-Service (ESS): Log in to ESS with your UW NetID to view your current benefits package. You can also update your home and campus address information.
- PEBB Online Inquiry and Enrollment: The PEBB offers E-Coverage to make online open enrollment medical/dental plan changes. E-Coverage is inquiry-only until the first day of open enrollment.
Beginning November 1, UW employees can use the E-Coverage site to change insurance plans or providers. E-Coverage has the following advantages:
- You can access plan enrollment information at any time.
- The system provides instant confirmation when you make changes to your coverage.
- You may print your work to keep documentation for your records.
- The PEBB will mail confirmation of your enrollment within two to three weeks.
Paper option for adding a dependent and/or making changes to your insurance plan enrollment
To add or reinstate a dependent who is not currently enrolled on your insurance plan, you must submit a completed Employee Enrollment/Change form by November 30 at midnight. Valid dependent verification documentation must be included with the form for the requested change to be processed.
While you cannot add a dependent online, you may use one of these online options to review your current coverage:
- UW Employee Self-Service (ESS): Log in to ESS with your UW NetID to view your current benefits package. You can also update your home and campus address information.
- PEBB Online Inquiry and Enrollment: The PEBB offers E-Coverage to make online open enrollment medical/dental plan changes. E-Coverage is inquiry-only until the first day of open enrollment.
EXPLORE
