Open Enrollment

Public Employees Benefits Board (PEBB) open enrollment runs from October 28 through November 25, 2024. Enrollments, changes, and premiums are effective January 1, 2025.
 

NOTE: New Vision Plans are effective January 1, 2025.

Employees must choose a vision plan by November 25, 2024. If you do not, you will be enrolled in MetLife Vision. The existing VSP Vision Plan remains in effect until December 31, 2024. Click on the accordion box below for details.

There is no employee premium for vision coverage and employees do not pay an additional premium to cover their qualified dependents. Please note that any eligible dependents must be enrolled in the same plan in which the employee is enrolled. Depending on your needs, you can choose between three different vision plans:

Wondering if your current eye doctor is covered? Use the provider search tool(s) to determine if your current eye care provider is covered or to find a new eye care provider:

Make changes during open enrollment through the PEBB Benefits 24/7 website:


Benefits 24/7 will be available to make changes beginning Monday, October 28, through Monday, November 25, 2024. Be sure to register as a user in Benefits 24/7 if you haven’t already.

About Open Enrollment

During annual open enrollment employees can:

  • Change their medical plan
  • Change their dental plan
  • Select a new vision plan
  • Add or remove dependents
  • Attest to the spouse or state-registered domestic partner coverage premium surcharge for 2025, if required
  • Enroll or reenroll in the Flexible Spending Arrangement (FSA), limited purpose FSA, or Dependent Care Assistance Program (DCAP) through Navia Benefit Solutions
  • Enroll in medical coverage, if waived
  • Waive their medical coverage if they are enrolled in another employer-based group medical plan, TRICARE, or Medicare

Enroll or Reenroll in Flexible Spending Arrangement (FSA)
If you are currently enrolled in an FSA, Limited Purpose FSA, or the DCAP, you must re-enroll every year during Open Enrollment to continue participating in the following year. Learn more.
 

In-Person Benefits Fairs

During open enrollment, there will be in-person benefits fairs at different locations throughout the state. This is a chance to speak directly with plan representatives and ask questions about the benefits.

Find the benefits fair nearest you on the PEBB Benefits fair webpage. Before going to an in-person benefits fair, check the webpage for any last-minute changes to event times, locations, or safety requirements. If you have COVID-19 symptoms or a positive COVID test within the past five days, please keep others safe by staying home and visiting the virtual benefits fair instead.

Virtual Benefits Fair

This online option is a great way to learn about your benefits anytime, anywhere. All you need is a computer, tablet, or smartphone to access the virtual benefits fair. You’ll find links to videos, plan comparisons, and webinars to help choose the right benefits for you and your family.

Webinars

Register and attend live and recorded webinars hosted by our medical plan carriers on the PEBB open enrollment webinars webpage.

 

Questions?

A virtual presentation with a Q&A session is scheduled for Wednesday, October 30, 2024, from Noon to 1:30 p.m. This will be presented by your Benefits Specialist, Jim Mendoza, and the chat will be monitored by Benefits Specialist, Alan Suarez

If you have additional questions, please use the following email address that goes to our Employee Benefits Office:

Important Reference Links

 

Email Message Archive

For reference, following are messages sent to Seattle Colleges employees via email regarding open enrollment.

Making elections in Benefits 24/7

Log in to Benefits 24/7 from October 28 to November 25, 2024 to make changes to your coverage. Your changes must be made in Benefits 24/7 by midnight on November 25. Paper forms are available on the HCA website or from your payroll or benefits office. Your payroll or benefits office must receive your forms by November 25. (UW and WSU employee use Workday)

Logging in to Benefits 24/7

Benefits 24/7 requires a SecureAccess Washington (SAW) account. If you already have a SAW account, you can use that to claim your account. If you do not have a SAW account, you will be prompted to create one. Note: Use a personal email address to create the account.

  • Visit Benefits 24/7 and click on the ‘Log in to Benefits 24/7’ button, the SecureAccess Washington webpage will open.

Don’t have a SAW account –

  • Click on the ‘Sign Up!’ button.
  • Enter your first name, last name, and a personal email address.
  • Create a Username and Password.
  • An email will be sent to your email address, click the link to activate your account.
  • Close the browser window with the SAW login screen that opened when you activated your account.
  • In the original browser window or in a new browser window click on the ‘Log into Benefits 24/7’ button and enter your SAW Username and Password.

Already have a SAW account –

  • Enter your SAW Username and Password.
  • SAW uses multi-factor authentication (MFA). Choose the method to receive a code. If only one email address was entered, there will only be one option. Enter the code, click Submit.
  • Enter your last name, date of birth, and the last 4 of your SSN. Click Verify.
  • Choose your security questions and add responses.
  • Read and accept the Terms and Conditions.

Making changes during annual open enrollment

  • Click on the ‘Open Enrollment’ chevron and follow the prompts.
  • When adding a vision plan for your existing enrolled dependents, choose the ‘Edit dependent’ link to the right of the dependent’s name.
  • Under the ‘Enrollment’ section, select the ‘Vision’ checkbox. Review dependent enrollments to ensure the dependent shows as enrolled.
  • If making changes to medical or dental plans (dental does not apply to medical only plans), choose the new plan.
  • Choose a vision plan. (does not apply to medical only groups)
  • Go to the end of the wizard. Print a copy of your elections. Verify your plan elections and that all dependents are enrolled as expected.

All employees (except medical-only employer groups and employees enrolled in a PEBB Medicare plan) must either log in to Benefits 24/7 or submit a paper enrollment form to choose a vision plan (UW, WSU, and Pierce County employees must use Workday). If you do not choose a vision plan during open enrollment (October 28 through November 25), you and your covered dependents not enrolled in a PEBB Medicare plan will be defaulted into the MetLife Vision plan effective January 1, 2025.

Questions

For questions about:

Changes for 2025

All changes are effective January 1, 2025, unless otherwise noted. You can also view these changes on the PEBB open enrollment webpage and in the October For Your Benefit newsletter.

  • Routine vision coverage: Starting January 1, 2025, routine vision coverage will be separate from medical coverage. During annual open enrollment, October 28 through November 25, 2024, you must choose one of three vision plans (Davis Vision by MetLife, EyeMed, or MetLife Vision), or you will be automatically enrolled in MetLife Vision.
  • Vision hardware benefit: Under the new vision plans, the hardware benefit will increase up to $200 (from $150) for prescription eyeglasses or contact lenses and will reset on odd years (2025, 2027, etc.)
  • Change to medical plan availability: UMP Plus–Puget Sound High Value Network (PSHVN) will leave Chelan and Douglas counties starting January 1, 2025. UMP Plus–PSHVN members in these counties who do not choose a new medical plan during open enrollment will be automatically enrolled in UMP Classic starting January 1, 2025.
  • Health savings account (HSA) maximum: The annual maximum contribution to the Health Savings Account (HSA) will increase to $4,300 for a single subscriber and $8,550 for a subscriber with at least one enrolled dependent.
  • Deductible for Consumer-Directed Health Plan: The IRS raised the minimum deductible for high-deductible health plans to $1,650 for a single subscriber and $3,300 for a subscriber with at least one enrolled dependent.
  • Flexible spending arrangement (FSA): The annual maximum contribution for the FSA and Limited Purpose FSA will increase to $3,200.
  • Behavioral health resources: The 2025 Medical Benefits At-a-Glance includes a section to compare behavioral health benefits by plan. You can also visit the Behavioral health services by plan webpage.
  • Reduction in cost for inhalers and epinephrine injectors: Out-of-pocket costs will be capped at $35 for a 30-day supply of inhaled corticosteroids combination products and epinephrine autoinjectors.
  • Increasing access to Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP): Plans will be prohibited from cost-sharing or prior authorization requirements for at least one full PEP regimen.

Dental plan reminder

The PEBB Program offers two dental plans administered by Delta Dental that are often confused. Sometimes people intend to enroll in the Uniform Dental Plan (UDP) but accidentally enroll in DeltaCare, or vice versa. During open enrollment, be careful to choose the dental plan you want.

  • DeltaCare (Group 3100) is a managed-care plan with a narrow network. You must choose a primary care dentist within the network, or you will be assigned a primary care dentist. Your primary care dentist must give you a referral to see a specialist. The plan will not pay claims if you see a provider outside of the network.
  • Uniform Dental Plan (Group 3000) is a preferred provider plan. You may choose and change to any dental provider at any time, but you will typically have a lower out-of-pocket cost if you see in-network providers.

Compare your dental plan options on the PEBB Program’s Dental plans and benefits webpage. Before you enroll in a dental plan, check with the plan (DeltaCare or UDP, not the provider) to see if your provider is in the plan’s network and confirm the group number. You can call the dental plan’s customer service or use the plan’s online directory.

For questions about:

PEBB Open Enrollment webpage

PEBB Program’s annual open enrollment begins October 28

The Public Employees Benefits Board (PEBB) Program’s annual open enrollment begins October 28, 2024 and ends November 25, 2024. This is a change from past open enrollments held in November. Please note the dates to ensure you do not miss your opportunity to make changes.

Open enrollment is a time when you can make changes to your health plans and enrollment. This year, all employees are being asked to select a vision plan. Routine vision benefits will be available through new vision plans and separated from medical coverage beginning January 1, 2025. Even if you are not making changes to your medical and dental plans, be sure to elect one of the three vision plans for you and your enrolled dependents. Like dental coverage, the vision plans’ monthly premiums are covered by your employer.

Annual open enrollment changes are effective January 1, 2025. This means that when you make changes during annual open enrollment, your current enrollment will stay the same through December 31, 2024.

Changes you can make

During annual open enrollment you can:

  • Change your medical plan
  • Change your dental plan
  • Add or remove dependents
  • Attest to the spouse or state-registered domestic partner coverage premium surcharge for 2025, if required
  • Enroll or reenroll in the Flexible Spending Arrangement (FSA), limited purpose FSA, or Dependent Care Assistance Program (DCAP) through Navia Benefit Solutions
  • Enroll in medical coverage, if waived
  • Waive your medical coverage if you are enrolled in another employer-based group medical plan, TRICARE, or Medicare

Election you must make:

  • Choose one of the three vision plans for you and your dependents

Learn more about the changes you can make on the PEBB open enrollment webpage and in the October For Your Benefit newsletter.

How to make changes or enroll in a vision plan

Starting October 28, 2024, you can make changes by:

  • Logging in to Benefits 24/7. Benefits 24/7 requires a SecureAccess Washington (SAW) login; you can use an existing SAW login or create a SAW login by clicking on the Benefits 24/7 link. Note: University of Washington (UW) and Washington State University (WSU) employees must use Workday.
  • Submitting a paper enrollment/change form and any other required documents to your payroll or benefits office. 2025 forms will be available on the Health Care Authority website under Forms and publications.

Questions

For questions about:

  • Your enrollment or PEBB account: Contact your payroll or benefits office.
  • Benefits: Contact the plans.
  • Benefits 24/7: Go to the Help with Benefits 24/7 webpage or call the login assistance phone line at 1-866-335-0043. This line is for employee login issues only. Contact your payroll or benefits office for non-login related issues.

PEBB Open Enrollment webpage