Open Enrollment

What Is Open Enrollment?

Open Enrollment is a once-a-year opportunity for PEBB benefits-eligible employees to enroll in or make changes to their health plan elections or enroll in a Flexible Spending Arrangement (FSA), Limited Purpose FSA (LFSA) or the Dependent Care Assistance Program (DCAP). Open Enrollment changes are made in Workday and go into effect the following January 1. Open Enrollment is the only time each year employees can change their benefits elections unless they experience a qualifying life event (such as marriage or the birth of a child).

During annual open enrollment employees can:

• Enroll in or change their medical, vision and/or dental coverage.
• Add or remove qualified dependents, including a spouse or state-registered domestic partner, to/from their health plans. NOTE: To verify if someone qualifies as a dependent, visit Washington State Health Care Authority’s (HCA’s) Are My Dependents Eligible? webpage
• Waive their medical coverage if they are covered by another employer-based group medical insurance, TRICARE, or Medicare.
• Enroll or re-enroll in optional pre-tax savings programs such as a Flexible Spending Arrangement (FSA), Limited Purpose FSA (LFSA) or the Dependent Care Assistance Program (DCAP). NOTE: Per IRS policy, re-enrollment is required each year during Open Enrollment if you wish to contribute to these plans.
• Respond (“attest) to whether or not the HCA’s spousal premium surcharge applies to them.

Do You HAVE TO Submit Changes During Open Enrollment?

You are required to make changes during Open Enrollment if:

1. You wish to continue/enroll in a Flexible Spending Arrangement (FSA), Limited Purpose FSA (LFSA) and/or the Dependent Care Assistance Program (DCAP) coverage.
   If you are currently enrolled in a Flexible Spending Arrangement (FSA), Limited Purpose FSA (LFSA), or the Dependent Care Assistance Program (DCAP), you must re-enroll every year during Open Enrollment in order to continue participating in the following year.
   -AND/OR-
2. You have been notified that you need to attest/re-attest to the spousal premium surcharge.
   If you currently have a spouse or State-Registered Domestic Partner (SRDP) enrolled on your PEBB medical plan, you may need to respond (“attest”) to whether or not the PEBB-required $50 monthly premium surcharge applies to you.

Preparing for Open Enrollment

If you are a PEBB benefits-eligible employee who wishes to make changes to your health plans during Open Enrollment, follow these simple steps to prepare ahead of time:

1. Verify your address in ctclink: The benefits options you are offered are actually based on your home address, specifically your zip code. Make sure your address in ctclink is current so you aren’t offered the wrong benefit plan options.
2. Prepare your dependent verification documents: If you are planning to add any dependents (including your spouse or State Registered Domestic Partner) to your medical, vision or dental plans, state law requires that you submit, within Workday, valid dependent verification documents that demonstrate proof of your relationship. Check out this list of what qualifies as valid dependent verification documentation. We strongly recommend scanning the document(s) you plan on attaching and saving it to an easy-to-find location on a secure computer before October 28.
3. Research your benefit options before Open Enrollment starts: 
   Attend one of the Seattle Colleges Benefits Fairs (10 a.m. to 2 p.m.): 
   - Tuesday, October 14 – South Seattle College, Brockey Center
   - Wednesday, October 15 – Seatle Central College and District Office, Mitchell Activity Center
   - Thursday, October 16 – North Seattle College, The Grove 
   Or attend a Virtual Benefits Fair. If you can’t make one of the in-person Benefits Fairs, you can still visit the Health Care Authority’s Virtual Benefits Fair page to watch informative, on-demand webinars (available 24/7) and learn more about your benefit options for the coming year. Current year information will become available on October 1. 

Benefit Changes You Can Make Anytime

There are several benefit changes you can make that, given the necessary circumstances, don’t require you to wait until Open Enrollment:

• Attest to the Tobacco Use Premium Surcharge
• Manage your Health Savings Account (HSA) contributions
• Enroll in optional Retirement Plans
• Enroll in Optional Life insurance
• Reduce or opt out of Employee-Paid Long-Term Disability (LTD) insurance

Questions?

Contact insurance plan providers directly with any questions. If you have questions about networks, what each plan covers, and other benefit details, directly reach out to the providers ahead of time to determine if another plan is right for you and/or your family.

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

• benefits@seattlecolleges.edu 

Important Reference Links

• Open Enrollment (PEBB) - main website - Washington State Healthcare Authority