Word is going out about the SEBB Program

Washington State Health Care Authority sent this bulletin at 03/05/2019 11:32 AM PST

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In this issue

Word is going out about the SEBB Program
What's the letter about?
Who is getting the letter?
Did we reach everyone?
Thank you

A note about eligibility

The purpose of the introductory letter is to raise awareness of the SEBB Program.

We do not mean to imply that everyone who receives the letter is eligible for SEBB Program benefits, or that employees who do not receive the letter are not eligible.

Your staff will make individual benefit eligibility decisions later this year after receiving eligibility rules training from HCA.

The introductory letter explains that eligibility determinations will be made later this year.

Word is going out about the SEBB Program

With a big change coming to the way Washington State school employees receive their health insurance and other benefits, the School Employees Benefits Board (SEBB) Program is sending direct communications to its potential future subscribers.

We want to let you know that on March 6 we will mail an introductory letter to school employees who may be eligible for SEBB Program benefits.

What's the letter about?

The letter explains that the SEBB Program will provide health insurance and other benefits, beginning January 1, 2020. It outlines eligibility, the premium tier ratio, the types of benefits offered, and which premiums are employer-paid. The letter also states that employees will receive more information by mail over the summer to prepare them for the SEBB Program’s first annual open enrollment, October 1 through November 15, 2019.

Who is getting the letter?

Most districts and WSIPC recently provided HCA with contact information for school employees. HCA combined this information and made some assumptions resulting in a mailing list of approximately 157,000 potential SEBB subscribers.

For this mailing, HCA did not include student workers, individuals identified as temporary staff, or most substitutes. As HCA more closely evaluates and understands the recently received contact information, the parameters for sending future mailings will be refined.

If an employee of your district did not receive the SEBB Program introductory letter, feel free to provide a copy to them and assure them that, if they meet eligibility requirements, they will receive information about benefits and the enrollment process in future mailings.

Did we reach everyone?

A few districts were not able to provide mailing addresses for employees in time for this mailing. We will mail the same introductory letter to employees of these districts later, when we have their addresses. If you know of someone you believe should have received the SEBB Program introductory letter, please feel free to send it to them.

Thank you

Thanks for your help and support as we continue to prepare for the start of SEBB Program benefits.

About the Health Care Authority (HCA)

The Washington State Health Care Authority (HCA) is committed to whole-person care, integrating physical health and behavioral health services for better results and healthier residents.

HCA purchases health care for more than two million Washington residents through Apple Health (Medicaid), the Public Employees Benefits Board (PEBB) Program, and, beginning in 2020, the School Employees Benefits Board (SEBB) Program. As the largest health care purchaser in the state, we lead the effort to transform health care, helping ensure Washington residents have access to better health and better care at a lower cost.

Please do not reply directly to this message. For more information, visit the HCA website, where you'll also find contact information.

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Nondiscrimination

The Washington State Health Care Authority (HCA) complies with all applicable federal and Washington state civil rights laws and is committed to providing equal access to our services. Visit HCA’s website to view complete nondiscrimination statements.