OE Message #4 – Spouse or state-registered domestic partner coverage premium surcharge attestation

Washington State Health Care Authority sent this bulletin at 11/03/2022 08:01 AM PDT

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This is the fourth of ten messages Outreach and Training will send related to the SEBB Program’s annual open enrollment. Here is the breakdown of what you can expect to receive over the next month, the emails are numbered so you can keep track.

We recently mailed a letter to remind SEBB members to reattest to the spouse or state-registered domestic partner (SRDP) coverage premium surcharge for 2023. However, the letter was incorrectly mailed to subscribers’ spouses or SRDPs. These letters should have been mailed to subscribers.

We expect to remail letters to affected subscribers around November 4.

We ask that you share these messages with employees according to the recommended schedule. Please do not forward this email. Instead, copy and paste the message included below into your regular means of communication to distribute to employees.

Thank you in advance for your time and effort to share these messages. If you have comments or suggestions, contact us through HCA Support.

Recommendation: Share the message below on November 4, 2022.

Attesting to the spouse and state-registered domestic partner coverage premium surcharge

Note: If you are not covering a spouse or state-registered domestic partner (SRDP) under your SEBB medical coverage for 2023, the information below does not apply.

In late October, the SEBB Program mailed letters to employees who are required to attest to the spouse or SRDP coverage premium surcharge for 2023 during annual open enrollment, October 31 through November 21. However, the letter was incorrectly mailed to subscribers’ spouses or SRDPs. These letters should have been mailed to subscribers. The SEBB Program expects to remail letters to affected subscribers around November 4.

You can also check whether you need to attest in SEBB My Account.

If you will cover a spouse or SRDP on your medical plan in 2023, you may be required to attest if:

You currently pay the $50 monthly spouse or SRDP coverage premium surcharge, or
Your spouse or SRDP is enrolled under your SEBB coverage instead of their employer-based group medical, but you did not have to pay the surcharge in 2022 because either:
- The Spousal Plan Calculator indicated your spouse or SRDP’s coverage was not comparable to the UMP Classic medical plan, or
- The medical premium for your spouse or SRDP’s employer-based medical coverage was $114.01 or more.

To confirm whether you need to attest, log into SEBB My Account.

How to attest

If you are required to attest, log into SEBB My Account and Attestations or use the 2023 SEBB Premium Surcharge Attestation Change Form. Answer ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ to questions 2 through 6

If your spouse or SRDP has other employer-based group medical coverage available, you may need to gather information about their available medical plans to complete the 2023 Spousal Plan Calculator.

You must attest by November 21, 2022, if you do not, or if your attestation results in incurring the premium surcharge, you will be charged the $50 coverage premium surcharge in addition to your monthly medical premiums beginning January 1, 2023. The surcharge will remain in effect for the rest of 2023 unless you have a qualifying event that allows you to change the attestation.

Learn more about the surcharge on the SEBB Program’s Spousal coverage surcharge webpage.

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 2.5 million Washington residents through Apple Health (Medicaid), the Public Employees Benefits Board (PEBB) Program, the School Employees Benefits Board (SEBB) Program, and the COFA Islander Health Care 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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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.