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The Public Employees Benefits Board (PEBB) Program is giving members more choice in 2025 by providing a standalone vision benefit. Routine vision coverage will no longer be part of PEBB medical coverage for all PEBB members not enrolled in Medicare. Instead, they will choose between routine vision coverage from Davis Vision by MetLife, EyeMed Vision Care, or MetLife Vision. Medical conditions such as glaucoma and cataracts will continue to be covered under the PEBB medical benefit.
What does this mean for employees?
During annual open enrollment this fall, PEBB subscribers not enrolled in Medicare will need to elect a vision plan. There is no additional monthly premium for employees and their eligible dependents to enroll in vision coverage. Like the dental benefit, vision coverage will be an employer-paid benefit.
Subscribers who do not elect a vision plan during open enrollment will be automatically enrolled in the MetLife Vision plan. Any enrolled dependents must be enrolled in the same vision plan as the subscriber.
What does my organization need to do to prepare for this change?
Please keep this vision benefit change in mind as you’re making updates to your guidance documents, webpages, payroll systems, etc. for the 2025 plan year. We encourage you to start your planning early to ensure everything is updated in time for annual open enrollment.
We do not anticipate any changes to PEBB invoicing or billing reports.
What if my organization provides medical-only coverage?
Medical-only employer groups will lose routine vision coverage as part of the medical benefit. To keep vision coverage for employees, these employer groups must purchase the full benefits package. Visit our PEBB participating employer groups webpage or contact us for more information.
How will employees be informed of this change?
We will start communicating with members about this change in our May For Your Benefit newsletter. Detailed plan comparisons and instructions for how to enroll will be posted online and mailed to members in October before open enrollment begins to ensure they have time to make an informed choice and find the best plan for their needs. Reminders will also be included in the October For Your Benefit newsletter and other open enrollment resources.
How will employees enroll in vision coverage?
Employees will be able to use our online enrollment system, Benefits 24/7, to choose a vision plan (Pierce county, University of Washington, and Washington State University employees will use Workday). To encourage online enrollment, employee enrollment/change forms are not posted online for employees. This will continue during open enrollment as well. You can order paper forms or download them from the PEBB benefits administrators Forms and publications webpage as needed. The 2025 forms will not be posted until this fall when open enrollment begins.
What benefits and services do the vision plans offer?
The PEBB vision plans will each have a network of providers in Washington State (and nationwide) that offer services like routine eye exams, eyeglass frames and lenses, progressive lenses, contact lenses, and discounts on lens enhancements like polycarbonate and photochromatic lenses and treatments like LASIK. Members may choose the plan with a network that offers services in their geographical area and that contracts with their current vision provider.
Where can I learn more about these plans?
PEBB vision benefit information will be posted online this fall before open enrollment begins. In the meantime, if you’d like a sneak peek, you can visit the School Employees Benefits Board Program’s Compare vision plans webpage, as their vision benefits are similar to what will be offered to PEBB members.
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