OE message #6 to forward to employees

Washington State Health Care Authority sent this bulletin at 11/06/2024 09:00 AM PST

11.6.2024

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Message to forward to employees

This is the sixth of ten messages Outreach and Training will send related to the PEBB Program’s annual open enrollment. The emails are numbered for easy tracking.

We ask that you share these messages with employees according to the recommended schedule. Please do not forward this email directly to employees. 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 this message with employees on 11.8.2024.

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

Note: If you are not covering a spouse or state-registered domestic partner (SDRP) under your PEBB medical coverage for 2025, the information below does not apply.

In October, the PEBB Program mailed letters to employees who are required to attest to the spouse or SDRP coverage premium surcharge for 2025 during annual open enrollment (October 28 through November 24, 2024).

You can check whether you need to attest in Benefits 24/7. (Note: Pierce County, University of Washington, Washington State University must use Workday.)

If you cover a spouse or SRDP on your medical plan in 2025, 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 PEBB coverage instead of their employer-based group medical, but you did not have to pay the surcharge in 2024 because either:
- Your spouse or SDRP’s coverage was not comparable to the UMP Classic medical plan, or
- The medical premium for your spouse’s or SDRP’s employer-based medical coverage was $126.36 or more in 2024.

How to attest

If you are required to attest:

Log in to Benefits 24/7.
Click on the blue ‘Open Enrollment’ chevron on your dashboard.
If you are not adding additional dependents, choose ‘No’. The dependent list will display.
Choose the ‘Edit’ link on the right side of the section listing your spouse.
Move through the steps for the dependent until you reach the ‘Spouse or State Registered Domestic Partner’ surcharge attestation.
Respond to the questions. If you answer ‘Yes’ to question number ‘6’ there is a link to the Spousal Plan Calculator to compare your spouse or SRDP’s plan to UMP Classic. Note: You may need to gather information about their available medical plans.
Once the attestation is complete, continue through the wizard making any changes. Be sure to go all the way through the wizard and ‘Submit’.
Print a copy of your elections for your records.

Or use the 2025 PEBB Premium Surcharge Attestation Change form.

You must attest by November 25, 2024. If you do not attest or attest that the premium surcharge applies, you will be charged the $50 monthly premium surcharge beginning January 1, 2025. The surcharge will remain in effect for the rest of 2025 unless you have a qualifying event that allows you to change the attestation.

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

Spousal coverage surcharge webpage

About the Health Care Authority (HCA)

Functioning as both the state's largest health care purchaser and its behavioral health authority, the Washington State Health Care Authority (HCA) is a leader in ensuring Washington residents have the opportunity to be as healthy as possible.

There are three pillars of our work: Apple Health (Medicaid); the Public Employees Benefits Board (PEBB) and School Employees Benefits Board (SEBB) programs; and behavioral health and recovery. Under these pillars, HCA purchases health care, including behavioral health treatment for more than 2.7 million Washington residents and provides behavioral health prevention, crisis, and recovery supports to all Washington residents.

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

Disclosure notice

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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.