SEBB annual open enrollment ends Monday, November 20, 2023

Time is running out…have you made your changes?

Changes must be received by November 20

• Review monthly premiums for 2024. Kaiser Permanente premiums for employees are increasing significantly across all plans. The highest enrolled Kaiser Permanente plans are increasing by $117 to $159 per month for a single subscriber. This change is not limited to the SEBB Program. Kaiser rates are also increasing on the Washington individual market and nationwide. 
• UMP Plus–UW Medicine ACN will leave Kitsap County in 2024. Members in Kitsap County must change plans or they will be automatically enrolled in UMP Achieve 1 effective January 1, 2024.
• Make changes online through SEBB My Account or use a 2024 change form if required.
• Changes must be received online or by your payroll or benefits office no later than Monday, November 20, 2023.
• If you choose not to make any changes, no action is needed.

You must enroll in an FSA or DCAP each year you want to participate

• Visit the Navia Benefit Solutions website to enroll for 2024. You will be asked to log in or create an account through Secure Access Washington (SAW) to enroll online, or you can download and complete Navia’s 2024 Open Enrollment form.
• Navia Benefit Solutions must receive your enrollment no later than November 20, 2023.
• You cannot have both a Limited Purpose FSA and a Medical FSA, nor can you have a Medical FSA and be enrolled in UMP High Deductible with a health savings account (HSA).

Questions

Contact your employer’s payroll or benefits office for questions about enrollment or your SEBB account. For questions about benefits, contact the plans.

Open enrollment reminders

The 2024 SEBB annual open enrollment ends Monday, November 20, 2023.

How to make changes

To change your health plan, waive coverage, or return from waived, remove a dependent, or attest to the spouse or state-registered domestic partner (SRDP) coverage premium surcharge, log in to SEBB My Account and update your account before 11:59 p.m. on Monday, November 20, 2023.

You may complete a 2024 Premium Surcharge Attestation form if you are required to attest to the spouse or SRDP coverage premium surcharge and prefer not to attest online.

Forms and any required dependent verification documents must be received by your payroll or benefits office no later than November 20, 2023.

Dual enrollment reminder

You and your dependents cannot be enrolled on two SEBB accounts, and you and your dependents cannot enroll in health plans under both the SEBB Program and the Public Employees Benefits Board (PEBB) Program. You may waive your enrollment in SEBB medical to enroll in PEBB medical only if you are also enrolling in PEBB dental. In doing so, you waive your enrollment in SEBB dental and vision. You can only waive SEBB dental and vision coverage if you enroll in PEBB medical and dental, and only in specific situations.

Dual enrollment within the SEBB Program

• You may waive SEBB medical to enroll as a dependent under the SEBB medical plan of your spouse, SRDP, or parent. You must enroll in your own dental and vision plan.
• A child eligible for SEBB medical and dental under you and your spouse or SRDP may be enrolled under both accounts, but the child is limited to one medical plan enrollment, one dental plan enrollment, and one vision enrollment.
• If you are eligible under two SEBB employers, you may choose which employer to enroll under.

Dual enrollment between SEBB and PEBB Programs

• You may waive SEBB medical, dental, and vision to enroll in PEBB medical and dental.
• If you waive SEBB medical, dental, and vision to enroll in PEBB medical and dental plans, you will be enrolled in SEBB employer-paid long-term disability (LTD), employee-paid LTD with the option to reduce and decline the benefit, and basic life insurance.

FSA and DCAP reminder

To enroll in the Medical Flexible Spending Arrangement (FSA), Limited Purpose FSA, or the Dependent Care Assistance Program (DCAP), you may either:

• Visit the Navia Benefit Solutions You will be asked to log in or create an account through Secure Access Washington (SAW) to enroll online, or
• Download and complete Navia’s 2024 Annual Open Enrollment form, available on Navia’s Forms & Documents webpage, and submit it as instructed on the form.

Navia Benefit Solutions must receive your enrollment no later than Monday, November 20, 2023. Remember, you must enroll during open enrollment to participate in an FSA or DCAP, even if you aren’t changing your election amount.

Questions

Contact your employer’s payroll or benefits office for questions about enrollment or your SEBB account. For questions about benefits, contact the plans.

Check your beneficiaries

The SEBB Program’s annual open enrollment (October 30 through November 20) is a good time to check your beneficiary information for your SEBB life insurance and health savings account (HSA) if you have one. Not only is it important to make sure you have the right person (or people) listed, but that all contact information is up to date.

It’s also a good idea to check your beneficiaries for any other insurance or financial accounts (such as retirement savings) if you have them.

To check your current beneficiaries and make changes:

Life insurance – Log in to MetLife’s MyBenefits portal. On your profile page, click Group Life Insurance, the click the Beneficiaries tab. You can also call MetLife at 1-833-854-9624 to request a Group Term Life Insurance Beneficiary Designation form.

Health savings account (HSA) – If you have an HSA, you can complete the Beneficiary Designation form or log in to your HealthEquity account and select Beneficiaries located under the MyAccount tab.

High-deductible health plans with health savings accounts

UMP High Deductible is the SEBB Program’s high-deductible health plan (HDHP) with a health savings account (HSA). HDHPs typically offer lower monthly premiums, a higher annual deductible, and a higher annual out-of-pocket limit than most medical plans.

For 2024, the IRS raised the minimum deductible for HDHPs to $1,600 for single subscribers and $3,200 for families.

An HSA is a tax-exempt account that anyone can deposit funds on your behalf. You can use your HSA to pay for IRS-qualified out-of-pocket expenses (like deductibles, copays, and coinsurance), including some expenses and services that your health plan may not cover.

Generally, HDHPs work well for people who:

• Can meet the eligibility requirements
• Prefer a lower monthly premium
• Want to save on taxes by contributing to an HSA through pre-tax payroll deductions
• Are willing to check which services and supplies are qualified expenses
• Can keep track of HSA expenses in case of an IRS audit

HDHPs can encourage you to make informed decisions about your health care and spend HSA funds wisely. Those who choose to enroll in UMP High Deductible should prepare to invest time and energy in seeking qualified HSA expenses from network providers.

Eligibility

You must meet certain eligibility requirements to enroll in UMP High Deductible. If you are not eligible for the HSA and enroll, you may be liable for tax penalties.

To be eligible to enroll in UMP High Deductible, you cannot be enrolled in:

• Medicare Part A or Part B
• Medicaid (called Apple Health in Washington State)
• Another comprehensive medical plan
• VEBA, unless you convert it to limited-purpose HRA coverage
• TRICARE
• Medical flexible spending arrangement (FSA) or Health Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA) Note: You may enroll in a Limited Purpose FSA.

Other exclusions apply. Check the IRS Publication 969 – Health Savings Accounts and Other Tax-Favored Health Plans, contact your tax advisor or call HealthEquity (the HSA Administrator) toll-free at 1-844-351-6853 to verify whether you qualify. See the Complete HSA Guidebook for full details.

Contributions

When you enroll in UMP High Deductible, your district will contribute $375 per year ($31.25 per month) to your HSA for enrollment as a single subscriber or $750 per year ($62.50 per month) for enrollment for you and at least one other family member.

You can choose to contribute to your HSA as well. The maximum HSA contribution from all sources for a single subscriber for 2024 is $4,150 and $8,300 for a family. Employees age 55 and up can contribute up to $1,000 more per year.

Learn more on the SEBB Program’s Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) webpage.

Tips for choosing a medical plan

With increasing medical premiums and service area changes, you may be considering changing your medical plan for 2024. It is important to review your current plan and benefits changes to make sure it still meets your needs. Here are some things to think about as you evaluate which plans are right for you.

Availability

Check the plans available by county to make sure the plan serves the area where you live. Remember, UMP Plus–UW Medicine Accountable Care Network will leave Kitsap County in 2024. Members in Kitsap County must change plans or they will be automatically enrolled in UMP Achieve 1 effective January 1, 2024.

Premiums

View the 2024 Employee monthly premiums to find out if your current plan still fits your budget. Many premiums are increasing for 2024.

Keep in mind, a higher premium doesn't necessarily mean higher quality of care or better benefits; each plan has the same basic level of benefits. Generally, plans with higher premiums may have lower annual deductibles, copays, or coinsurance costs. Plans with lower premiums may have higher deductibles, coinsurance, copays, and more limited networks.

Benefits and costs

Use the online Medical Benefits Comparison Tool or 2024 Medical Benefits At-a-Glance to see what’s covered and the out-of-pocket costs for services, including deductibles, coinsurance, and copays. You can also look at the plans' benefits booklets and Summaries of Benefits and Coverage to find out what is covered and your costs for care.

Provider networks

If you prefer to see a specific health care provider, you should make sure they are in the plan's network. Some plans have smaller networks and services may cost more if your provider is not in-network.

For more information

Visit the SEBB open enrollment and Compare medical plans webpages on the HCA website to learn more about choosing a health plan.

Final premium increase communication coming soon

The SEBB Program will mail a postcard to SEBB subscribers around November 8. This is the final of a series of communications we’ve prepared to inform members about several medical plans’ premium increases coming for 2024. The SEBB Program will mail the postcard to all SEBB subscribers, including those who signed up to receive email. A Spanish translation of the postcard is also available online. 

Medical Flexible Spending Arrangement (FSA), Limited Purpose FSA, and Dependent Care Assistance Program (DCAP)

FSAs allow you to set aside pretax money from your paycheck to pay for out-of-pocket health care costs. DCAP allows you to also set aside pretax money from your paycheck to pay for qualifying childcare or elder care expenses. If you want to participate in the Medical FSA, Limited Purpose FSA, or DCAP for 2024, you must enroll during annual open enrollment even if you are not changing your contribution amount. Navia Benefit Solutions must receive your enrollment no later than November 20, 2023.

The minimum contribution amount for the Medical FSA and Limited Purpose FSA in 2024 is $120 and the maximum is $3,050. The maximum annual amount for DCAP in 2024 is $5,000 per household ($2,500 each if you and your spouse file separate tax returns).

How to enroll

You may enroll one of two ways:

• Log in and enroll on the Navia Benefit Solutions
• Complete Navia’s 2024 Annual Open Enrollment form, available on Navia’s Forms & Documents webpage, and submit it as instructed on the form.

Navia Benefits Solutions must receive your enrollment no later than November 20, 2023.

Medical FSAs and high deductible health plans don’t mix

You cannot have both a Medical FSA and UMP High Deductible plan with a health savings account (HSA) in the same year. If you enroll in both a Medical FSA and UMP High Deductible, you will be automatically disenrolled from the Medical FSA.

If you have UMP High Deductible with an HSA, you can enroll in a Limited Purpose FSA for eligible dental and vision expenses.

FSA funds may carry over

If you are enrolled in an FSA for 2023, unused funds up to $610 may carry over and be used for 2024. Amy amount over $610 will be forfeited to the plan administrator, Health Care Authority. The minimum carryover is $120. Any amount under $120 will be forfeited unless you enroll in an FSA for 2024.

Deadlines for claims

All 2023 FSA expenses must be incurred by December 31, 2023. You must submit all 2023 claims to Navia Benefit Solutions for reimbursement by March 31, 2024.

DCAP enrollees have until December 31, 2023 to incur expenses. You must submit all 2023 claims to Navia Benefit Solutions for reimbursement by March 31, 2024.

For more information

Find out more on the SEBB Program’s Flexible Spending Arrangement and Dependent Care Assistance Program webpages.

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 2024, 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 2024 during annual open enrollment (October 30 through November 20). 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 2024, 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 2023 because either:
• 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 $117.81 or more for 2023.

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

How to attest

If you are required to attest, log in to SEBB My Account and select the Attestations tab, or use the 2024 SEBB Premium Surcharge Attestation Change Form.

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 2024 Spousal Plan Calculator.

You must attest by November 20, 2023. If you do not attest or you attest that the premium surcharge applies, you will be charged the $50 monthly premium surcharge beginning January 1, 2024. The surcharge will remain in effect for the rest of 2024 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.

Summary of changes for 2024

All changes are effective January 1, 2024, unless otherwise noted. You can also view these changes on the SEBB Program’s open enrollment webpage and in your October Intercom newsletter.

The open enrollment webpage includes:

• Premiums for 2024 - Kaiser Permanente premiums for employees are increasing significantly across all plans. The highest enrolled Kaiser Permanente plans are increasing by $41 to $107 per month for a single subscriber. This change is not limited to the SEBB Program. Kaiser rates are also increasing on the Washington individual market and nationwide. View employee monthly premiums for 2024.
• A summary of the changes to all medical plans, Kaiser Permanente NW, Kaiser Permanente WA, Premera, and Uniform Medical Plan.
• UMP Plus UWACN –UW Medicine Accountable Care Network UWACN – UMP Plus UW Medicine Accountable Care Network will leave Kitsap County and will expand to Benton and Franklin counties. UMP Plus – UW Medicine ACN members in Kitsap County must change medical plans during annual open enrollment.
• Premera HMO will expand to King County.
• The annual maximum contribution to the Health Savings Account (HSA) will increase to $4,150 for single subscribers and $8,300 for a subscriber and at least one dependent.
• The annual maximum contribution amount for the Medical and Limited Purpose FSA increased to $3,050. The carryover amount is up to $610.
• A summary of changes to Uniform Dental Plan.

You can also view rule changes and other changes for 2024 on the SEBB Program’s and in your October Intercom.

Dental Plan Reminder

The SEBB Program offers two dental plans administered by DeltaDental that are often confused. Sometimes people intend to enroll in Uniform Dental Plan (UDP) but accidentally enroll in DeltaCare, or vice versa. During open enrollment, be careful to choose the dental plan you want.

• DeltaCare (Group 9601) is a managed-care plan with a narrow network. You must choose a primary care dentist within the network, or you will be assigned a primary care dentist. Your primary care dentist must give you a referral to see a specialist. The plan will not pay claims if you see a provider outside of the network.
• Uniform Dental Plan (Group 9600) is a preferred provider plan. You may choose and change any dental provider at any time, but you will typically have lower out-of-pocket costs if you see in-network providers.

Compare your dental plan options on the SEBB Program’s Dental plans & benefits webpage. Before you enroll in a dental plan, check with the plan (DeltaCare or UDP, not the provider) to see if your provider is in the plan’s network and confirm the group number. You can call the dental plan’s customer service or use the plan’s online directory.

Here are the SEBB Program mailings to employees for the week of October 30. Mailings from last week are still making their way to employee mailboxes as well.

UMP Plus plan ending letter

On October 30, HCA mailed a letter to UMP Plus – UW Medicine Accountable Care Network (ACN subscribers in Kitsap County informing them that their current plan will not be available in their area in 2024. They must choose another medical plan to enroll in during open enrollment, October 30 through November 20, or they will be automatically enrolled in the UMP Achieve 1 plan. UMP Plus – UW Medicine ACN mailed a letter to these subscribers in early October to notify them about the change.                              

Another postcard coming soon

SEBB members will receive a postcard around November 1. This is the sixth in a series of communications we’ve prepared to inform members about the premium increases coming for 2024. The SEBB Program will mail the postcard to all SEBB subscribers, including those who signed up to receive email. A Spanish translation of the postcard is also available online. 

Resources for open enrollment

You can learn more about your health plans, 2024 premiums, and other insurance options during the SEBB Program’s annual open enrollment (October 30 through November 20) in person and online.

In-person benefits fairs

During open enrollment there will be in-person benefits fairs at different locations throughout the state. This is a great opportunity to speak to plan representatives and ask questions about the benefits.

Find the benefits fair nearest to you on the SEBB Benefits Fair webpage. Before going to an in-person benefits fair, check the webpage for any last-minute changes to event times, locations, or safety requirements. If you have COVID-19 symptoms or a positive COVID test within the past five days, please keep others safe by staying home and visiting the virtual benefits fair instead.

Virtual benefits fairs

This online option is a great way to learn about your benefits anytime, day or night, without leaving home. All you need is a computer, tablet, or smartphone to access the virtual benefits fairs. You’ll find links to videos, plan comparisons, and webinars to help choose the right benefits for you and your family.

Webinars

Register and attend live and recorded webinars hosted by our medical plan carriers on the SEBB open enrollment webinars webpage.

Open enrollment webpage

The SEBB open enrollment webpage is your one-stop-shop for open enrollment information. From this page, you can compare plan benefits and costs, find out what’s changing for 2024, and access SEBB My Account to make plan changes or attest to the spouse or state-registered domestic partner coverage premium surcharge.

Intercom newsletter

The October newsletter includes information about benefit changes for 2024, changes you can make during annual open enrollment, how to make changes, and more.

Questions

Contact your employer’s payroll or benefits office for questions about enrollment or your SEBB account. For questions about benefits, contact the plans.

The SEBB Program’s annual open enrollment begins Monday, October 30

The School Employees Benefits Board (SEBB) Program’s annual open enrollment begins Monday, October 30 and ends November 20, 2023.

Open enrollment is a time when you can make changes to your health plans and enrollment. You may consider changing your medical plan this year during open enrollment, as premiums for some plans are increasing significantly. You are not required to stay on the same plan each year.

Annual open enrollment changes are effective January 1, 2024. This means that when you make changes during annual open enrollment, your enrollment will stay the same through December 31, 2023.

Changes you can make

During annual open enrollment you can:

• Change your medical plan.
• Change your dental plan.
• Change your vision plan.
• Add or remove dependents.
• Attest to the spouse or state-registered domestic partner (SRDP) coverage premium surcharge for 2024, if required.
• Enroll in the Medical Flexible Spending Arrangement (FSA), Limited purpose FSA, or Dependent Care Assistance Program (DCAP) through Navia Benefit Solutions.
• Enroll in medical coverage if previously waived.
• Waive your medical coverage if you are enrolled in other employer-based group medical, a TRICARE plan, or Medicare.

Learn more about the changes you can make on the SEBB open enrollment webpage and in the Intercom newsletter

How to make changes

Starting October 30, 2023, you can make changes by:

• Logging into SEBB My Account, or
• Submitting a School Employee Change form and any other required documents to your payroll or benefits office.
• 2024 forms will be available on the Health Care Authority website under Forms and Publications on October 30

Questions

Contact your employer’s payroll or benefits office for questions about enrollment or your SEBB account. For questions about benefits, contact the plans.

SEBB members will receive a postcard October 18

SEBB members will soon receive a postcard from the SEBB Program. This is the third in a series of communications we’ve prepared to inform members about important plan changes and many medical plans’ premium increases coming for 2024. The SEBB Program will mail the postcard to all SEBB subscribers, including those who signed up to receive email. A Spanish translation of the postcard is also available (online only). 

Retiree guide will be posted on HCA’s website this week

Do you have employees who are retiring soon? We are posting our 2024 Retiree Enrollment Guide on October 19. The 2024 School Employee Enrollment Guide will be available online as well. 

UMP newsletter is on its way!  

The Uniform Medical Plan (UMP) newsletter will mail this Friday, October 20. We will provide a link to the online newsletter in next week’s update.

SEBB newsletters mail October 10 and 12

The October edition of the School Employees Benefits Board (SEBB) Program newsletter, Intercom, will be sent by mail and email Tuesday, October 10, and Thursday, October 12.

• Intercom for school employees
• Intercom for continuation coverage members

This issue contains information about open enrollment, premiums, plan options for 2024, and much more.

Premium increase letter mailed October 2

The SEBB Program mailed a letter to all SEBB subscribers informing them their current medical plan’s premium may be increasing in 2024. The letter identifies which plans’ premiums will increase and directs members where to find more information. A Spanish translation of the letter is available (online only).

For more information

Visit the Open enrollment webpage.

Postcard with important information mailed to SEBB members today

SEBB members will soon receive a postcard from the SEBB Program. This is the first in a series of communications we’ve prepared to inform members about important plan changes and many medical plans’ premium increases coming for 2024. The SEBB Program will mail the postcard to all SEBB subscribers, including those who signed up to receive email, to increase awareness of plan changes. A Spanish translation of the postcard is also available (online only).

Open enrollment webpage goes live today

Open enrollment is October 30 – November 20, 2023. An Open enrollment webpage is available for members to start researching about plan changes for 2024, to help them decide which plans will meet their families’ needs.  

Visit the Virtual Benefits Fairs

Help us spread the word! The SEBB Virtual Benefits Fair will also be online today and is available 24/7.

For more information

Visit the Open enrollment webpage.