Benefits open enrollment on now through Nov. 30

Western Today staff

November 2, 2011

The Public Employees Benefits Board Program's medical and dental insurance open enrollment began Nov. 1 and runs through Nov. 30.

This is the opportunity for employees of Western Washington University to make plan changes, waive or reinstate coverage, or add or remove dependents from PEBB coverage. You can make these changes online -- unless you're adding a dependent, in which case you must use the 2012 Employee Enrollment/Change Form and the appropriate Dependent Verification Documents for each dependent you add.

Your traditional health plans -- Uniform Medical Plan (now called UMP Classic) and Group Health Classic and Value -- all remain available in 2012, with essentially the same covered services as in 2011. If you don't wish to change plans for 2012, you won't need to take any action.

One change for 2012 is that all three of these carriers will offer consumer-directed health plans, which include a health savings account. There are three significant elements to the CDHP/HSA option:

  • Lower premiums.
  • Higher personal financial responsibility.
  • Contributions from Western to your personal HSA.

Human Resources encourages employees to review their families' current and projected medical costs. More information is available during open enrollment from the health plans and HealthEquity (qualified trustee of the HSA). More info on CDHPs is available on the PEBB website.

Open enrollment is also your opportunity to enroll/re-enroll in the medical Flexible Spending Account or the Dependent Care Assistance Program. Re-enroll online or, if you're a new member, by filling out the FSA/DCAP Enrollment Form.

Human Resources will offer open enrollment education sessions on campus during the month of November. Information is forthcoming about those sessions.

More information about your opportunities during open enrollment is available on the PEBB website, in the "For Your Benefit" newsletter, or in person with PEBB staff and vendors from 8:30 a.m. to noon Tuesday, Nov. 8, at St. Luke's Health Education Center (3333 Squalicum Parkway, Bellingham, Meeting Rooms E and F).

If you have any questions you have about the changes in your health insurance for 2012, please use the resources below:

  • Public Employees Benefits Board
    www.pebb.hca.wa.gov
    800-200-1004
  • ASI/Flex (Flexible Spending Account & Dependent Care Assistance Program)
    http://pebb.asiflex.com/
    1-800-569-3035
  • HealthEquity (Questions about the HSA Plan)
    www.healthequity.com/pebb
    1-877-873-8823
  • WWU Benefits Services (General insurance & retirement questions)
    www.benefits.wwu.edu
    360-650-3774