Reminder: PEBB requiring verification of dependent eligibility for state health benefits

The Public Employees Benefits Board Program recently mailed 81,000 letters to subscribers requesting verification of dependent eligibility for state-subsidized health benefits.

If you have received a letter from PEBB requesting verification, it is important to you and your dependents that you respond, either providing verification of eligibility or submitting the form to cancel coverage for a dependent. The deadline is Nov. 30. If you did not receive a letter, you do not need to do anything. That includes subscribers who have recently added dependents to their account and have not received a verification request letter.

For a number of years, the PEBB Program asked subscribers to provide proof of eligibility for their students, extended dependents, and dependents with disabilities. More recently, PEBB has become aware that other large employers have implemented verification of all dependents—and generated savings of 5 to 12 percent.

This change in procedure is prompted by the state's budget situation. Like other state agencies, PEBB has a responsibility to be prudent in managing member and state resources. Throughout state government, agencies ask for documentation before providing a service or benefit. Given that PEBB is increasing members' cost sharing in 2010, it also has a responsibility to ensure that scarce resources are going only to eligible dependents.

If you have questions on the dependent verification process and haven't submitted proof of your family members' eligibility yet, PEBB has added some information on its Web site to help you. From the PEBB's Web site, you can find information in two places:

• In the Spotlight section—You can find an update on how the process is working and links to common questions PEBB is receiving.
• Under the Take Action header, select the “Verify My Family Members” link to find frequent questions and answers, resources to help you get a copy of a birth or marriage certificate and how to contact the PEBB Program via e-mail if you have additional questions. Note: Only the last four numbers of your social security number are needed on eligibility documents.

If you call PEBB Benefits Services at 1-800-200-1004, please be patient. The PEBB Program continues to receive up to three times as many phone calls as usual, and the calls are taking longer. Employees' personnel, payroll or benefits office staff may also help answer questions.

If you've already submitted your documentation to the PEBB Program, you can expect to receive a follow-up letter in the mail after your documents have been processed. If you would like to confirm that your documents were received, please wait 30 days after mailing them before calling PEBB Benefits Services at 1-800-200-1004.