Highlights | Simple steps to take
- Open enrollment is coming up soon.
- Benefits-eligible employees who wish to change their health plans during Open Enrollment can prepare now.
- DO: Save open enrollment dates, explore the new vision plans, prepare dependent verification documents, attend a benefits fair and join an enrollment information session.
Open Enrollment is fast approaching: Oct. 28-Nov. 25. This will be your opportunity to select one of three new vision plans. Benefits-eligible employees can also change their medical or dental plan or enroll in optional pre-tax savings programs such as a Medical Flexible Spending Arrangement (FSA), Limited Purpose FSA (LFSA) or the Dependent Care Assistance Program (DCAP) during this one-a-year opportunity. Here’s how to prepare in five steps.
Mark your calendar: Open enrollment has new dates
This year, Open Enrollment will run Oct. 28–Nov. 25. Washington State’s Health Care Authority (HCA) hopes this new timeline will help avoid any conflicts with the end-of-month holidays and ensure employees have access to support while making their Open Enrollment changes.
Choose your new vision plan
Vision benefits will no longer be part of medical plans. Like dental insurance, vision insurance for employees and their eligible dependents is an employer-paid benefit, meaning there will be no employee-paid premium. All PEBB-eligible employees WILL need to select one of three possible vision plans and enroll any dependents in their elected vision plan. Explore plan options now to determine which plan will work best for you — and learn how to determine if your current eye doctor is covered — on the Vision Plans page.
Prepare your dependent verification documents now
If you are planning on adding a new dependent (such as your spouse or a child) to your medical, dental or vision plans during Open Enrollment, state law requires you to submit very specific documents that demonstrate proof of your relationship during the Open Enrollment process.
A helpful tip: Before Oct. 28, review the list of what documents qualify on the Dependent Verification page, then scan the document(s) you plan on uploading and save it to an easy-to-find location on a secured computer.
Attend a UW Benefits Fair
Talk with insurance plan providers – including new vision plan providers – and learn more about your benefit options at the UW Benefits Fairs. The Whole U will host fairs at:
- Harborview Medical Center: Oct. 21
- UW Medical Center – Northwest: Oct. 22
- UW Medical Center – Montlake and Health Sciences: Oct. 23
- UW Husky Union Building (HUB): Oct. 24
Join an online open enrollment information session
Register for a Zoom session led by Barry Nemeth, UW Benefits Director:
