²ÝÁñÉçÇø

Open enrollment for Western Washington University employees is on now, continuing through the last day of November.

During open enrollment, faculty and staff can change medical and dental plans, waive ²ÝÁñÉçÇø medical coverage, add eligible family members, remove family members from coverage and enroll or reenroll for 2011 in the Flexible Spending Account and Dependent Care Assistance programs.

All new forms and changes online must be submitted by Nov. 30; plan changes take effect on Jan. 1, 2011.

Those who do not wish to change their medical and/or dental plans do not need to submit any forms or make any changes during open enrollment.

Important changes and items of interest for 2011:

Online changes: It’s quick, easy and there is no paperwork. Staff can . Be sure to evaluate all of your health care needs and plan options to determine which is best for you, and be sure to check out the and the . If you are adding a new dependent during open enrollment that has not previously been covered, you will need to complete a paper change form.

Medical plan premium changes: Medical plan premiums are increasing for some plans; . Copays, coinsurance and deductibles will stay the same for 2010. Remember:

• Those who are changing plans should and be sure to ask if they’re accepting new patients.
• ²ÝÁñÉçÇø continues to pay its share of your medical/dental/life/long-term disability insurance, currently $850 per month.
• Employees' Jan. 10 paychecks will reflect new 2011 premiums and/or plan change amounts (listed as ‘Health’ deduction on paystub).

Uniform Medical Plan administrative change: Regence BlueShield has been chosen as the new administrative service provider for the UMP beginning Jan. 1. This means UMP members will have access to the Regence Network providers and Blue Cross and Blue Shield Plan providers throughout the world. Regence will also provide customer service, medical review and claims processing. As with all plan changes, employees should be sure to .

Aetna will not be offered in 2011: Those currently enrolled with the Aetna Public Employees plan must change medical plans by Nov. 30. Aetna will not be available in 2011. Those who don’t change plans, along with any covered dependents, will be defaulted to the Uniform Medical Plan. Those who are defaulted may see a delay in getting thier plan booklets and ID cards.

Dependent coverage: Effective Jan. 1, employees can cover married and unmarried children up to age 26 for medical, dental and life insurance. These children do not need to be students or IRS dependents to qualify for PEBB coverage. Those who add a family member to PEBB coverage in 2011 will need to provide documents that prove their eligibility. .

FSA, DCAP, life and long-term disability insurance: To enroll or continue FSA or DCAP in 2011, employees must do so during open enrollment, even if they don’t want to change contribution amounts. To enroll, employees must use the 2011 FSA & DCAP Enrollment Form, which after Nov. 1. Paper copies of the form available in the Benefits Services office at that time. Life and long-term disability insurance rates will not change for 2011 and, as always, employees have the option of changing these plans at any time during the year.

Verify the correct address: During this time, it is important that .  W2 addresses are located in Web4U under Personal Information, Addresses and Phones - View/Update. Employees making a change should be sure to check the box for the W2 address update.

More information: If you have questions please contact Benefits at (360) 650-7718, , or learn more in person about health plan and other insurance options by attending the Benefits Fair, which will take place from 9 a.m. to noon Nov. 9 in Viking Union Room 565 A, B and C. The fair is sponsored by the Washington State Health Care Authority and ²ÝÁñÉçÇø Benefits Services. Off-campus employees should see the PEBB Perspective Open Enrollment flier sent in the mail Oct. 14 for other benefit fairs.