SEBB - Washington State Educators Insurance Program

SEBB open enrollment for 2021:

Open enrollment for school employee health and benefits plans begins on Monday, Oct. 26, and runs through Monday, Nov. 23.

This is your opportunity to change plans, add dependents or make other changes to benefits. If you don’t want to change anything, you may not need to make any updates, but there are certain things that may need action this fall.

If you want to waive medical coverage because you are covered by another plan, you must make that selection during open enrollment.
If are enrolling new dependents, be sure to include the documentation needed to verify your dependent’s eligibility. Remember to select the coverage that you want for that dependent. You must complete both steps.
If you have enrolled a spouse, you may need to re-attest to their employer health benefit status to avoid having the spousal surcharge applied to your account. Check SEBB MyAccount to see if you need to re-attest.
If you want to enroll or re-enroll in Dependent Care (DCAP) or Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) for childcare or health care costs, this is your only opportunity to make selections about how much to withhold.
This year only, there is an opportunity to enroll in supplemental long-term disability (LTD) insurance without providing evidence of insurability.

Read more for general information about open enrollment.

Due to COVID-19, the Health Care Authority isn’t holding any in-person events. Here is a link to the virtual benefits fair to help school employees learn about benefit options.

See the most recent Intercom newsletter with information about key dates, program changes, premiums and more.

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From 2019:

PRO TIP – "ALEX" is not an enrollment system

ALEX, the SEBB program’s online interactive benefits adviser, will help you understand your benefits and guide you through choosing your medical, dental, and vision plans, or suggest plans for you to consider.

However, once you have used ALEX, you must still enroll online through SEBB My Account. ALEX is an online benefits advisor, not the enrollment system.

PRO TIP: Research the provider networks

While a number of the insurance companies are familiar, the networks that they use for their SEBB plans may be different than what you might expect from these companies. Networks can also differ among SEBB plans offered by the same company.

Whether it is dentists, doctors, hospitals or eye specialists, we highly recommend that you research the different plans’ networks to determine if your providers, clinics and hospitals are considered in-network.

Check provider networks online or contact the plans directly.

PRO TIP: Understand deductibles and other costs when comparing plans

Some SEBB plans may have more elements that are subject to the deductible before insurance benefits kick in. For example, some existing district plans exempt prescriptions from deductibles while some SEBB plans have a separate deductible that must be met for prescriptions. When comparing plans, consider deductibles, relative copay/coinsurance for your expected medical usage, referral or preauthorization requirements, and maximum out of pocket limits, in addition to more common comparisons of monthly premiums and provider networks.

Here is a high-level overview of key plan components for the various plans. Interested in a specific benefit? Detailed analysis of certain benefits can also be done by comparing the certificates of coverage (scroll about half way down the page) for procedures or services for things like massage therapy, physical therapy, surgeries and other treatments.

PRO TIP: Verify dependents and know your options

We’ve been encouraging people to get dependents enrolled early and then to check back within a few days to make sure they are in the system. Dependents must be successfully enrolled during open enrollment or they will not be covered.

If you have dependents who are not eligible under SEBB, and they are currently covered by your plan, you can self-pay to continue their coverage for up to 36 months. The eligible dependent will enroll as an individual under a COBRA/continuation of coverage option which uses paper forms, not through SEBB MyAccount.

If you want to take advantage of this continuation of coverage option, contact your district’s HR office to have them notify the HCA of your dependent’s eligibility for this COBRA-like offering. An enrollment booklet and forms will be mailed to you or you can access the enrollment form directly online. (Scroll to bottom of the page.)

For information about who is covered as a dependent, check out p. 2 in this FAQ.

PRO TIP: Enroll in all your benefit options

Basic, employer-paid life and long-term disability benefits may be lower than we all wanted. WEA will continue to advocate for increases in these benefits and improvements to other benefits. But, don’t miss this chance to buy up to a greater level of life or long-term disability benefits. There will be fewer hoops to jump through for medical certifications if you make these choices this year. You can add those benefits plus make determinations on DCAP or FSA withholdings anytime during the open enrollment window. The sign ups for these benefits may require visiting other sites, but the links can all be found in SEBB MyAccount.

PRO TIP: Check out these resources if you still have questions

Try the Virtual Benefit Fair if there is no live benefit fair in your area. Many of the live events have been heavily attended, in some cases making it difficult to get your questions answered, so the virtual version may be your best bet.

Ask ALEX – the HCA's online tool can help you with enrollment and benefit questions.

Call the insurance companies – you are a potential customer and we hear they are being super responsive when people call in. You can find their contact info here.

Finally, if you have checked out the other resources and still need some help, you can call the WEA hotline. Please note: it is likely that the help service will need to do some homework and get back to you in a few days. Call toll free, Monday through Friday between 7:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., 855-668-5039.

WEA’s website also has information, as does the HCA site.

NOTICE! Additional information from the Health Care Authority on the transition to SEBB, released September 30, 2019:

SEBB First Annual Open Enrollment Message #2

Washington State Health Care Authority sent this bulletin at 09/30/2019 04:01 PM PDT

The First Annual Open enrollment begins today, October 1, 2019

The SEBB Program first annual open enrollment begins today.

SEBB My Account is ready for you to create your login and enroll in benefits. A SEBB My Account User Guide has been created to help guide you through the process.
Use SEBB My Account to:
- Elect your medical, dental, and vision plans
- Enroll your eligible dependents
- Submit documents to prove your dependent’s eligibility
- Submit attestations
- Enroll in supplemental long-term disability
Use Navia Benefits Solutions to enroll in the medical flexible spending arrangement and/or the dependent care assistance program*.
Use the MetLife portal to elect supplemental life insurance and supplemental accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D) insurance for yourself and your family members.

*Note: If you are unable to access Navia Benefit Solutions and MetLife’s portal, it may mean your eligibility for benefits was uploaded after September 26. Contact your payroll or benefits office to verify that is the reason.

Need more information before you make a decision?

Visit the Virtual Benefits Fair or one of our in-person benefits fairs.
Alex, the SEBB Program’s online benefits advisor will be available October 3, 2019.

You must take action to enroll. If you do not enroll in, or waive benefits by 11:59 p.m. on November 15, 2019, you will be defaulted into the UMP Achieve 1 medical plan (with a $33 monthly premium), Uniform Dental Plan, MetLife vision plan, and basic life, basic AD&D, and basic LTD as a single subscriber. You dependents will not be enrolled. You will also pay the $25-per-account tobacco use premium surcharge in addition to your monthly medical premium.

Seattle Public School Educators!

WASHINGTON STATE HEALTHCARE AUTHORITY

The new SEBB (School Employees Benefits Board) insurance program for Washington state educators is due to go into effect on January 1, 2020.

This page is to help you take the mystery out of the new state-wide program, and provide you with information to help you make an informed decision when it comes time for you to decide which plan works best for your needs.

First, if after reading the pages connected to the links below you are confused and/or have questions, WEA has created a HOTLINE for SEA/WEA members that you can call:

WEA Health Care hotline for WEA members, beginning Tuesday, Sept 3, 855-668-5039 (toll free)
WEA is offering support for our members who need additional assistance selecting an insurance company and/or plan, or for those who have complicated health care needs, such as a chronic condition or who may be in the middle of treatment when the new plans take effect in January.
Beginning September 3, 2019, members can access this program by calling toll free, 855-668-5039, Monday through Friday 7:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Links to informational documents on the SEBB Insurance program:

Changes to School Employees Health Care - Upcoming Key Dates

FAQ - SEBB Questions Answered

FAQ #2 - More SEBB Questions Answered

Other Contact Information and Resources

SEBB Program Benefits Fair Schedule

Link to Washington State Health Care Authority