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| Click image above to view the WSU HRS 2013 Open Enrollment Presentation video with Ann Monroe, WSU’s Human Resource Services benefits manager |
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Resources
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Health Care Benefits
Changes and Reminders |
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Current enrollment: employees/provider
One common question people ask when considering their insurance options is, what do other WSU employees choose. Following is a list of the 2012 medical insurance enrollment numbers for the university:
Medical Insurance
Dental Insurance
Not all plans are available in all locations. Employees will want to verify which plans are available in their location when selecting plans.
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List of benefits fairs statewide |
Some of the dates for open enrollment benefits fairs statewide include (alphabetically by city): PULLMAN, Wash. – WSU’s annual open enrollment period, allowing employees to change their medical and dental insurance plans, will run Nov. 1-30. Employees also can use this time to enroll or re-enroll in a Flexible Spending Account, Dependent Care Assistance Program.
Employee insurance programs are overseen by the state’s Public Employee Benefits Board (PEBB). This year, the board made minor changes to the some of the medical plans benefits coverage and medical premiums, with no changes being made to the dental, life and long-term disability plans. There also are no changes to employees’ life and long-term disability insurance premiums.
The Flexible Spending Account (FSA) contribution limits will be decreasing from $3,600 to $2,500 in 2013. The Health Savings Account (HSA) contributions rates are increasing from $3,100 to $3,250 per individual and from $6,250 to $6,450 per family.
Monthly premiums for employees
“In general, monthly health care premiums have gone up slightly, with the exception of the Uniform Medical plans, which have decreased,” said Ann Monroe, WSU’s Human Resource Services benefits manager.
WSU employees will continue to pay a weighted average of 15 percent of the plan’s total costs in 2013, with the state paying 85 percent.
Three of PEBB’s seven medical plans — including the state’s Uniform Medical Plan Classic and Uniform Medical Plan Consumer-Directed Health Plan, and the Kaiser Permanente Consumer-Directed Health Plan — will see decreases in monthly premiums paid by employees next year.
A 2012/2013 premiums comparison chart can be found at the WSU HRS website.
Consumer-directed health plans
The consumer-directed health plans (CDHP) were introduced in January 2012. These plans differ from the classic and value plans in that they feature:
· substantially higher deductible levels (example: $250/person or $750/family for Uniform Classic vs. $1,400/person, $2800/family for Uniform CDHP)
· creation of a health savings account (HSA)
· $700/year per single employee and $1,400/year per family contribution by the state to a health savings account, with the participating employee having the option to contribute additional funds
Individuals participating in a CDHP may make additional contributions to their HSA directly with Health Equity, the plan administrator, using the money in these accounts to cover their eligible out of pocket medical/dental expenses, while also building long-term savings to address future medical expenses. If a person leaves the WSU or state system, their HSA remains with them.
Washington State Health Care Authority states: “You can use the funds in your HSA to pay for IRS qualified out-of-pocket medical expenses (such as deductibles, copays, and coinsurance), including some expenses and services that may not be covered by your health plan. You can spend HSA funds on medical expenses for your spouse or other tax dependents, even if they are not covered under your plan.”
Flexible Spending Accounts
HSAs are entirely different and separate from the Flexible Spending Account (FSA) program, which are an optional offering with the traditional health insurance plans, often referred to as the “classic” plans. The FSA allows people to contribute money tax-free via payroll deduction into accounts they can draw from to pay for qualified medical and dental expenses.
Each individual decides how much money to set aside out of his/her paycheck into the FSA, dependent upon IRS contribution limits which are limited to $2,500 in 2013. That money is intended to be fully spent by the end of the year on qualified expenses. If there is money unspent, the remaining balance is forfeited. So, there is no long-term savings established.
FSA participants have a grace period, normally through March 15, to accrue medical expenses that can be claimed against the previous year’s FSA account, with the intent to deplete their account balance. However, if someone is switching to a CDHP, there will be no grace period, and only medical expenses accrued through Dec. 31, 2012 will be able to be claimed.
A person cannot have both a HSA and a FSA. This is also applicable if your spouse has an FSA.
Interested in enrolling in the CDHP?
Washington State University does not recommend one plan over any other, and employees need to carefully consider their own personal circumstances when making an insurance plan selection. The Health Care Authority also does not recommend individual plans, but they have provided the following information in regards to who may be someone who would select a CDHP.
CDHP/HSA is best for people who:
- Want the lowest monthly premium
- Can pay out-of-pocket for treatments and services needed early in the year, up to $1,400 per single person, or $2,800 if enroll more than one person, if there are not enough dollars accrued in the HSA
- Do not have ongoing major medical needs and/or use specialty drugs (high-cost injectable, oral, or inhaled drugs)
- Are willing to track their HSA dollars, either using HealthEquity’s online services or by calling HealthEquity
- Are willing to verify if noncovered services or supplies are qualified medical expenses
- Can save additional money of their own in their HSA for expenses or tax-free savings
More information coming
Employees will receive more information from PEBB and their medical plans before the open session begins on Nov. 1. The WSU Human Resource Services Office also will provide information via WSU Announcements, direct emails, HRS Essential articles and through their open enrollment website.
Because individual and family needs vary and change widely, employees are encouraged to pay close attention to these materials and resources, consider how their conditions and needs may have changed, and review their options.
A variety of resources are offered online through the state’s Health Care Authority website and the WSU HRS website (see links in the sidebar on the right.)
Rates and rules applying to WSU retirees can be found on the PEBB website.
* Changes to long-term disability and life insurance can be requested at anytime.
For additional information contact WSU Human Resource Services, hrs@wsu.edu, 509-335-4521.