Washington Post: Employee Eligibility Audits are Quickly Becoming the Norm

Are your marriage certificate and your kids' birth certificates handy? You may need them to continue health coverage for your family or if you start a new job. Call it a sign of the times: A growing number of area employers, including the Commonwea... - 10/27/2009

Errors in 2010 Retiree Enrollment Guide

Recently we mailed the 2010 Retiree Enrollment Guide to members upon request and distributed them at benefits fairs through November 5. Unfortunately, the booklet included some errors. Corrected copies will be available by mid-November and is posted... - 10/26/2009

Errors in For Your Benefit Retiree Newsletter -- Updated Nov. 6

Updated: 11/5/2009 The PEBB Program recently mailed its October For Your Benefit newsletter to retirees, explaining the changes in PEBB Program coverage for 2010. Some errors appear in the “2010 changes in member costs” section (pages 2-5) and the “2... - 10/25/2009

Open Enrollment Newsletters

The PEBB Program has prepared newsletters with information about open enrollment and how benefits will change in 2010. State & Higher-Education Employees Retirees -- See updated corrections to several plans' benefit costs K-12 and Employer Gr... - 10/16/2009

Dependent Verification Project: Updates and Answers

In September, the Public Employees Benefits Board (PEBB) Program mailed a letter to 81,000 employee and non-Medicare retiree subscribers, requesting them to provide proof of their covered family members’ eligibility or remove them from the account. S... - 10/06/2009

Update on UMP Third Party Administrator

The Heath Care Authority (HCA) decided on September 28 that UMR will continue to provide TPA services for UMP through 2010. HCA has determined that United Medical Resources (UMR) will continue to provide administrative services for the Uniform Medica... - 09/29/2009

PEBB Releases its August Employee and Retiree Newsletters

The employee and retiree newsletters include articles on: Verifying your family members' eligibility for PEBB coverage Adding newborns, adopted children to PEBB coverage What to do if you're laid off (or think you might be) (emp... - 08/05/2009

Dependent Verification Project Starts Soon

In September we will send letters to members about our new process of confirming eligibility of family members on an account. The Public Employees Benefits Board (PEBB) Program provides health benefits to employees, ... - 08/05/2009

PEB Board Approves Changes for 2010

At their July 8 meeting, the Public Employees Benefits Board (PEB Board) approved several changes to PEBB employee premiums, members’ costs for benefits, and eligibility. These changes take effect January 1, 2010.   - 07/08/2009

PEB Board Discusses Changes to Employees’ Benefits, Costs for 2010

The Public Employees Benefits Board (PEB Board) met on June 24 to discuss the Health Care Authority’s (HCA) proposals for meeting the state’s budget shortfall for employee health benefits. The PEB Board is expected to take a final vote on these propos... - 06/25/2009

UMP to Change Third Party Administator to Aetna in 2010

On May 8, 2009, the Health Care Authority signed a contract with Aetna Life Insurance Company (Aetna) to provide Third Party Administrator (TPA) Services for the Uniform Medical Plan beginning January 1, 2010.  Aetna will provide all of the servi... - 05/11/2009

Swine Flu Update

The Washington State Department of Health is in close contact with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) regarding swine influenza (H1N1) virus (or “swine flu”) in parts of the United States, Canada and Mexico. The departmen... - 05/04/2009

Update on State Budget

The responsible budget recently approved by the Legislature contains significant pain and sacrifice for Washingtonians. In the weeks, months and years to come, Washingtonians will feel the impacts of the hard decisions we were required to make after o... - 04/27/2009

How the Public Employees Benefits Board (PEBB) Program Will Implement the Federal COBRA Premium Reduction

On February 17, 2009, President Obama signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (stimulus bill) into law. This law provides funding to help certain individuals pay for their COBRA premiums. It also provides another opportunity for so... - 04/20/2009

Governor Proposes Merger of Department of Retirement Systems, Health Care Authority

On February 9, Governor Gregoire announced her plan to combine the Department of Retirement Systems (DRS) and the Health Care Authority (HCA) into a single agency. This proposal is part of her broader plan to reform state government, and revamp the wa... - 02/09/2009

Layoff and Separation from State Service

Learn how to continue your PEBB benefits after a layoff, if planning early retirement, or leaving an elected or appointed position. The documents below will provide you with some general information and requirements to help you manage your benefits. N... - 01/26/2009

Customer Data Stolen from Express Scripts: How it Might Affect PEBB and Basic Health Enrollees

In mid-November, Express Scripts, Inc. (ESI) told UMP that it had received extortion threats from an unknown person or persons claiming they have the personal data of millions of their customers and would expose that data if their demands for money we... - 12/11/2008

Frequently Asked Questions about 2009 Changes

Read details on hearing aid benefit, premium increase and other topics. If your question isn’t answered here, try our Frequently Asked Questions search tool. Topics: Hearing aid benefit change Adult dependents 2009 premium increases ... - 10/28/2008

Newsletters for Employees and Retirees Summarize Open Enrollment

The October newsletters describe changes to your benefits for 2009 and offers tips on actions you can take during the annual open enrollment period. The current edition of the employee and retiree newsletter has useful tips and information ab... - 10/10/2008

Changes in Benefits and Premiums Approved by PEBB

The Public Employees Benefits Board (PEB Board) met July 9, 2008 to vote on changes to PEBB health coverage for state employees and retirees, effective January 1, 2009. The changes include: Rates The cost to provide health insurance benefits for sta... - 08/13/2008

PEBB has Updated the Look of its Newsletters

The current edition of the employee and retiree newsletter has useful tips and information about your benefits. - 08/13/2008

Understand When and How You Can Make Changes to Your Benefits

Changes to your PEBB medical and dental plans or enrollment can be done once a year during our annual open enrollment. PEBB also recognizes certain life events that allow you to make changes midyear. Below are some of the events that allow you to cha... - 04/30/2008

Find Out How You Can Use the Health Care Flexible Spending Account (FSA)

Do you: Spend at least $240 each year in out-of-pocket health costs for yourself and your family? Want to save money? If so, you can benefit by enrolling in a flexible spending account (FSA)! You can set aside part of your salary dur... - 04/30/2008

Find Out How You Can Use the Dependent Care Assistance Program (DCAP)

The Dependent Care Assistance Program (DCAP) allows you to save on child or elder care expenses such as babysitting, daycare, or in-home care for an older dependent by setting aside pre-tax dollars from your paycheck. - 04/30/2008

PEBB Announces Changes to Domestic Partner Eligibility

There are two new changes to domestic partner eligibility: The Public Employees Benefits Board (PEBB) expanded domestic partner eligibility to include domestic partners who are barred from marriage. This changes the eligibility criteria on PEBB... - 07/17/2007

Public Employees Benefits Board Approves Significant Changes for 2008

The Public Employees Benefits Board (PEB Board) voted July 17 to approve the following changes to PEBB program benefits for 2008. New plan available Aetna Public Employees Plan is a new, preferred provider organization available in 2008. It has simi... - 06/18/2007

Help Others Get Access to Health Care

This page contains information for people interested in becoming a SHIBA HelpLine volunteer. - 04/18/2006