PULLMAN, Wash. – Washington State University benefit-eligible employees are required to respond to questions by Thursday, May 15, or risk being assessed surcharges on top of their normal medical premiums.
If you fail to attest, the following premium surcharges will be applied beginning July 1. They will first be seen on the July 10 paycheck for 12-month employees and the Sept. 10 paycheck for 9-month employees:
• $25 per month tobacco surcharge
• $50 per month spouse/domestic partner surcharge
The process to avoid the surcharges is easy to complete:
1) Create your Health Care Authority (HCA) “My Account” at https://fortress.wa.gov/hca/ecoveragepebb/login.aspx
2) Click on the “My Attestations” tab in your “My Account” to answer the surcharge question(s).
3) Submit your answers and print your confirmation page.
Need help?
WSU Human Resource Services is available 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday to assist employees who need help in completing these attestations. A hard-copy form is available if you are having difficulty creating your account or completing the online questions.
Please contact HRS us at 509-335-4521 or hrs@wsu.edu for one-on-one assistance. Please visit the following websites for additional information, including FAQs, through WSU (http://www.hrs.wsu.edu/Benefits) and HCA (http://www.hca.wa.gov/pebb).
Go Cougs! WSU’s responses compared to other higher ed institutions
| Washington State University | Central Washington University | Eastern Washington University | Evergreen State College | University of Washington | Western Washington University | |
| Tobacco Use Surcharge | 73.1% | 74.4% | 56.0% | 68% | 63.4% | 76.7% |
| Spouse Coverage Surcharge | 74.5% | 76.8% | 59.7% | 71.5% | 66.9% | 78.4% |