The annual benefits open enrollment period for eligible WSU faculty and staff begins Friday, Nov. 1, and runs through Saturday, Nov. 30. This is the one time each year that changes can be made to your benefits without the occurrence of a special event (job change, marriage, etc.). All WSU faculty and staff system-wide can participate in Open Enrollment, regardless of location.
During Open Enrollment, you can:
- Change your medical and/or dental plans.
- Waive or add family members to your plan.
- Change medical premium deductions to pre- or post-tax (IRC Section 125).
- Attest to the spouse or state-registered domestic partner premium surcharge.
- Enroll/re-enroll in the Flexible Spending Account (FSA) or Dependent Care Assistance Program (DCAP) benefits.
As of November 1, most changes can be made online through the Health Care Authority (HCA) MyAccount web portal (medical & dental), or through the Navia Benefit Solutions website (FSA & DCAP). Alternatively, changes can be made via hardcopy; forms will be available in the HRS Pullman Office, located in the French Administration building room 139, or on the Open Enrollment website on November 1, 2019. If you are making no changes, no action is required, with the exception of re-enrolling for FSA/DCAP.
Plan changes
Plan changes for 2020 are limited to premium changes, increases in HSA and FSA contribution amounts, some changes in plan availability by county, and additional program offerings. More information on these changes can be found in the For Your Benefit newsletter or on the HRS Open Enrollment website.
Benefits Fairs and Presentations
The annual HCA Benefits Fairs will be held throughout the state during the month of November. You can pick up informational materials, attend presentations, ask questions, and speak with representatives from our benefit providers.
- Pullman: November 7, 11 a.m. – 3 p.m., Washington State University, CUB Jr. Ballroom
- Spokane: November 6, 8–11 a.m., Spokane Community College, Lair Auditorium
- Tri-Cities: November 13, 1–4 p.m., Columbia Basin College, Byron Gjerde Center
- Vancouver: November 12, 10:30 a.m. – 1 p.m., Clark College, Gaiser Hall
A full list of Benefit Fair locations state-wide can be found on the PEBB Benefits Fairs Webpage.
Open Enrollment Presentations, including information on the CDHP and HSA benefits, will be offered on October 30 and November 13. These presentations will be streamed via Zoom, for more information visit the Presentations section of the Open Enrollment website.
FSA/DCAP benefit
Those enrolled in a Classic, Value, Plus, or SoundChoice plan, or who waived medical coverage, may elect to participate in a Flexible Spending Arrangement (FSA). You must enroll/re-enroll during Open Enrollment for each year you wish to participate. This is also the case for those who wish to have a Dependent Care Assistance Program (DCAP) account for 2020. For more information or to enroll, visit the Navia Benefit Solutions website.
2019 FSA participants may incur medical charges and submit claims under the grace period, Jan. 1-Mar. 15, 2020, provided they do not enroll in a Consumer Directed Health Plan (CDHP) for 2020. If an FSA participant is switching to a CDHP for 2020, the FSA account must be at $0 by Dec. 31 or contributions may not be made to the Health Savings Account until April 2020.
The 2020 annual maximum contribution to an FSA is increasing to $2,700.
HSA benefit
A Health Savings Account (HSA) benefit is automatically tied to CDHP plans. WSU will make an employer annual contribution of $700.08 for an individual only enrollment or $1,400.04 for those who enroll their family on their medical plan. Employees can also make pre-tax contributions to the HSA through payroll deduction. Elections can be made at any time by submitting the HSA Payroll Deduction form to HRS Benefit Services.
The overall contribution limit for the HSA will be increased to $3550 for individuals and $7100 for families for 2020, with an additional $1000 allowed for those over the age of 55. Overall contribution amounts include employee and employer contributions, as well as the SmartHealth $125 wellness incentive.
Questions can be directed to WSU Human Resource Services at (509) 335-4521 or hrs@wsu.edu.
