Common Surcharge FAQs
The surcharges are extra costs that have been added to PEBB benefit eligible WSU employees’ standard monthly medical premiums, effective July 1, 2014. The state Legislature included the surcharge requirement in the state budget signed into law on June 30, 2013.
Yes.
Tobacco Surcharge
If you and all of your covered family members are non-tobacco users, you can submit a change to your Tobacco Use Attestation through Workday to update your account. This update will take effect the first of the month following the date the form is submitted.
Spousal Coverage Surcharge
Spousal Surcharge attestations can be changed during the annual open enrollment period only. The only exception is if your spouse experiences a change in coverage or employment status and you are adding or removing them from your coverage as a result of this change.
Similar to your regular medical and life insurance premiums, the surcharges for the summer/cyclic break will generally be collected the last pay period(s) prior to your summer or cyclic break, which for most individuals will be on the May 25th paycheck.
Yes, the surcharges will be added to the self-pay premiums.
No. They are a state Legislature decision.
You are not subject to either of the surcharges, due to your waiving your WSU/PEBB coverage.
Spouse/Registered Domestic Partner Surcharge Information
No. When responding to the Premium Surcharge questions in Workday, only employees with a spouse/registered domestic partner covered on their WSU/PEBB plan will be prompted to answer the spouse/registered domestic partner coverage premium surcharge question.
Employees attest to their covered spouse/partner’s coverage status when they are first enrolled in WSU coverage, and during Open Enrollment.
You will be asked if your spouse/registered domestic partner:
- Is eligible for medical coverage through their employer?
- Has an employer who offers a medical plan that serves their county of residence.
- Has chosen not to enroll in their employer plan.
- Has coverage that is not through another PEBB program.
- Their share of the medical premium under their employer plan is less than 95% of the UMP Classic plan, which is $126.36 in 2025 (and will change year by year)?
If the answer to all of the above is “yes”, you may have to pay the spousal surcharge. Please obtain a copy of your spouse/registered domestic partner’s “Summary of Benefits and Coverage”, and be prepared to answer additional questions through HCA’s Spousal Plan Calculator.
No. The premium surcharge will not be applied if your spouse/registered domestic partner waived WSU/PEBB coverage.
No. The premium surcharge will not be applied if your spouse/registered domestic partner is enrolled in both your WSU/PEBB coverage and their own non-WSU/PEBB employer-based group health coverage.
You can elect to waive them from your coverage at that time. Please contact the Pullman HRS office as soon as possible to adjust your account.
The Uniform Medical Plan (UMP) Classic is being used as the comparison plan, since it is the PEBB plan with the largest enrollment.
The surcharge legislation required the PEBB Program to add “…a surcharge of not less than $50 per month to the premiums due from members who cover a spouse or domestic partner where the spouse or domestic partner has chosen not to enroll in other employer-based group health insurance that has benefits and premiums with an actuarial value of not less than 95 percent of the actuarial value of the public employees’ benefits board (PEBB) plan with the largest enrollment.”
No. The premium surcharge will not apply if your covered spouse/registered domestic partner has waived/deferred Medicare Part B to enroll in your WSU/PEBB coverage.
Yes. Changes can be made to your plan(s) each year during Open Enrollment, which occurs on/around November, with changes taking effect the following January 1. If you would like to make changes outside of Open Enrollment, you may do so if you experience a life changing event that triggers a special open enrollment. Please visit Benefit Changes or contact HRS at (509)335-4521 to see if you are eligible to make benefit changes.
Tobacco Use Surcharge Information
Someone who has used any tobacco products within the last two months. However, this does not include tobacco use for religious or ceremonial purposes.
Tobacco includes any product made with or derived from tobacco that is intended for human consumption, including any component, part or accessory of a tobacco product. This includes, but is not limited to, cigars, cigarettes, chewing tobacco, snuff and other tobacco products. It does not include FDA approved quit aids or e-cigarettes at this time.
Employees attest to their own and any covered family members’ tobacco use.
Yes, available through your PEBB medical plan. There may be no cost for the programs depending upon the services received. Please contact your medical plan or read your Certificate of Coverage for more information about this benefit.
Yes. If you do not answer the tobacco use surcharge question(s), you will be defaulted to the “tobacco user” category and will be assessed the tobacco use surcharge.
No. The surcharge will not apply since you are not enrolled in the medical coverage.
No. The surcharge will not apply since you are not enrolled in the medical coverage.
No. You will only be charged one $25 premium surcharge per month, regardless of how many family members use tobacco products.
Yes. The tobacco use surcharge applies whether your covered dependents live with you or not.
If you and/or a covered family member is currently a tobacco user, but in the future stops using tobacco products, you can request to have the tobacco use surcharge removed once you or your covered family member are tobacco free for at least two months. This is only applicable if you and all your covered family members do not use tobacco at that point.
If you and/or a covered family member begins using tobacco, please contact HRS Pullman to update your previous attestation. Your tobacco use surcharge will then begin to be collected from your future pay.
The definition of a tobacco user is someone who has used any tobacco product within the last two months.
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