Make Changes Online

You are encouraged to make changes to your coverage online whenever possible. Be sure to print the online confirmation once you have completed making changes. You will be able to make online changes for the following reasons:

  • To choose a new medical or dental plan
  • To waive/remove an eligible dependent from your current plan
  • To add an eligible dependent previously covered on your plan

Make Changes via Paper Form

You are required to use paper 2019 Open Enrollment/Change Forms and submit it to the Pullman HRS office for the following reasons:

  • To add a dependent to your medical/dental plan(s) that you have never covered before (dependent verification documents are also required). A dependent is a defined as a spouse, registered domestic partner, and child(ren)
  • To remove a dependent who is no longer eligible to be on your coverage due to divorce, dissolution of domestic partnership, etc

Medical Premium Changes

Plan NameEmployeeEmployee &
Spouse/Partner		Employee &
Child(ren)		Full Family
Kaiser of WA – Classic2018: $162
2019: $165		2018: $334
2019: $340		2018: $284
2019: $289		2018: $456
2019: $464
Kaiser of WA – Value2018: $78
2019: $88		2018: $166
2019: $186		2018: $137
2019: $154		2018: $225
2019: $252
Kaiser of WA – SoundChoice2018: $51
2019: $35		2018: $112
2019: $80		2018: $89
2019: $61		2018: $150
2019: $106
Kaiser of WA – CDHP2018: $25
2019: $25		2018: $60
2019: $60		2018: $44
2019: $44		2018: $79
2019: $79
UMP – Classic2018: $102
2019: $107		2018: $214
2019: $224		2018: $179
2019: $187		2018: $291
2019: $304
UMP – Plus2018: $45
2019: $50		2018: $100
2019: $110		2018: $79
2019: $88		2018: $134
2019: $148
UMP – CDHP2018: $25
2019: $25		2018: $60
2019: $60		2018: $44
2019: $44		2018: $79
2019: $79
Kaiser of NW – Classic2018: $137
2019: $143		2018: $284
2019: $296		2018: $240
2019: $250		2018: $387
2019: $403
Kaiser of NW – CDHP2018: $27
2019: $28		2018: $64
2019: $66		2018: $47
2019: $49		2018: $84
2019: $87

Medical Benefit Changes in 2019

The overall benefit packet will remain the same under all the medical plans, with the following changes:

  • Medical Plan Premiums
  • Kaiser Permanente Northwest
  • Kaiser Permanente Washington
    • Removing Pend Oreille County Zip 99009 and Stevens County Zip 99006 & 99026 from its Classic, CDHP, and Value Network.
    • Change customer service phone number in 2019 for PEBB members to have personalized support : 1-866-648-1928.
    • Offer a Virtual Diabetes Prevention Program for non-Medicare members.
    • Make the following changes to the SoundChoice plan:
      • Issue new ID cards
      • Add Network coverage in Kitsap and Spokane Counties
      • Create SoundChoice provider network.  –Not all Kaiser Permanente providers in Spokane county are in this network. Please call the plan or visit www.kp.org/wa/pebb to make sure your provider is in-network before your visit.
      • Lower deductibles to $125 per person (from $250) and $375 per family (from $750).
      • Remove the cost share for primary care visits (formerly 15% coinsurance).
      • Provide a separate visit limit for massage therapy: 16 visits per year (formerly combined with occupational physical, speech, and neurodevelopmental therapies for up to 60 visits per year).
      • Change inpatient hospital services to $500 per admission (formerly $200 per day up to $1,000 maximum).
  • Uniform Medical Plan
    • No longer offer UMP Plus (Puget Sound High Value Network or UW Medicine Accountable Care Network) in Grays Harbor County.
    • Offer a Virtual Diabetes Prevention Program for non-Medicare members.
    • Offer a spinal fusion bundle to UMP Classic and UMP CDHP members.
    • Cover male condoms at 100% with no deductible for UMP Classic and UMP Plus and at 100% after meeting the deductible for UMP CDHP.
  • Uniform Dental Plan
    • Reduce the limit on Class III restorations (crowns) from seven years to five years.

You can review the 2019 Medical Plan Comparison for medical plan details.

Or find details of these changes on the PEBB website.

You can review the 2019 Dental Benefits Comparison for dental plan details.

Premium Surcharges

Tobacco Surcharge: Employees may change their tobacco surcharge status in the event of a change in their/their family’s tobacco use.  This change can be made at anytime – not just during open enrollment, and can be made online under your HCA MyAccount.

If you are adding a family member to your PEBB coverage during open enrollment, and if that person has been on your plan in the past, attestation may be done through your HCA MyAccount. If the person is a new enrollment on your plan, you will need to enroll them and address the surcharge via the 2019 Premium Surcharge Form.

Spousal Surcharge: In 2019, employees who are married or have a registered domestic partners, and who carry their spouse/partner on their medical insurance will need to attest or re-attest only if they are notified directly by the Health Care Authority that they need to do so. Employees should watch their home mail to see if they are identified as someone who should re-attest. In most cases, these mailings will be sent to employees who:

  • Are currently paying the surcharge in 2018, and may no longer be subject to the surcharge depending on their answers on the Premium Surcharge Help Sheet;
  • Previously answered “No” to the premium surcharge question, but did not identify a number from the Premium Surcharge Help Sheet;
  • Previously answered “No” to question No. 6 on the Premium Surcharge Help Sheet;
  • Or were defaulted to spousal premium surcharge in 2018.

The attestation you make during open enrollment will be in effect for 2019 unless there is a change in your spouse or registered domestic partner’s status that allows or requires you to re-attest. If you are identified as needing to re-attest and do not do so during open enrollment, you will pay any applicable surcharges beginning January 1, 2019.

If you would like to attest via a paper form, please complete the following:

Additional Resources