WWU staff must finalize 2027 health insurance choices by late November

Washington State Public Employees’ Benefits Board open enrollment for the 2027 plan year began Monday, October 26. Western Washington University staff and faculty have until Monday, November 23, to review and modify their medical, dental, and vision coverage. The deadline is 11:59 p.m. that day.

Employees who wish to keep their current plans do not need to take action. Their existing medical, dental, and vision enrollments will automatically continue for 2027. However, the university encourages staff to log into the Benefits 24/7 account to verify that their current selections still meet their needs. Premium changes are expected for the upcoming year.

All changes must be submitted through the Benefits 24/7 online portal. Google Chrome is the preferred browser, though Edge, Firefox, and Safari also work. Staff should download a Summary of Coverage document before submitting changes to ensure the data transfers correctly to the Health Care Authority. These changes will not appear in the portal until January 1, 2027.

Paper forms are generally not accepted for standard enrollment changes unless a staff member has prior confirmation from the Benefits team. This requirement does not apply to Health Savings Account forms or Navia benefit forms, which are accepted without prior approval. Staff using paper forms for main enrollment changes should confirm with Benefits first to avoid rejection.

Several key benefit changes take effect on January 1, 2027. Consumer-directed health plan deductibles will rise to $1,750 for single subscribers and $3,500 for families. Maximum HSA contributions will increase to $4,500 for individuals and $9,000 for families. Flexible spending account limits will rise to $3,400, with a maximum carryover limit of $680. Long-term disability premiums may decrease for employees.

The SmartHealth wellness program will end after December 31, 2027. Eligible subscribers who meet the incentive deadline in 2027 and maintain coverage in 2028 will receive a $125 incentive for that year. Additional changes to Kaiser and UMP medical plans were emailed to staff on Friday, October 23.

The HR Benefits team will host drop-in sessions for staff who need in-person or virtual help. The first session is scheduled for Friday, October 30, from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Haggard Hall 101. A virtual session follows on Tuesday, November 3, from noon to 1:30 p.m. Additional drop-in times are set for Thursday, November 12, in Haggard Hall 101, and Wednesday, November 18, in Room 210 of the Humanities Building.

Staff with questions about their accounts should check the Benefits 24/7 portal or call the login assistance line at 1-866-335-0043. For general enrollment questions, the university directs staff to email HR.Benefits@wwu.edu. The PEBB Benefits Fair will also be available for those seeking further information on plan options.