Human Resources

Open Enrollment 2015

This website contains all the information and resources you need to complete your open enrollment selections for 2015. All enrollment documents must be completed and returned to your department's Open Enrollment Coordinator by Friday, November 7th.

Each department has an Open Enrollment Coordinator. This person will provide your initial enrollment materials and will collect your completed materials when you are finished. Even if you wish to maintain your current coverage, you will need to complete the open enrollment process.

Special Announcements

  • Effective 1/1/15, the Healthcare Contribution for non-bargained employees, Courthouse, Probation, Corrections, and Road Union members will be $675.46 (prorated for part-time employees). Appraisers Union members are currently in negotiations.
  • Premera Plan Changes for 2015
    • Prescription copayments on all plans will count toward the Out of Pocket Max
    • All Premera plans (except the WCIF HSA) will have the same prescription drug tier rate structure
      • $5 generic ($15 mail order)
      • $20 brand ($45 mail order)
      • $50 non-formulary ($150 mail order)
  • Group Health Plan Changes for 2015
    • All Group Health Options plans (except the Options HSA) will have the same prescription drug tier rate structure
      • $5 generic ($10 mail order)
      • $25 brand ($50 mail order)
      • $50 non-formulary ($100 mail order)
  • VSP Plan Changes for 2015
    • Increase in retail frame allowance from $130 to $140
    • Addition of Diabetic eye care exam for $20 copay
    • Reduction in out of network reimbursement
    • Language change to allow members to get contacts one year and still obtain frames the following year
    • Restructure contact lens benefit so that the exam will be subject to a maximum copay of $60 without reducing the $120 contact lenses allowance.
    • Increase in members out-of-pockets costs on some extras (i.e. tinting, scratch resistance) Estimated increase between $2-$7 extra.
  • Base Long Term Disability Plan Changes for 2015
    • Language change to "local economy" instead of "national economy" when defining "disabled" or "disability"
    • Removal of listed conditions as a limited benefits (i.e. chronic fatigue, immunodeficiency disease, hematologic diseases, allergy induced lung disorders, rheumatoid arthritis and other spinal and neurological/spinal conditions.
  • HRA VEBA Changes:
    • VEBA rules will change for employees who waive County medical for Tri-Care coverage. For these employees, effective 1/1/15 new contributions will be made to a "Post-Separation" VEBA. Employees who waive County medical for an Exchange plan or Medicaid also have their contributions put into a "Post Separation" VEBA (this was effective 1/1/14). This means those funds cannot be used for any expenses that occur while the employee is working for Kittitas County; however, the employee can continue to use the funds in their current ("Standard") VEBA until they are depleted. Once the employee leaves County employment, they can make claims using the Post-Separation funds (the claims must have occurred post-separation).

      For employees enrolled in one of our County medical plans through the WCIF or waiving for a qualified group plan the VEBA rules will not change. Their funds will continue to go to their "Standard" VEBA account.

      Employees who waive County medical for a Medicare plan cannot receive the any contribution dollars beyond what is required for dental, vision, and life. For questions please contact HR.

  • Waiving Medical
    • Employees may only waive County medical if they have comparable group coverage elsewhere. Group coverage means coverage sponsored through another employer (possibly through a spouse or parent), Tri-Care, Medicare/Medicaid, or the Exchange. The alternate coverage must meet the minimum value and essential coverage requirements of the Affordable Care Act. Employees may not waive for private plans that are purchased individually.

Enrollment Process

While you are making your plan selections for 2015, please review your personal information and make any changes necessary.

Current Coverage

The open enrollment website will show your current coverage levels for medical, dental, vision, and basic life offered through the Washington Counties Insurance Fund (WCIF). For voluntary products, you may need to review copies of enrollment documents you have previously submitted if you cannot remember your coverage level. HR staff can research coverage levels if necessary.

Voluntary Products

The Standard offers its voluntary products through the WCIF. Coverage under these plans will automatically roll over. Any new enrollment or coverage changes for Voluntary Term Life (VTL), Accidental Death & Dismemberment (VADD, Voluntary Short Term Disability (STD), and Voluntary Long Term Disability Buy-Up require hard-copy forms available in HR. All forms must be returned to HR for processing.

Enrollment for non-WCIF products is completed through the specific vendor. Please contact HR if you are interested in any of the following:

  • Aflac, Allstate, Colonial (Workplace Benefits such as short-term disability and cancer insurance)
  • GreatWest, Nationwide, DRS Deferred Compensation
  • Solarity Credit Union (previously Yakima Valley Credit Union)

Due Date

All enrollment data must be entered into the website, and all forms returned to your Open Enrollment Coordinator, prior to 5 pm November 7th. If you do not complete the enrollment process by the due date, your coverage 2015 may be delayed resulting in denied claims or the inability to access services.

Instructions

Step 1: Review the Benefit Rates & Plan Summaries.
This outlines the premium and coverage for each plan offered.

Step 2: Determine your coverage needs for 2015.
Anticipated healthcare issues or life changes should be considered when choosing a plan that will best meet your needs. This includes both basic and supplemental insurance. If you are considering domestic partner coverage, please review the eligibility and Section 125 requirements on the "Declaration of Domestic Partnership" and "Acknowledgement of Section 125 Eligibility (Domestic Partners)" forms.

Step 3: Determine your Section 125 needs for 2015.
Participating in Section 125 may result in a tax benefit for those who have an out-of-pocket expense. Because Section 125 is governed by the IRS, you can only make mid-year plan changes for reasons that are considered a "qualifying event" under IRS guidelines. If you anticipate changes that may not qualify, you may want to decline participation. Domestic partners must meet the IRS definition of dependent for the employee to enroll in Section 125.

Step 4: If eligible, determine if you wish to waive medical coverage.
Employees who have existing group coverage may waive participation in medical coverage, but must participate in dental, vision, and basic life plans. If you choose to waive medical for yourself, you cannot elect dependent medical coverage, and you must provide a waiver form with proof of other comparable coverage. Proof of existing or approved coverage for group plans, including deductibles, copays, coinsurance, out of pocket maximums, and prescription drug coverage, must be provided to HR by November 7. By waiving medical you also waive participation in the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) and Long Term Disability.

All dependent coverage is voluntary.

Step 5: Sign-on to the website.

  1. http://camas-net/hr/open-enrollment/default.aspx
  2. Proceed through the enrollment process. If you are eligible to waive medical and choose to do so, you will be defaulted to the WCIF Premera 3000 plan. When HR receives your waiver and proof of other coverage, we will go in and waive your medical plan. As you enter or change data, you will need to click the "Save and continue" button to save your information and move to the next screen. Open Enrollment is a good time to review your beneficiary data. If you need to make changes, please be sure to submit a Beneficiary Designation form. This is used for Basic Life, Voluntary Term Life, and Accidental Death & Dismemberment.
  3. Once you have completed your enrollment, you will be taken to a "print version" of the final enrollment summary. Verify the information one more time, and click "finalize and print". Please print two copies - one for your records and one to submit with your other paperwork.

Step 6: Complete a "Section 125" form.
This will document your choice to participate in, or decline, Section 125 (as described at Step 3 above). If enrolling a domestic partner you will need to complete the Acknowledgement of Section 125 Eligibility (Domestic Partners) form as well.

Step 7: Determine if you need to complete an HRA VEBA Enrollment Form.
The standard method to apply healthcare dollars is: Required employee coverage first, then voluntary dependent medical, dental, vision, and basic life. If you are eligible to participate in HRA VEBA, you will not use all of your healthcare dollars, and you have not previously enrolled in HRA VEBA, you will need to complete an HRA VEBA Enrollment Form.

Step 8: Return completed forms to your Open Enrollment Coordinator.
Required:

  • Enrollment Summary
  • Section 125 Form (Enroll or Decline)

Situational:

  • The Standard Beneficiary Designation (Basic Life, VTL, VADD)
  • Waiver of Coverage Form and proof of other coverage
  • Declaration of Domestic Partnership
  • Acknowledgement of Section 125 Eligibility (Domestic Partners)
  • HRA VEBA Enrollment Form
  • Voluntary Products (including VTL, VADD, STD, and LTD Buy-Up enrollment forms and/or medical questions)

Forms & Resources

Questions

Call or e-mail any HR staff member if:

  1. You have questions regarding benefit coverage
  2. You have any difficulty with the online website
  3. You would like to schedule time with HR for assistance completing your enrollment or your Live Well program

4 EASY STEPS TO SAVE 4%

There are four steps to qualify for the $150 deductible credit and keep our rates from increasing another 4%! But it's simple...

  1. Know your numbers…get your biometric screening done!
  2. Complete the online Health Risk Assessment (HRA)
  3. Declare your tobacco use status (commit to quit is NOT required this year)
  4. If you completed the program last year you are done! If not, just read a health risk article from the Live Well portal.

Questions? Call HR, we're here to help!