Changes to SEBB benefits for 2025
The School Employees Benefits Board (SEB Board) has authorized the following changes effective January 1, 2025. The School Employees Benefits Board (SEBB) Program will provide more information about these and other changes before the annual open enrollment.
Open enrollment is October 28 through November 25, 2024.
Policy changes
All changes to SEBB rules will be available at SEBB Rules and policies and take effect January 1, 2025, unless otherwise noted. The SEB Board has passed resolutions that make the following changes:
- Dual enrollment: School employees or public employees and their dependents may be enrolled in medical, vision, and dental benefits in either the SEBB or the PEBB Program (not both). If they try to enroll in some SEBB and some PEBB benefits, they will be auto-enrolled or disenrolled according to WAC 182-12-123 and 182-31-070.
- Continuation coverage for school board members when their terms end: When school board members’ terms end or they leave office, they may continue enrollment in SEBB medical, dental, or vision benefits for the maximum number of months allowed under COBRA on a self-pay basis.
- Continuation coverage for dependents of school board members: When school board members’ terms end or they leave office, their dependents may enroll in medical, dental, or vision for a maximum of 36 months on a self-pay basis.
Changes to all SEBB plans
- Flexible spending arrangements (FSAs): The annual maximum contribution for the FSA and Limited Purpose FSA will increase to $3,200. Note: The FSA was formerly called the Medical FSA.
- Health savings accounts (HSAs): The IRS raised the health savings account annual maximum contribution to $4,300 for single subscribers and $8,550 for families.
- Reduction in cost for inhalers and epinephrine injectors: Out-of-pocket costs will be capped at $35 for a 30-day supply of inhaled corticosteroids or inhaled corticosteroids combination products, and epinephrine autoinjectors.
- Increasing access to Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP): Plans will be prohibited from cost-sharing or prior authorization requirements for at least one full PEP regimen.
- Vision hardware benefit will increase to $200 (from $150) for prescription eyeglasses or contact lenses and will reset on odd years (2025, 2027, etc.).
Health plan changes
Kaiser Permanente of the Northwest (KPNW)
- myStrength discontinued: Members will no longer have access to myStrength, now known as Teladoc Health, as of July 31, 2024.
Kaiser Permanente of Washington (KPWA) and KPWA Options
- Advanced Care at Home program discontinued. Members will have access to services at home through their care providers, as available. Cost-shares will apply based on the services provided.
- End stage renal disease dialysis benefit: Members who have end stage renal disease (ESRD) qualify for Medicare after a 90-day waiting period. Once a member becomes eligible for Medicare, the plan may waive cost-sharing for dialysis and reimburse members for the Medicare Part B premium.
- myStrength discontinued: Members will no longer have access to myStrength, now known as Teladoc Health, as of July 31, 2024.
Premera Blue Cross
- Premera High PPO will no longer be available in Clallam and Mason counties. Members must choose a new plan.
- Premera Standard PPO will no longer be available in Clallam, Jefferson, and Mason counties. Members must choose a new plan.
Uniform Medical Plan (UMP)
- Deductible for UMP High Deductible: The IRS raised the minimum deductible for high-deductible health plans to $1,650 for single subscribers and $3,300 for families.
- Diagnostic and supplemental breast exam coverage: Diagnostic and supplemental breast exams will be covered without cost to members. UMP High Deductible members need to meet their deductible before the plan will pay.
- UMP Plus–Puget Sound High Value Network (PSHVN) will no longer be available in Chelan or Douglas County. Members in Chelan and Douglas counties must change plans. Confluence Health will no longer be part of UMP Plus–PSHVN.
- Washington State Rx Services (WSRxS) has changed its name to ArrayRx.
LTD insurance
Employee-paid long-term disability (LTD) insurance rates will decrease effective January 1, 2025.
2025 monthly premiums: employees
The SEB Board has authorized the following monthly premiums for 2025. All figures are rounded to the nearest dollar. If you would like to see if the premiums are different from your current premiums, see 2024 premiums.
| Plan | Subscriber | Subscriber and spouse/SRDP | Subscriber and children | Subscriber, spouse/SRDP, and children |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kaiser Permanente NW 1 | $63 | $126 | $110 | $189 |
| Kaiser Permanente NW 2 | $98 | $196 | $172 | $294 |
| Kaiser Permanente NW 3 | $265 | $530 | $464 | $795 |
| Kaiser Permanente WA Core 1 | $23 | $46 | $40 | $69 |
| Kaiser Permanente WA Core 2 | $55 | $110 | $96 | $165 |
| Kaiser Permanente WA Core 3 | $208 | $416 | $364 | $624 |
| Kaiser Permanente WA SoundChoice | $122 | $244 | $214 | $366 |
| Kaiser Permanente WA Options Summit PPO 1 | $40 | $80 | $70 | $120 |
| Kaiser Permanente WA Options Summit PPO 2 | $114 | $228 | $200 | $342 |
| Kaiser Permanente WA Options Summit PPO 3 | $270 | $540 | $473 | $810 |
| Premera Blue Cross HMO | $17 | $34 | $30 | $51 |
| Premera Blue Cross High PPO | $135 | $270 | $236 | $405 |
| Premera Blue Cross Standard PPO | $79 | $158 | $138 | $237 |
| UMP Achieve 1 | $40 | $80 | $70 | $120 |
| UMP Achieve 2 | $125 | $250 | $219 | $375 |
| UMP High Deductible | $21 | $42 | $37 | $63 |
| UMP Plus | $104 | $208 | $182 | $312 |
Notes:
- SRDP is state-registered domestic partner.
- Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of the Northwest offers plans in Clark and Cowlitz counties in Washington and select counties in Oregon.
Subscribers may also have to pay the following monthly premium surcharges:
- Tobacco use premium surcharge if you or any enrolled dependents use tobacco products: $25
- Spouse or state-registered domestic partner coverage premium surcharge if you enroll your spouse or SRDP and they choose not to another employer-based group medical that is comparable to PEBB’s Uniform Medical Plan (UMP) Classic: $50