ISC

Benefit Changes You Can Make Year-Round

Last updated Wednesday, May 11, 2022

Most changes to your benefits must be made either as part of a Life Event or during Open Enrollment. However, the changes detailed on this page aren’t subject to the same restrictions, and can be made at any time, given the necessary circumstances.

Health Benefits

If you are currently enrolled in a Consumer-Directed Health Plan (CDHP) with an HSA, you can start/stop/change your HSA contributions at any time. Step-by-step guidance for making changes in Workday can be found in the Change HSA Contributions User Guide.

For more information, visit UWHR’s How Consumer-Directed Health Plans Work page.

You can change your attestation response to the Washington State Health Care Authority’s (HCA’s) Tobacco Use Surcharge any time you or any enrolled family members you had previously reported as using tobacco products do any of the following:

  • Stop using tobacco products for at least two months.
  • Enroll in your PEBB medical plan’s tobacco cessation program (for ages 18 and older).
  • Access the information and resources in Smoke free Teen (for ages 13-17).

You must also change your attestation response if you or any enrolled family member age 13 or older starts using a tobacco product, or stops participating in your PEBB medical plan’s tobacco cessation program.

Step-by-step guidance for making changes in Workday can be found in the Change Tobacco Use Attestation User Guide.

For more information, visit UWHR’s Premium Surcharges page.

Retirement Benefits

Review and update your beneficiary designations by contacting your insurance or retirement plan provider directly. Visit UWHR’s Beneficiary changes page for details.

If you are enrolled in the PERS 3 or TRS 3 retirement plan, you may elect to change your DRS Investment option in Workday. Refer to the DRS Investment Manager User Guide for step-by-step instructions.

Start (enroll in), change, or stop your contributions per the info on the Washington State Department of Retirement Systems (DRS) website, or call the DCP Information Line at 888-327-5596.

For more information, visit the UWHR Benefits website.

Start (enroll in), change, or stop your contributions at the Fidelity Investments website, or speak with a Fidelity Representative at 1-800-343-0860.

For more information, visit the UWHR Benefits website.

Other Benefits

All benefits-eligible UW employees are automatically enrolled in Employee-Paid Long-Term Disability (LTD) insurance (previously called “Optional LTD”). You can reduce or decline your Employee-Paid LTD insurance at any time via Workday.

For more information, visit the Employee-Paid LTD page.

You can enroll in, waive, or increase your optional life insurance through MetLife at any time. However, you’ll be subject to evidence of insurability (proof of good health) if you are enrolling or increasing your coverage more than 31 days after your initial eligibility date.

For more information, including how to enroll, visit UWHR’s Life Insurance and Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance page.

If you are enrolled in PEBB, you may choose to subscribe to/unsubscribe from PEBB emails. Refer to the PEBB Email Subscription User Guide for step-by-step instructions on making your selection in Workday.