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Welcome to Open Enrollment Nov. 1–15
Open enrollment for 2024 benefits ended Nov. 15. Review the information below to learn about 2024 benefits.
Open Enrollment is your annual opportunity to evaluate your employee benefit options and make changes for the upcoming year. Make informed decisions for you and your family—use the tools and resources below to learn about your benefit choices and changes for next year before going into Open Enrollment using PeopleSoft.
Attend a benefits fair or online information session
Get a head start on understanding the 2024 employee benefits offerings. Attend an in-person benefits fair or an online information session hosted by your Benefits Team. To learn about the changes for next year and get your questions answered, stop by one of the Benefits Fairs or Register for an Open Enrollment information session.
If you can't attend a live session, watch the Open Enrollment Overview video.
Follow the steps below to prepare for Open Enrollment
1
Consider your medical plan options
How to choose a medical plan
Now’s the time to look at your current medical plan and make sure you’re getting the best combination of care, coverage, and convenience for you and your family.
Have your health care needs or family situation changed in the last year? A different plan might give you easier ways to manage your health, or access to additional programs and tools to help you get and stay healthy. Take time before Open Enrollment begins to learn about your medical plan options:
- SmartCare Connect (Kaiser Permanente)
- KingCare Select (Regence BlueShield)
- KingCare PPO (Regence BlueShield)
Watch the How to Choose a Medical plan video for more information. In addition, you can view the Washington Health Alliance Quality Composite Scores to compare the performance of medical groups and clinics.
At-a-glance medical plan comparison by employee group
To see how the key features of your medical plan choices match up side-by-side, select your employee benefit group below. For complete plan details, go to Benefits summaries.
Regular Employees
SmartCare Connect
Kaiser Permanente
Deductible:
Single: $0, Family: $0
Max out-of-pocket cost:
Single: $1,000, Family: $2,000
Provider choice: A primary care provider coordinates care through the plan network. You may self-refer to Kaiser of Washington specialists. No coverage for out-of-network care unless approved or referred.
Out-of-area coverage: Covered care is available at out-of-area Kaiser Permanente facilities—call Member Services to set up access. If outside the Kaiser area, urgent and emergency care is covered at any provider.
Benefit Access Fee: NONE
Other highlights
- Lowest out-of-pocket costs (no deductible)
- Broad network of Kaiser Permanente providers
- Top scores for quality and performance
- Care is coordinated for ease and convenience
KingCare Select
Regence BlueShield
In-network deductible:
Single: $100, Family: $300
In-network max out-of-pocket cost:
Single: $1,100, Family: $2,400
Provider choice: You must choose one of four networks. A primary care doctor helps you coordinate your care within your network. Referrals are not required. You save the most by staying in-network, but you can go out-of-network for a higher cost.
Find doctors in each network:
Out-of-area coverage: When seeking care outside your network, covered services are reimbursed at the out-of-network benefit level, which is significantly lower. Emergency care is covered the same anywhere.
Benefit Access Fee: NONE
Other highlights
- Lower out-of-pocket costs than the traditional KingCare PPO plan
- Choice of four accountable health networks (AHNs) in the Puget Sound region (you choose
one):
- Eastside Health
- MultiCare Connected Care
- UW Medicine
- Virginia Mason Franciscan Health - AHNs help coordinate your care
KingCare PPO
Regence BlueShield
In-network deductible:
Single: $300, Family: $900
In-network max out-of-pocket cost:
Single: $1,100, Family: $2,500
Provider choice: You may choose any qualified provider, but your out-of-pocket costs are lowest when you use PPO network providers.
Out-of-area coverage: Same coverage as when home, through Regence and CVS Caremark® national provider networks.
Benefit Access Fee: $125 per month
Other highlights
- Highest out-of-pocket cost
- Traditional, broad preferred provider organization (PPO) network of doctors and specialists across the U.S. and worldwide
- You may need to coordinate more of your care
Transit Employees
SmartCare Connect
Kaiser Permanente
Deductible:
Single: $0, Family: $0
Max out-of-pocket cost:
Single: $1,000, Family: $2,000
Provider choice: A primary care provider coordinates care through the plan network. You may self-refer to Kaiser of Washington specialists. No coverage for out-of-network care unless approved or referred.
Out-of-area coverage: Covered care is available at out-of-area Kaiser Permanente facilities—call Member Services to set up access. If outside the Kaiser area, urgent and emergency care is covered at any provider.
Benefit Access Fee: NONE
Other highlights
- Lowest out-of-pocket costs (no deductible)
- Broad network of Kaiser Permanente providers
- Top scores for quality and performance
- Care is coordinated for ease and convenience
KingCare Select
Regence BlueShield
In-network deductible:
Single: $100, Family: $300
In-network max out-of-pocket cost:
Single: $1,100, Family: $2,400
Provider choice: You must choose one of four networks. A primary care doctor helps you coordinate your care within your network. Referrals are not required. You save the most by staying in-network, but you can go out-of-network for a higher cost.
Find doctors in each network:
Out-of-area coverage: When seeking care outside your network, covered services are reimbursed at the out-of-network benefit level, which is significantly lower. Emergency care is covered the same anywhere.
Benefit Access Fee: NONE
Other highlights
- Lower out-of-pocket costs than the traditional KingCare PPO plan
- Choice of four accountable health networks (AHNs) in the Puget Sound region (you choose
one):
- Eastside Health
- MultiCare Connected Care
- UW Medicine
- Virginia Mason Franciscan Health - AHNs help coordinate your care
KingCare PPO
Regence BlueShield
In-network deductible:
Single: $350, Family: $1,050
In-network max out-of-pocket cost:
Single: $1,350, Family: $3,050
Provider choice: You may choose any qualified provider, but your out-of-pocket costs are lowest when you use PPO network providers.
Out-of-area coverage: Same coverage as when home, through Regence and CVS Caremark® national provider networks.
Benefit Access Fee: $150 per month
Other highlights
- Highest out-of-pocket cost
- Traditional, broad preferred provider organization (PPO) network of doctors and specialists across the U.S. and worldwide
- You may need to coordinate more of your care
Deputy Sheriff Employees
SmartCare Connect
Kaiser Permanente
Deductible:
Single: $0, Family: $0
Max out-of-pocket cost:
Single: $1,000, Family: $2,000
Provider choice: A primary care provider coordinates care through the plan network. You may self-refer to Kaiser of Washington specialists. No coverage for out-of-network care unless approved/referred.
Out-of-area coverage: Covered care is available at out-of-area Kaiser Permanente facilities—call Member Services to set up access. If outside the Kaiser area, urgent and emergency care is covered at any provider.
Benefit Access Fee: $0
Other highlights
- Lowest out-of-pocket costs (no deductible)
- Broad network of Kaiser Permanente providers
- Top scores for quality and performance
- Care is coordinated for ease and convenience
KingCare Select
Regence BlueShield
In-network deductible:
Single: $100, Family: $300
In-network max out-of-pocket cost:
Single: $900, Family: $1,900
Provider choice: You must choose one of four area networks. A primary care doctor helps you coordinate your care within your network. Referrals are not required. You save the most by staying in-network, but you can go out-of-network for a higher cost.
Find doctors in each network:
Out-of-area coverage: When seeking care outside your network, covered services are reimbursed at the out-of-network benefit level, which is significantly lower. Emergency care is covered the same anywhere.
Benefit Access Fee: $0
Other highlights
- Lower out-of-pocket costs than the traditional KingCare PPO plan
- Choice of four accountable health networks (AHNs) in the Puget Sound region (you choose
one):
- Eastside Health
- MultiCare Connected Care
- UW Medicine
- Virginia Mason Franciscan Health - AHNs help coordinate your care
KingCare PPO
Regence BlueShield
In-network deductible:
Single: $300, Family: $900
In-network max out-of-pocket cost:
Single: $1,100, Family: $2,500
Provider choice: You may choose any qualified provider, but your out-of-pocket costs are lowest when you use PPO network providers.
Out-of-area coverage: Same coverage as when home, through Regence and CVS Caremark® national provider networks.
Plan Selection Fee: $100 per month
Benefit Access Fee: $100 per month
Other highlights
- Highest out-of-pocket cost
- Traditional, broad preferred provider organization (PPO) network of doctors and specialists across the U.S. and worldwide
- You may need to coordinate more of your care
2
Review the benefit changes for next year
The following benefit changes become effective on Jan. 1, 2024, for all employee benefit groups. If you would like to print a copy, go to Key Benefit Changes. To better understand your costs and key medical plan terms, see the Glossary of Health Coverage and Medical Terms.
- KingCare PPO and KingCare Select (Regence BlueShield) medical plans:
- The PrudentRx program will be offered by CVS to members who take specialty drugs. If you enroll in PrudentRx, you will pay $0 for eligible specialty medications. If you do not enroll, you will pay 30% coinsurance for specialty medications. PrudentRx representatives will contact all eligible employees to enroll.
- The CVS Cost Saver program will be added Nov. 1, 2023. Cost Saver will automatically provide discount prices on many non-specialty generic retail prescription drugs through GoodRx. No action is required by you—the discount prices will apply when you go to your usual in-network pharmacy.
- All medical plans (Regence and Kaiser):
- In addition to regular preventive breast cancer screenings, additional diagnostic breast examinations will now be covered at 100%. This may include mammography, ultrasound, and breast MRI.
- Coverage for in-network services and medications for termination of pregnancy will increase to 100%.
- Flexible Spending Accounts:
- The maximum health care Flexible Spending Account (FSA) contribution increases to $3,050.
- The health care FSA carryover allowed from this year to next year increases to $610.
3
Other actions to take during Open Enrollment
Flexible Spending Accounts
- Enroll in a Health Care or Dependent Day Care Flexible Spending Account (FSA) to reduce your taxable income.
- The maximum annual Health Care FSA contribution is $3,050 in 2024.
- FSA funds must be used Jan. 1 – Dec. 31, 2024.
- The Health Care FSA allows $610 in unused funds to be rolled over from this year to 2024. The Day Care FSA does not allow a rollover and any unused funds remaining at the end of the year are forfeited.
- Use the Tax Savings Calculator to find out how much you can save with FSAs
- For more information, go to Flexible Spending Accounts.
Benefit Access Fees
- If you enroll in the KingCare PPO medical plan and you are covering a spouse or domestic partner, a monthly Benefit Access Fee will be automatically applied as a pre-tax payroll deduction.
- If you qualify for an exemption, you must confirm this each year during Open Enrollment.
- For details, go to Benefit Access Fees.
Other things to consider
- Add or discontinue coverage for family members. Remember to include required documents when adding coverage.
- Make changes to supplemental AD&D insurance.
- Review and update your beneficiaries. Life and ADD insurance: Contact Securian; Retirement Plan: Contact the Department of Retirement Systems; Deferred Compensation Plan: Contact T Rowe Price. King County does not keep information about your beneficiaries.
- Contribute to the Employee Giving Program during the Annual Giving Drive. Pledges do not rollover to next year.
4
Get more information & go to PeopleSoft Nov. 1—15
Complete Open Enrollment in PeopleSoft
PeopleSoft Sign-on Instructions
Completing Open Enrollment with PeopleSoft video
Open Enrollment PeopleSoft Guide
Go to Open Enrollment (Nov. 1 - 15 only)
For PeopleSoft help, call the IT Service Center: 206-263-HELP (4357)
What if I don’t participate in Open Enrollment?
–If you are enrolled in the KingCare PPO medical plan and you cover your spouse or state-registered domestic partner, a Benefit Access Fee will automatically be applied.
–You will not be enrolled in a Flexible Spending Account
–You will remain enrolled in your current medical plan and benefits choices.
Open Enrollment support
Call 206-684-1556 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. weekdays
Closed on Veterans Day: Nov. 10
E-mail kc.benefits@kingcounty.gov
The Benefits office is open for walk-in service.
Visit Benefits, Payroll and Retirement Operations:
Chinook Building, 2nd Floor
Mailstop CNK-HR-0240
401 Fifth Avenue, Seattle, WA 98104
Closed on Veterans Day: Nov. 10
Open Enrollment mailer
Benefit plan details
For detailed plan information, go to Benefits Summaries.