Benefits Updates Fall 2026

WA Cares Fund Updates (Long Term Care)

All Washington State employees have been paying into the state funded WA Cares Fund since July 1^st, 2023. This payroll tax is mandatory, and deducts roughly 0.058% of an employee’s gross wages, unless an employee has a conditional or permanent exemption approved by WA state and has provided it to their employer(s).  As a reminder, this fund provides eligible Washingtonians with the ability to access long-term care such as; helping pay for at home (in home) services, safety and accessibility, connecting with community services, health and wellness, family support and care in a facility. 

The full benefit rate is $36,500 and is set to grow each year per the inflation rates. Washingtonians who may not contribute for a minimum of ten service years may still qualify for the benefit. A service year is when a WA state employee works 500 or more hours per year. 

To learn more about how the fund works please visit this webpage here; http://wacaresfund.wa.gov/how-it-works.

Effective January 1^st, 2026, WA Cares changed the exemption rule regarding international employees on a non-immigration work visa. Examples of non-immigration work visas are H-1B, F-1, and J-1’s. Employees on these visas are automatically exempt from contributing to the WA Cares Fund without having to provide an exemption letter. However, visa holders can contribute to the program if they wish to. Employees should reach out to HR.beneifts@wwu.edu requesting to be placed in an active contributing status for the WA Cares fund.

To find out more information about exemptions please visit this webpage here: https://wacaresfund.wa.gov/exemptions

Effective June 1^st, 2026, Washingtonians who are currently exempt from the WA Cares Fund may request discontinuing their exemption if they were exempt due to having their own private long-term care insurance policy. Governor Ferguson signed a law that effectively allows these private long term care policy holders to end their exemption and begin contributing to the WA Cares fund. Washingtonians who hold this kind of exemption have from June 1^st, 2026, to June 30^th, 2028, to request that and let their employer(s) know to start making contributions. 

Effective July 1^st, 2026, WA State opened the application process for Washingtonians to begin applying for the benefit. To qualify for the benefit of WA Cares, Washingtonians must meet contribution and care needs requirement.

 Information on qualifying and applying for the benefit can be found here: https://wacaresfund.wa.gov/qualify.

Secure 2.0 Act Reminder

Secure 2.0 Act is a federal law that impacts how employers contribute to their employees 401(k) and 403(b) retirement plans and employees’ contributions into an elective deferral plan. As a reminder, WWU has not adopted the “super catch up” rate for employees aged 60-63, which would increase the catch-up contributions for that population from $8,000 to $11,250. The catch-up rate for our 403(b) and 457(b) elective deferral plans remains at the standard $8,000 rate for employees over the age of 50. 

WWU has adopted the ROTH catch up provision for our high earners enrolled into an elective deferral plan and who are over the age of 50. For 2026, the high earners threshold is defined as an employee whose prior year FICA wages (2025 tax year) were at or above $150,000. Employees who meet this criteria and who are actively contributing to a Voluntary Investment Plan (VIP, 403(b)) and or the Deferred Compensation Program (DCP, 457(b)) plan and are contributing under a pre-tax rate will only be able to contribute $24,500 into their pre-tax account and the catch-up amount of $8,000 will be moved into a ROTH account under the same program. WWU employees impacted by this rule will receive communication from HR with further information and when their pre-tax contributions will switch to a ROTH account.

To review the VIP and DCP programs WWU offers, please visit the following webpage here; https://hr.wwu.edu/supplemental-retirement-fund-options.

2026 Wellness Vaccine Clinic

Employees and their family members are invited to mark their calendars for the annual Wellness Clinic WWU host. We have invited the Safeway (Haggen) Pharmacy back to administer flu, MMR and other immunization shots to our community. As students go back to school and the seasons transition sicknesses also rise during these times! 

This year HR has collaborated with the Student Health Center (SHC) to provide four (4) opportunities for our Students, Staff, Faculty and community members to receive their wellness vaccine to protect themselves and loved ones as school and the holiday seasons start. The date and location of the four clinics are listed below and can be found on this webpage as well: https://hr.wwu.edu/wellness.  

• September 18^th – Student Health Center 
• September 21^st – Student Health Center
• October 14^th – Viking Union Multi-Purpose Room (MPR)
• October 22^nd – Viking Union Multi-Purpose Room (MPR)

All clinics run from 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM

As a reminder, while drop ins are always welcomed, it is recommended that individuals schedule a time to get their shot done on campus to help the Pharmacist better plan for the amount they need to bring that day. 

For our employees who are PEBB eligible as of September 1^st but have not made elections and or have not yet received their medical IDs yet, may file a reimbursement claim with their enrolled insurance carrier. You may request documentation from the pharmacist so you can provide it to your insurance carrier. Employees whose PEBB benefits start October 1^st, may still go to the September clinic, but may pay the cash rates if you do not already have active coverage under another employer, spouse or WA State plan. 

Fall Benefits Office Hours Drop in Updates

As Fall quarter ushers in the new academic year, there are several dates this quarter where Benefits Wednesday weekly open office hours will be suspended. As a reminder, generally every Wednesday, from 9 AM to 12:30 PM, a Benefits staff member is available to answer your questions about health care or retirement questions, or view forms prior to submission. If more time is needed a longer appointment can be scheduled. 

For Fall Quarter, September – December 2026, Benefits will not be hosting their office hours on the following days:

• September 16^th
• September 30^th 
• For the entirety of Open Enrollment: October 28^th – November 25^th

Please feel free to come to the benefits Open enrollment drop-in times for your open enrollment questions, that information is available below. 

2026 Virtual Benefits Fair 

Employees are invited to join the annual Virtual Benefits Fair on Friday, November 6, 2026, from 9:30 AM to 3:30 PM. This virtual event provides an opportunity to connect with WWU Benefits and benefit partners to learn more about retirement planning, financial wellness, Social Security resources, and the benefits available to you as a WWU employee. This year's fair will feature presentations and resources from Fidelity, TIAA, the Social Security Administration, and the WWU Benefits Team. While the event is retirement-focused, WWU Benefits staff will be available to answer questions regarding all employee benefits. Attend the sessions that fit your schedule and interests, ask questions directly of benefits experts, and gather information to help support your financial and overall well-being.

• Friday, November 6, 2026
• 9:30 AM - 3:30 PM (includes a lunch break)
• Virtual event
• Attend all sessions or join only those that interest you

Keep an eye on your inbox for additional event details. Zoom invitations and session information will be distributed soon from hr@wwu.edu. Questions may be directed to the WWU Benefits Team at benefits@wwu.edu.

Health Care (PEBB) Events
 

Open Enrollment: October 26^th – November 23^rd  

PEBB’s annual Open Enrollment period will be starting soon. As we approach this 31-day window, all employees are encouraged to review their PEBB elections and ensure they understand what they need to do during this period. Even if an employee is not making plan election changes, all employees should review the premiums rates for the 2027 plan year. 

Employees are advised to read over the communications the Benefits team puts out to alert them of what plan changes are happening for the 2027 plan year. As always, deadlines with the PEBB program are FINAL and cannot be extended, unless the PEBB program themselves extends deadlines. 

ALL paperwork for plan changes or enrollments must be submitted to either:

• Benefits 24/7 – For Medical, dental, vision changes. Enrolling or disenrolling dependents
• Navia Employee Portal – For enrollment into the Flexible Spending Arrangement (FSA) or Dependent Care Assistant Program (DCAP) for the 2027 plan year.
• Or to the Benefits team, via email or in person, 

No later than 11:59 PM Monday, November 23^rd, 2026. Submissions after that date will not be accepted. 

The PEBB program will be publishing information about their Annual PEBB Open Enrollment Fairs that they host across WA state closer to October 3^rd. PEBB will also be sending out there For your Benefit October Newsletter by late September with more information on open enrollment as well. 

Open Enrollment Drop in Times: Oct. 30^th, Nov. 6^th, 12^th & 18^th    

Last Open Enrollment period, the Benefits team helped over 80 employees in person with their questions and unique situations. This year, Benefits will continue to host drop-in centers, with the addition of a virtual drop in via TEAMs or Zoom, that link will be provided closer to open enrolling starting. These drops in are a great place for employees who have questions about changes coming to their plans, or who need help employees make changes via Benefits 24/7, including enrollment or removing dependents. Benefits will also be available to help employees enroll in annual benefits such as the FSA or DCAP benefit via Navia. 

It is recommended that employees have already logged into and claimed their Benefits 24/7 account prior to attending one of the drop-in times. However, if an employee is having issues, a Team member can help troubleshoot the issue. 

Friday, October 30^th, 11:30 AM – 4:00 PM
Haggard Hall (HH), Room 101 (Computer Lab)

Tuesday, November 3^rd, 12 PM – 1:30 PM
Virtual (link forth coming)

Thursday, November 12^th, 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM
Haggard Hall (HH), Room 101 (Computer Lab)

Wednesday, November 18^th, 10:30 AM – 3:30 PM
Humanities Building (HU), Room 210 (Conference Room) - For this drop in, HR will not have computer access for employees, if possible, employees should be their own electronic devices if they need help enrolling online.