Who is eligible for benefits?

Your legal spouse and qualified dependents, including your young-adult children through the calendar year in which they turn age 26, are eligible for coverage. Read the Definition of Dependent handout to learn more. To get a copy, log in and click Resources, or request a copy from our customer care center.

 

You may choose to enroll and cover your Washington State registered domestic partner who does not otherwise qualify for coverage as your dependent under the VEBA MEP. The value of non-dependent domestic partner (NDDP) coverage is taxable. Therefore, if you choose to enroll your NDDP, applicable taxes will be deducted from your VEBA MEP account for each month of NDDP coverage. In addition, the VEBA MEP will issue an IRS Form W-2 showing taxable income to you based on the NDDP coverage value.

 

Starting and stopping NDDP coverage is not automatic. You must submit a Non-dependent Domestic Partner Enrollment/Disenrollment form if you want to enroll or disenroll your NDDP. If elected, coverage will continue until (a) you disenroll your NDDP during the next annual open enrollment period or special open enrollment or (b) your participant account balance runs out. NDDP enrollment and disenrollment policies are described below. Forms are available after logging in or upon request from our customer care center.

 

Read our Non-dependent Domestic Partner Coverage handout to learn more. To get a copy, log in and click Resources, or request a copy from our customer care center.

 

 

What types of expenses are eligible for reimbursement?

Common qualified expenses include deductibles, co-pays, coinsurance, and prescription drugs. Retiree medical insurance premiums, including Medicare and Medicare supplement plans, and tax-qualified long-term care insurance premiums (subject to IRS limits) are also eligible for reimbursement. Read our Qualified Expenses and Premiums handout to learn more. To get a copy, log in and click Resources, or request a copy from our customer care center.

 

 

Can I use my account to reimburse retiree insurance premiums?

Yes. Medical (including marketplace exchange premiums that are not, or will not be, subsidized by the Premium Tax Credit), dental, vision, tax-qualified long-term care (subject to annual IRS limits), Medicare Part B, Medicare Part D, and Medicare supplement plan premiums are eligible for reimbursement. Read our Qualified Expenses and Premiums handout to learn more. To get a copy, log in and click Resources, or request a copy from our customer care center.

NOTE:  IRS regulations provide that insurance premiums paid by an employer, deducted pre-tax through a section 125 cafeteria plan, or subsidized by the Premium Tax Credit are not eligible for reimbursement. If requesting reimbursement of premiums deducted from your paycheck after tax, you must include a letter from your employer that confirms no pre-tax option is available.

 

 

Can I have my insurance premiums reimbursed automatically?

Yes. Automatic reimbursement of your monthly retiree insurance premiums is available. To set up an automatic premium reimbursement, log in and click Claims, or submit an Automatic Premium Reimbursement form. Forms are available after logging in or upon request from our customer care center.

 

 

How long does it take to process a claim?

Standard claims processing time is five to seven business days from the day we receive your claim. If you are not enrolled in direct deposit, remember to allow adequate time to receive your paper check reimbursements in the mail.

 

Get your money back faster by submitting claims and supporting documentation online after logging in or by using our mobile app, HRAgo.

 

 

Is direct deposit available?

Yes, direct deposit is available and recommended. You will get your money back faster, and it is more secure and convenient than waiting for paper check reimbursements in the mail. Funds availability is subject to your banking institution's policies and procedures. To enroll, log in and click My Profile or submit a Direct Deposit Enrollment form. Forms are available after logging in or upon request from our customer care center.

 

Do I have to use up my account right away?

No, your unused account balance carries over from year to year. There is no annual “use-it-or-lose-it” requirement.

 

 

What is "limited-purpose" VEBA MEP coverage?

"Limited-purpose" VEBA MEP coverage is a form of coverage that is typically elected by participants who want to become eligible to make or receive contributions to an HSA. Only the types of expenses listed below are covered while a “limited-purpose” coverage election is in force. All other expenses incurred while coverage is limited, including qualified insurance premiums, are not covered.

 

• Standard dental care services (not related to a medical condition or accident), including dentures

• Orthodontia

• Routine eye exams, contact lenses, and eyeglasses (excluding initial lenses and standard frames after cataract surgery)

 

To elect “limited-purpose” coverage, submit a Limited-purpose Coverage Election form. Forms are available after logging in or upon request from our customer care center.

 

 

What happens if, after retiring, I become re-employed by the same agency that contributed to my VEBA MEP account?

If, after retiring, you subsequently become re-employed by the same agency that contributed to your VEBA MEP, your claims eligibility will be turned off while you are re-employed. During the term of your re-employment, you may submit claims for qualified medical care expenses incurred while you were previously retired and claims-eligible. However, medical care expenses, including qualified insurance premiums, incurred during the term of your re-employment are not eligible for reimbursement.

 

 

What will happen to my HRA I pass away?

If you pass away and funds still remain after all outstanding claims have been reimbursed, your HRA will be transferred to your surviving spouse. All of your dependents will remain eligible for coverage. After your spouse passes away, or if you have no spouse, any remaining portion of your HRA may be transferred equally (and only once) to your survivors in the following order of priority: (1) dependents and non-dependent (adult) children; (2) designated beneficiary(ies); (3) other survivor(s) as follows: state-registered non-dependent domestic partner, grandchildren, siblings, parents, nieces and nephews, aunts and uncles, or cousins. For more details, read our What Happens if I Pass Away? handout.

 

 

How often will I get a participant account statement?

Paper participant account statements are mailed in January and July. If you are signed up for e-communication in lieu of paper (recommended), participant accounts statements are generated quarterly, and we will notify you via email when statements are available for online viewing. To sign up for e-communication, log in and click My Profile, contact our customer care center, or submit an Account Change form. Forms are available after logging in or upon request from our customer care center.

 

 

What are the fees?

Plan administrative expenses include claims processing, customer service, account administration, printing, postage, legal, consulting, local servicing, auditing, etc. To cover these costs, a monthly per participant fee of $1.50 (if claims-eligible) or $0.75 (if not claims-eligible), plus an annualized asset-based fee that averages around 1.00%, is charged to participant accounts. The monthly fee is waived if account balance is more than $5,000. In addition, a 0.25% asset-based fee discount applies to any portion of account balance in excess of $10,000. Participant account values change daily based on activity, which includes investment earnings/losses, contribution and claims activity, and assessment of the asset-based fee.

 

To the extent permitted or required by law, certain fees, assessments, or other amounts payable to the federal government may also be deducted from participant accounts. Fund operating expenses vary by fund. You can view these fees on our quarterly Investment Fund Overview available under the Investments tab.