SEB Board approves two free COVID tests for UMP members

On June 22, 2023, the School Employees Benefits Board (SEB Board) met. Board members attended in person at the Health Care Authority (HCA) building in Olympia and remotely. The meeting was open to the public both in person and via Zoom.

Meeting recap

Highlights are listed below. See the briefing book for all presentation materials.

The Board approved the following resolutions:

  • SEBB 2023-06 — UMP High Deductible IRS Plan Minimum Deductible: For plan years beginning on or after January 1, 2024, HCA shall set the annual deductible for the UMP High Deductible health plan at the minimum annual deductible level established by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to qualify the plan as a high-deductible health plan.
  • SEBB 2023-07 — UMP Over-the-counter COVID-19 Tests: Beginning July 1, 2023, all Uniform Medical Plan (UMP) plans will cover up to two over-the-counter COVID-19 diagnostic tests per member per month, up to $12 per test, without member cost-share. If the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) issues future guidance that requires the deductible to be met prior to plan payment for over-the-counter COVID-19 diagnostic tests in high-deductible health plans, the UMP High Deductible plan shall be amended to comply with IRS guidance.

HCA staff provided presentations on the following:

  • Retiree engagement, including a recap on listening sessions and public forums. The Public Employees Benefits Board (PEBB) Program has held 24 listening sessions as of May 31. Three public forums were held in April and May. An update on retiree communications covered a retiree engagement website and developing an FAQ of common questions from listening sessions.
  • An online member survey conducted in February and March to obtain feedback about open enrollment communications, particularly the newsletters sent to PEBB and SEBB Program members with important information.

The Board met in executive session before the meeting adjourned.

Next meeting

The July 6 meeting of the SEB Board has been cancelled. The next public meeting of the SEB Board is scheduled for July 13, 2023, from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Board members and the public may attend in person or virtually via Zoom. A link or call-in number for virtual attendance will be noted on the meeting agenda and posted on the SEB Board Meetings and materials webpage.