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Welcome to Open Enrollment Nov. 1–15
Open enrollment for 2025 benefits begins Nov. 1 and ends Nov. 15. Review the information below to learn about 2025 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 2025 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
Employee Premium Share:
None
Spouse Benefit Access Fee:
None
Deductible:
Single: $0, Family: $0
In network 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.
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
Employee Premium Share:
$50 per month
Spouse Benefit Access Fee:
$75 per month
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.
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.
Other highlights
- Lower out-of-pocket costs than the traditional KingCare PPO plan
- Choose one of the following accountable health networks (AHNs):
- Eastside Health
- MultiCare Connected Care
- UW Medicine
- Virginia Mason Franciscan Health - AHNs help coordinate your care
KingCare PPO
Regence BlueShield
Employee Premium Share:
$75 per month
Spouse Benefit Access Fee:
$200 per month
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.
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
Spouse Benefit Access Fee:
None
Deductible:
Single: $0, Family: $0
In-network 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.
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
Spouse Benefit Access Fee:
$75 per month
In-network deductible:
Single: $200, Family: $600
In-network max out-of-pocket cost:
Single: $1,500, Family: $3,100
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.
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.
Other highlights
- Lower out-of-pocket costs than the traditional KingCare PPO plan
- Choose one of the following accountable health networks (AHNs):
- Eastside Health
- MultiCare Connected Care
- UW Medicine
- Virginia Mason Franciscan Health - AHNs help coordinate your care
KingCare PPO
Regence BlueShield
Spouse Benefit Access Fee:
$200 per month
In-network deductible:
Single: $500, Family: $1,500
In-network max out-of-pocket cost:
Single: $2,000, Family: $4,500
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.
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
Plan Selection Fee:
None
Benefit Access Fee:
$50 per month
Deductible:
Single: $0, Family: $0
In-network 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.
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
Plan Selection Fee:
None
Benefit Access Fee:
$75 per month
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.
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.
Other highlights
- Lower out-of-pocket costs than the traditional KingCare PPO plan
- Choose one of the following accountable health networks (AHNs):
- Eastside Health
- MultiCare Connected Care
- UW Medicine
- Virginia Mason Franciscan Health - AHNs help coordinate your care
KingCare PPO
Regence BlueShield
Plan Selection Fee:
$100 per month
Benefit Access Fee:
$200 per month
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.
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, 2025. For changes specific to your benefit group, refer to the section below. If you would like to print a summary of all the changes, go to Key Benefit Changes. To better understand your costs and key medical plan terms, see the Glossary of Health Coverage and Medical Terms.
Regular Employee Benefit Group
- KingCare PPO (Regence BlueShield) medical plan:
- An employee premium share of $75 per month will be added for this plan. The amount of the premium share is the same whether you cover only yourself, or you also cover family members on this plan. To learn more, watch the Employee Premium Share video.
- The Spouse Benefit Access Fee for the KingCare PPO plan increases from $125 to $200 per month.
- A new separate out-of-pocket limit for emergency room (ER) visits will be implemented in addition to the out-of-pocket limits for medical and prescription drugs. Your out-of-pocket costs for an ER visit, which includes a $200 copay and 15% coinsurance, will apply to the ER out-of-pocket limit (not the medical out-of-pocket limit), as follows: $6,600/individual and $12,900/family.
- KingCare Select (Regence BlueShield) medical plan:
- An employee premium share of $50 per month will be added for this plan. The amount of the premium share is the same whether you cover only yourself, or you also cover family members on this plan. To learn more, watch the Employee Premium Share video.
- The Spouse Benefit Access Fee for the KingCare Select plan increases from $0 to $75 per month.
- The Emergency Room (ER) coinsurance will increase from 10% to 15% after the $200 copay. Also, a new separate out-of-pocket limit for ER visits will be implemented in addition to the out-of-pocket limits for medical and prescription drugs. Your out-of-pocket costs for an ER visit, which includes a $200 copay and 15% coinsurance, will apply to the ER out-of-pocket limit (not the medical out-of-pocket limit), as follows: $6,600/individual and $13,000/family.
- Flexible Spending Accounts:
- The maximum health care Flexible Spending Account (FSA) contribution increases to $3,200. The health care FSA carryover allowed from this year to next year increases to $640.
Transit ATU 587 Employee Benefit Group
- KingCare PPO (Regence BlueShield) medical plan:
- The in-network annual deductible will increase from $350 individual/$1,050 family to $500 individual/$1,500 family.
- The in-network annual out-of-pocket limit will increase from $1,350 individual/$3,050 family to $2,000 individual/$4,500 family and the out-of-network out-of-pocket limit increases from $2,350 individual/$5,050 family to $3,500 individual/$7,500 family.
- The Spouse Benefit Access Fee to cover a spouse or domestic partner who has access to other employer-based medical coverage will increase from $150 to $200 per month.
- KingCare Select (Regence BlueShield) medical plan:
-
The in-network annual deductible will increase from $100 individual/$300 family to $200 individual/$600 family and the out-of-network annual deductible will increase from $500 individual/$1,500 family to $600 individual/$1,800 family.
- The in-network annual out-of-pocket limit will increase from $1,100 individual/$2,400 family to $1,500 individual/$3,100 family and the out-of-network out-of-pocket limit increases from $2,500 individual/$5,500 family to $3,300 individual/$7,100 family.
- The Spouse Benefit Access Fee to cover a spouse or domestic partner who has access to other employer-based medical coverage will increase from $0 to $75 per month.
- Flexible Spending Accounts:
- The maximum health care Flexible Spending Account (FSA) contribution increases to $3,200. The health care FSA carryover allowed from this year to next year increases to $640.
Deputy Sheriff Employee Benefit Group
- Spouse Benefit Access Fees:
- KingCare PPO (Regence BlueShield) medical plan: $200 per month (was $100).
- KingCare Select (Regence BlueShield) medical plan: $75 per month (was $0).
- SmartCare (Kaiser Permanente) medical plan: $50 per month (was $0).
The Benefit Access Fees to cover a spouse or domestic partner who has access to other employer-based medical coverage will increase as follows
- Flexible Spending Accounts:
- The maximum health care Flexible Spending Account (FSA) contribution increases to $3,200. The health care FSA carryover allowed from this year to next year increases to $640.
-
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 $3,200 in 2025.
- FSA funds must be used Jan. 1 – Dec. 31, 2025.
- The Health Care FSA allows $640 in unused funds to be rolled over from this year to 2025. 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 cover a spouse or state-registered domestic partner on your employee medical plan, a monthly Spouse Benefit Access Fee will be automatically applied as a pre-tax payroll deduction.
- If you qualify for an exemption, you must declare the exemption 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
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. 11
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. 11
Open Enrollment mailers
Benefit plan details
For detailed plan information, go to Benefits Summaries.