Labor Relations

Life Insurance Open Enrollment Extended through December 16

The Washington State Health Care Authority has announced that open enrollment only for life insurance through MetLife has been extended through December 16, 2016. This is in response to members experiencing challenges completing their life insurance transactions due to MetLife’s high volumes of web and phone traffic.

Accommodating Employee Release Time

The Health Care Authority’s announcement states:

“With their agency’s approval, employees can use work time and work computers to enroll in or make changes to their PEBB benefits, including creating an online account and enrolling in life insurance on MetLife’s website.”

Supervisors and employees are encouraged to work together to find a date and time that works for the department for employees to complete their life insurance transactions.

As with all release time requests, supervisors and employees should understand that release time is not guaranteed, but should be granted if the department can reasonably make the accommodation. Questions related to approving release time requests should be directed to the appropriate HR consultant.

Questions on Life Insurance/Enrollment? Contact MetLife

Employees experiencing difficulties with the life insurance enrollment process should contact MetLife directly, not UW Benefits. UW Benefits is required to send employees with questions to MetLife.

MetLife can be reached at: 1-866-548-7139, Monday – Friday, 5 a.m. to 8 p.m. Pacific Time.