Last updated: October 6, 2026
Open Enrollment runs October 26 – November 23, 2026.
How to get help
If you have questions about provided or plan benefits, please contact the plans directly.
If you need help navigating making changes in Workday, please contact UW Benefits: Benefits@uw.edu or 206-543-4444
If you prefer in-person assistance with Workday, UW’s Benefits team is here to support you — Monday through Friday, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. We are at the Gateway Building, located at 4320 Brooklyn Ave N. Simply email us at benefits@uw.edu to arrange an appointment with the appropriate staff member.
Please note: Benefits staff cannot provide detailed explanations of plan coverages or recommend specific plans. We will guide you to resources for plan research, clarify terms, and help complete Workday processes, but we do not offer plan advice.
You can also drop in at an in-person information session! UW Benefits team members will be on-site to answer your open enrollment questions at the following dates and times:
- Wednesday, October 27 (8:30 am – 4:00 pm): UW Medical Center Montlake, Health Sciences Building, 3rd Floor Lobby
- Monday, November 2 (8:30 am – 4:30 pm): Harborview Medical Center, Research and Training Building, Lobby
- Wednesday, November 4 (8:30 am – 4:00 pm): UW Husky Union Building (HUB), Room 340
- Thursday, November 5 (8:30 am – 4:30 pm): UW Facilities Training Center, Conference Room
- Monday, November 9 (10:00 am – 2:00 pm): UW Tacoma, Tacoma Paper & Stationery (TPS) Building, Room 110
- Tuesday, November 10 (8:30 am – 4:30 pm): UW Medical Center Northwest, Medical Arts Building (MAB), Room 112
- Thursday, November 12 (9:00 am – 12:30 pm): UW Bothell, Commons Hall (UW2), Room 327
No appointment needed! If you need help with adding an eligible dependent in Workday, please make sure to have a scan or photo of the necessary dependent verification documentation available to attach to your Open Enrollment event in Workday.
If those dates don’t work, employees can always compare plan options and watch webinars hosted by the different insurance plan providers throughout October and November, 24/7, on the Health Care Authority’s (HCA’s) Virtual Benefits Fair page.
Most Common Open Enrollment Questions
Attesting to the Spousal Premium Surcharge
Attesting to the spousal premium surcharge is admittedly one of the most challenging parts of Open Enrollment – the state-mandated language can be confusing and there are many options to review.
What IS the Spousal Surcharge?
If your spouse or state-registered domestic partner (SRDP) will be enrolled on your medical plan for the upcoming year, during Open Enrollment you may need to respond (e.g., “attest”) to whether or not you need to pay an extra $50 spouse/partner premium surcharge per month in addition to your monthly medical plan premium. Washington State requires you pay this surcharge:
- If you have a spouse/partner enrolled on your medical plan
AND - Your spouse/partner did not enroll in their own comparable employer-based medical insurance.
How do I know if I need to attest to the Spousal Surcharge?
If you need to attest, you should have received a letter in mid- to late-October from the Health Care Authority (HCA) notifying you of this requirement. Of course, we know that sometimes mail and email can be missed or lost! If you are still left wondering, you can quickly determine if you need to attest in Workday by following the step-by-step guidance found on the Attesting to the Spouse/Partner Premium Surcharge During Open Enrollment page.
Additionally, you will receive reminder emails from Workday during Open Enrollment if you need to attest to the spousal premium surcharge. Please keep an eye on your UW inbox for emails from Workday or UWHR Benefits, especially important during Open Enrollment.
I need to attest; what do I do now?
If you DO need to attest to whether or not you owe the spousal surcharge, please refer to the Update Your Response to the Spousal or State-Registered Domestic Partner (SRDP) Premium Surcharge Attestation section of the Open Enrollment User Guide for guidance. The User Guide includes a helpful table you can refer to when trying to translate the different choices (some of which seem very similar) and determine the most appropriate response for your particular circumstance.
Providing Valid Dependent Verification Documentation
I attached my dependent verification documents in Workday while enrolling a new dependent; how will I know if what I sent in was correct?
All dependent verification documents are reviewed by UWHR Benefits Specialists to confirm the documents meet the requirements set forth by Washington State’s Health Care Authority (HCA). If your documentation is missing or considered “invalid,” you will receive a follow-up email from Workday or UWHR Benefits – you can then follow the guidance found in the “Need to Make a Correction?” section of the Open Enrollment User Guide to make any necessary updates.
Additional Open Enrollment Resources
- Open Enrollment User Guide – for step-by-step instructions on making Open Enrollment changes in Workday.
- Open Enrollment Page – for current-year details and information on how to compare benefit options.
- Health, Vision and Dental Plan Options webpage – for an overview of your plan options.
- PEBB’s For Your Benefit (PDF) October newsletter – contains information about next year’s monthly premiums.
- The HCA’s Open Enrollment page.
- The HCA’s Compare Medical Plans webpage – the Medical Benefits Comparison Tool can be especially useful.
- The HCA’s Contact the Plans webpage – provides a list of phone numbers so you can call plan providers directly with any remaining questions.