WELS VEBA Enrollment

2024 Limited Open Enrollment

The WELS VEBA Commission is pleased to offer a limited open enrollment for the WELS VEBA Group Health Care Plan for the 2024 plan year.

Enrollment will be held from November 1 through November 30, 2023.

What is a limited open enrollment?

Limited open enrollment means that enrollment is only available to eligible workers who serve at organizations with at least one active worker enrolled in WELS VEBA Medical Benefits.

If at least one active worker at your organization was enrolled in WELS VEBA Medical Benefits on October 1, 2023, the 2024 limited open enrollment is available to your organization and its workers and the following information on this page is applicable.

During this limited open enrollment, eligible workers will have the opportunity to make the following elections:

  • Enroll for new WELS VEBA Medical and/or Dental Benefits;
  • Add or remove any eligible family members under existing WELS VEBA Medical and/or Dental Benefits;
  • Change to a different deductible option under existing WELS VEBA Medical Benefits; and
  • Apply for Group Term Life Insurance and/or Voluntary Long-Term Disability Insurance.

Supporting your workers

As a sponsoring organization representative, you play an important role in engaging eligible workers with the benefits of WELS VEBA and supporting them through the decisions they have to make. As a result, we encourage you to be proactive with your workers and support them at this important time. We hope this website supports your organization in making your benefit funding decisions for 2024 and provides a useful reference when communicating enrollment to your workers.

Please remember that any open enrollment is held solely at the discretion of the WELS VEBA Commission and is not held every year–encourage your eligible workers to carefully consider this opportunity.

What has changed for 2024?

The following summarizes the most significant changes effective January 1, 2024.

WELS VEBA Medical Benefits

  • WELS VEBA health plan rates for Medical Benefits will increase by 11% for Plan Options 1, 2, and 4, and will increase by 10.1% for Plan Option 3.
  • The Plan Option 3 deductible amounts will increase to $3,200/individual and $6,400/family per IRS regulations to remain qualified for use with a Health Savings Account (HSA).
  • Disposable continuous glucose monitors will be covered under the pharmacy benefit subject to utilization management.
  • The COVID-19 vaccine administered by an out-of-network provider will be covered subject to deductible and coinsurance. (Note: the COVID-19 vaccine administered by an in-network provider will remain covered at 100%.)
  • COVID-19 testing in a clinical setting, either In-network or out-of-network, will be covered subject to deductible and coinsurance.
  • Over-the-counter COVID-19 tests will be excluded from coverage.

Dental Benefits

Monthly premium rates for Dental Benefits will not change for 2024.  The 2023 rates for Dental Benefits will remain in effect for 2024.

Long-Term Disability

Monthly premium rates for Long-Term Disability Insurance will not change for 2024.  The 2023 rates for Long-Term Disability Insurance will remain in effect for 2024.  Please note that the premium amount due for a covered worker’s Voluntary Long-Term Disability Insurance may change in 2024 if the worker’s covered compensation changes.

Group Term Life

Monthly premium rates for Group Term Life Insurance will not change for 2024.  The 2023 rates for Group Term Life Insurance will remain in effect for 2024.  Please note that the premium amount due for a covered worker’s Group Term Life Insurance may change in 2024 if the worker or worker’s spouse attains a new age band, or if the coverage amount changes for a worker, spouse, or child.

2024 Rates for WELS Benefit Plans

What do I need to do?

We encourage you to support your workers during this limited open enrollment period. The checklist below lists a number of important things to consider over the next few weeks:

  • Inform workers of your organization’s financial support for 2024 WELS VEBA coverage.
  • Inform workers of the 2024 limited open enrollment.
  • Ensure workers receive their WELS VEBA open enrollment packet by the end of October.
  • Encourage workers to consider their options carefully.
  • Direct workers to contact the WELS Benefits Service Center if they have questions.
  • Review January 2024 invoice(s) to be sure worker elections match expectations and that your payment reflects the total amount due.

How do my workers enroll?

All benefit elections must be made by eligible workers through the WELS Benefits Service Center, either by telephone at 1-800-487-8322 (option 1) or online at wels.bswift.com. The WELS Benefits Service Center will begin accepting elections as part of the limited open enrollment on November 1.

Important Notes

  • As a sponsoring organization representative, you cannot elect benefits or make changes on behalf of your workers.
  • If no changes are desired, no action is required as 2023 benefit elections will automatically be carried over to 2024.
  • A worker does not need to be enrolled in WELS VEBA Medical Benefits to enroll for Dental Benefits or apply for Group Term Life or Long-Term Disability Insurance.
  • Enrollment is for the 2024 plan year; any changes made will become effective January 1, 2024.

What happens next?

Eligible workers at your organization will be mailed a packet of enrollment materials between October 16 and October 31.  This packet will include an enrollment guide and additional information regarding the limited open enrollment period.