Need help navigating your health benefits? Our FAQ page covers the most common questions members have, from how to get support and ensure you’re receiving important emails, to guidance on enrolling a newborn, understanding the Working Spouse Rule, and knowing when and how to add or remove dependents. Whether you’re enrolling, updating your coverage, or just looking for clarity, our FAQs are here to make the process easier.
Please contact the HBC Support Team using the information on our “Contact US” page.
We want to make sure that you are getting all system notifications, newsletters, and communications. Some of the email addresses you may see include:
hbcsupport@fmvaccaro.com
To ensure email correspondence is not routed to your junk or spam folders, you can add these emails to your Safe Senders list by following the below instructions.
Microsoft Outlook: Settings > Mail > Junk email > Senders, then add the email address or domain under “Safe senders and domains”.
Gmail: Gear icon > See all settings> Filters and Blocked Addresses Tab > Create a new filter > In the From field, enter the email address or domain you want to add > Create Filter > Check “Never send to spam” > Create Filter
Congratulations on the new addition to your family! Contact your District Benefit Representative (DBR) or choose Printable Forms on the left of the Resources page menu for a copy of the enrollment form. You’ll need to return the completed form to your DBR so that they can submit to PNW HBC Member Support for processing.
You can enroll your newborn before you receive their SSN. Once you receive it, please contact your DBR or PNW HBC Member Support. It is important to have complete and accurate data for all members, including your newborn.
The HBC Support Team will communicate the next steps if the enrollment requirements have not been met. If the enrollment is finalized, you will receive a notification providing the results of the enrollment. If your enrollment is rejected for any reason, you will be contacted by an HBC Support Representative directly.
Your enrollment is in “submitted” status until you receive a confirmation from HBC support stating that your enrollment is approved. Please allow three business days from the date of submission for an update or confirmation.
The enrollment form asks if any employee or dependent of the employee has “other coverage.” This includes coverage from another employer, coverage through a spouse or domestic partner’s employer, coverage through another parent’s employer, or coverage purchased independently.
Having more than one coverage affects the individual’s coordination of benefits. It is important to report other coverage to ensure that the coordination of benefits is correct. Issues with the coordination of benefits can result in denied claims or problems with the processing and payment of claims. Medicare or Medicaid is to be reported separately from other coverage.
Primary and secondary coverage refers to the order in which insurance plans pay claims when you have more than one coverage. Primary coverage pays claims first and covers expenses up to its limits or according to its policy terms. Secondary coverage kicks in if there are remaining expenses that were not covered by the primary plan, up to its limits or according to its policy terms. Tertiary coverage pays third if available.
Instances where the PNW HBC Plan defaults to secondary:
The WSR certification process is an annual process that occurs during the open enrollment period. WSR certification is also required when you first add a spouse to your health coverage.
This includes a new marriage, a spouse who is not currently covered on your plan, or adding a spouse back onto your plan after their coverage was terminated.
No WSR documentation is required for a spouse enrolling in secondary coverage.
However, if this is the first time they are enrolling in the plan they must submit dependent eligibility verification documentation.
Yes, a filed extension may be submitted for the annual WSR process.
However, your account will be flagged until the extension deadline. If required documentation is not submitted by the extension deadline, your spouse’s coverage will move to secondary, retroactive to July 1st, 2025.
Handwritten returns will NOT be accepted
You can make changes to your coverage during the open enrollment period and during a Qualifying Life Event (QLE). A QLE must be reported within 30 days and required documentation must be provided. If a QLE is not reported within 30 days, the change cannot be made until the next Open Enrollment period. Examples of QLE’s include:
Consider your answers to the following questions to decide if you need to actively participate in Open Enrollment:
1. Do you need to make changes to your coverage? Open Enrollment is considered a “passive enrollment”, meaning you only need to participate if you have any changes to make. Changes include:
a. Enrolling in the plan for the first time
b. Adding or removing a dependent child
c. Adding or removing a spouse
d. Changing a spouse or dependents coverage from primary to secondary
e. Changing a spouse or dependents coverage from secondary to primary
f. Termination of coverage
2. What population are you in? Open Enrollment applies to those enrolled in the Aetna Commercial Plan and does NOT apply to those enrolled in the Medicare Advantage Plan.
3. Is your spouse enrolled as a dependent on your coverage? If your spouse is enrolled in your plan as primary, the Working Spouse Rule (WSR) Verification process may apply to you.
Exact dates for Open Enrollment will be determined and communicated in advance for the benefit period of 7/1/26-6/30/27. Please anticipate mail and email notifications.