Open enrollment takes place April 18 to May 13
Posted: April 13, 2022
The Hawaii State Teachers Association suggests members take some time to carefully assess their current health plan enrollment(s) and the health plans available during open enrollment this month. It is in every member’s best interest to analyze the health plans available and decide which plan(s) best meet their family’s health care needs, taking cost and coverage into consideration. You are not required to do anything if you wish to remain with your current plan. Increased health coverage costs start July 1.
The 2022 Hawaii Employer-Union Health Benefits Trust Fund (EUTF) open enrollment period begins April 18 and ends May 13, which is a few weeks later than normal.
During the open enrollment period, you may:
- Add a plan, change from one plan to another, or drop a plan.
- Add an eligible dependent or remove a dependent.
- Change coverage tiers, such as changing from self to family or family to two-party.
If you decide to keep your current plans, you don’t need to take action. You are not required to complete any forms to continue your current coverage.
If you are making changes, complete and submit the EC-1 (or EC-1H for those enrolled in HSTA VB benefit plans) enrollment forms. Please note, if you are enrolled in an HSTA VB plan and elect to leave that plan, you will not be able to return.
The EUTF negotiates with providers every year. Sometimes those negotiations result in higher rates, sometimes lower. We created our own updated reference sheet based on negotiated rates for HSTA members as a quick, easy way to compare plan rates in the coming year.
Important dates
| April 18 through May 13, 2022 | Open enrollment election period |
| July 1, 2022 | Rate changes effective |
| July 20, 2022 through July 5, 2023 | New premiums deducted from paycheck |
| July 1, 2022 through June 30, 2023 | Plan period |
HIDOE employees must submit enrollment forms and required supporting documents to the DOE-EBU Office, P.O. Box 2360, Honolulu, HI 96804.
Open enrollment forms will be processed during the months of May and June. You will be mailed a confirmation notice by the end of June, once your enrollment changes have been processed.
EUTF open enrollment video overview
Useful links
- Open Enrollment Checklist
- EUTF Plan Finder (Employees will need a copy of their most current pay stub)
- Premium Plan Comparison
- Employee Health Benefits Reference Guide
Contact information
Should employees have any questions regarding open enrollment, they may contact EUTF at (808) 586-7390 (Oahu), 1 (800) 295-0089 (neighbor islands), via email at eutf@hawaii.gov, or visit eutf.hawaii.gov.
For other questions, employees may contact the HIDOE’s Employee Benefits Unit at (808) 441-8311 or via email at Employee.Benefits@k12.hi.us.
Attend a virtual open enrollment fair
The Hawaii Employer-Union Health Benefits Trust Fund (EUTF) will host virtual open enrollment fairs April 18 through May 13. During the fair, you can:
- Attend a live webinar presentation by an EUTF representative.
- Watch on-demand video presentations from HMSA, Kaiser Permanente, CVS Caremark, HMA, HDS, VSP, and Securian Financial.
- Learn about health plan and premium changes (effective July 1).
- Learn money-saving tips.
How to participate:
- Click here on the day of the fair.
- Click on “Active Employee Open Enrollment Fair.”
- View on-demand video presentations and attend an EUTF live webinar.
- Webinars will take place Monday through Friday, April 18 through May 13, at: 9 to 9:30 a.m.; 11 to 11:30 a.m.; and 3:45 to 4:15 p.m.
HMSA webinars
Do you have questions about your HMSA health plan benefits or want to learn how you can get the most out of your plan?
Attend a webinar to learn about:
- Health plan options.
- How your health plan works.
- Online resources and tools to help you manage your plan.
- Ways to save money.
- Well-being programs.
Click on a specific date/time to register for that event:
- Wednesday, April 20, 10–10:30 a.m.
- Wednesday, April 27, 6–6:30 p.m.
- Wednesday, May 4, 10–10:30 a.m.
- Wednesday, May 11, 8–8:30 a.m.
- Wednesday, May 11, 6–6:30 p.m.
For help registering for a webinar, email eutfinfo@hmsa.com.
EUTF member self-service portal coming soon
EUTF has a new benefits administration system, Ariel, that will go live on July 1. The member self-service portal will allow employees to access their health plan enrollment and premium deductions, make qualifying life event (e.g., marriage, birth, etc.) and open enrollment changes, and upload required supporting documents online. EUTF forms and required supporting documents will no longer need to be submitted through employers or human resource offices. Training for member self-service portal will occur in July.
For more information, contact EUTF at 808-586-7390 or toll-free at 800-295-0089, Monday through Friday, 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Email general questions only to eutf@hawaii.gov.