News & Announcements
Aetna Contract Negotiations with U.W. Medical Centers: Aetna is in active negotiations with the University of Washington Medical Centers, including UW Medicine physicians, Harborview Medical Center, and Valley Medical Center (UW), with a possible termination date of June 1, 2025. Aetna will mail letters to impacted members the week of 04/27/2025.
If the contract terminates, Aetna will help maintain continuity of care coverage (also known as transition of care) for any of our employees who are currently undergoing treatment for a serious illness, pregnancy, or injury with a specialist affiliated with the affected U.W. Medical Center facility. Please see the example generic letters and FAQ for content below. You can find information on the UW Medicine microsite.
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Generic Provider Termination Letter
- Generic Specialist Termination Letter
- Generic Hospital Termination Letter
Aetna Maintenance Choice Program for Most Plans: Effective January 1, 2025, the City of Seattle added Maintenance Choice to the Most Aetna medical plans. The attached document has frequently asked questions and common scenarios about filling the medications you regularly take. See a list of qualifying medications here. If you have additional questions, contact the RX Member number on the back of your medical card.
Trusted Benefits Vendors Communications: Did you receive an email at work from a benefits vendor and are not sure if it's legitimate? Check the benefits chart here for trusted/approved sender email addresses and domain names.
Health Plan Cost Transparency: As part of the Transparency in Coverage Final Rule, group health plans and health insurance issuers are required to post machine-readable files (MRFs) on a publicly available website, updated monthly. These files permit the public to have access to health plan payment information that can be used to understand health plan pricing and the cost of health care services.
Aetna medical and pharmacy files
Kaiser medical and pharmacy files (select "Washington" from either in-network or out-of-network readable files)
2025 Benefits Orientation - Regular Employees: View the recorded presentation for information including making the most of City of Seattle employee benefits, healthcare plans for the Most benefits program, employee well-being programs, Flexible Spending Accounts, optional insurances, employee responsibilities, and things to remember (1 hour and 1 second). See the Benefits Orientation time stamp.
2025 Benefits Orientation - Temporary Benefits Eligible Employees: View the recorded presentation for information on benefits for temporary employees who are eligible for the City of Seattle benefits (39 minutes and 52 seconds). See the Benefits Orientation time stamp.
Deferred Compensation Plan Orientation: View the recorded presentation here.
Health Plan Options for Retiring Employees Seminar: View the 2025 recorded presentations here for information about City-sponsored retiree health plan options, what employees should consider before retiring, COBRA considerations, premiums, how Medicare plays a role, and employees' responsibilities (27 minutes).
May 2025 Well-Being Newsletter: This newsletter features City well-being events and benefits programs, as well as articles or red flags for nutrition and fitness fads, tune up your ears, managing menopause, say cheese, social media financial apps, and what causes addiction.
Check the online edition for additional tools and tips. Share the newsletter with family members by forwarding it to your personal email address.
See past editions