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SEBB survey shows improved satisfaction but persistent cost and access concerns
Summary
The SEBB employee survey had higher participation (3,490 responses) and showed rising overall satisfaction; respondents still raised concerns about cost, dental and vision networks, and website/technology access, and staff described steps to improve outreach and support.
The School Employees Benefits Board heard the results of the 2026 SEBB employee benefits survey, which agency staff said drew 3,490 respondents — up from 3,143 in 2024 — and indicated an overall increase in satisfaction on many questions.
"We did increase participation this year, in the sub program from, 3,143, up to 3,490," said Missy Yates, stakeholder engagement coordinator for the Employee & Retiree Benefits Division. Yates told the board the survey removed a neutral option this year to get clearer signals and added position-type and veteran-status questions. She said satisfaction improved overall but that members continue to report pain points on cost and cost clarity, dental and vision provider availability, and website navigation and login issues.
The survey asked whether respondents switched plans during the most recent open enrollment and why; cost and monthly premium were the top reasons for switching, followed by benefit design and provider networks. Yates said many "other" responses on the medical side related to unintentional changes triggered by network disruptions in the UMP/Regence market.
Staff described several responses underway: enhanced benefits-fair materials and signage, a pre-retirement folder for staff approaching retirement, expanded behavioral-health materials online, and a planned migration away from the SAW login system to wall.gov next spring. The agency also noted a small-number policy that suppresses published aggregates where responses are fewer than 11 to avoid inadvertent identification.
Board members asked whether the survey sample is representative of the full subscriber population (roughly 140,000–145,000 subscribers). Yates said staff could compare responses to OSPI demographic data and will consider representativeness as part of future analysis.
