Human Resources

2026 Open Enrollment is from October 3 - October 22, 2025. During this period, employees and retirees will be able to make updates to their medical, dental, and vision plans as well as make dependent changes. The new plans will be effective January 1, 2026 to December 31, 2026.

While it is always recommended to take this opportunity to review your benefit elections, no action is required unless:

• You waive County medical insurance.

• If you participate in a Tax Savings Account.

Waiving County Medical Insurance

Employees may waive County medical insurance, if they have proof of other group coverage. If you are continuing to waive or newly electing to waive County medical insurance, you must do the following:

• Login to BenXcel during Open Enrollment (Oct. 3 - Oct. 22)
  • See BenXcel Login Instructions section for additional login help
• Answer the Proof of Other Group Coverage Certification questions
• Upload your Proof of Other Group Coverage documentation
  • Documentation may be in the form of a copy of your insurance card or a letter from the employer listing medical coverage with effective dates

Review your MOU, based on your Bargaining Unit, for additional information on Proof of Other Group Coverage requirements. 

What is considered other group coverage?

• Other Employer Sponsored Medical insurance through the employee's spouse, domestic partner, or parent
• Tricare (military medical insurance)
• Medi-Cal (for part-time employees who meet State Income limitations)

What is not considered other group coverage?

• Health Care Cost Sharing (such as Christian Healthcare Ministries)
• Covered California
• Medicare

Electing or Re-Electing a Tax Savings Account

Flexible Spending Account (FSA), Dependent Care FSA (DCFSA), Limited Purpose FSA (LPFSA), and Health Savings Account (HSA) elections do not roll over. If you wish to make contributions to a tax savings account for the 2026 plan year, you must do the following:

• Login to BenXcel during Open Enrollment (Oct. 3 - Oct. 22)
• Select your tax savings account and election amount
  • Maximums for 2026
    • FSA: $3,300 -- Rollover from 2025 to 2026: $660
    • HSA: $4,400 individual / $8,750 family ($1,000 is added to limit if you are over age 55)
    • DCFSA: $7,500 per household

Employees enrolled in the High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP), may be eligible for an HSA. In order to be eligible for an HSA, employees must answer additional eligibility questions. This is an annual requirement set by the I.R.S.

• For employees enrolled in the HDHP and eligible for the HSA, you may receive a County contribution to your HSA. This contribution is contributed over the course of the year.
  • All employee associations except SLOCEA and DSA have negotiated employer contributions for 2026 as follows:
    • Employee only enrollment in HDHP will receive $1000 over the year, or $38.86 per pay check.
    • Employee + 1 or more enrollment in HDHP will receive $2000 over the year, or $76.92 per pay check.
• If you do not want to contribute to your HSA, you must enter $0 in the HSA election amount section in BenXcel to receive the County contribution, as long as you meet I.R.S eligibility requirements.

Other Important BenXcel Open Enrollment Information

• Review and update your demographics information. 
  • Mailing Address information in BenXcel is used by insurance carriers to send important documentation, including new Blue Shield ID Cards
  • Add your Mobile Phone Number and Personal Email Address
• Dual Coverage is not allowed for County medical insurance
  • If you and your spouse/partner work at the County, you cannot both cover each other on your medical plan.
• Dual Coverage is not allowed for Voya Life Insurance and Aflac plans (Accident, Critical Illness, and Hospital Indemnity)
  • If you and your spouse/partner work at the County, confirm you do not have dual enrollment for these plans
• Benefit elections will roll over to 2026 if you do not take action during Open Enrollment. Reminder - no action is required if you do not wish to:
  • Make changes to your benefit elections
  • Add or drop any dependents from your benefit elections
  • Make any demographic changes
  • Waive medical insurance
  • Fund a tax savings account in 2026