Mandatory Open Enrollment Actions

This page will review actions that are mandatory during Open Enrollment as well as other actions that are recommended.

2024 Open Enrollment is from October 6 - October 20, 2023. 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, 2024 to December 31, 2024.

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

  • You waive County medical insurance. You are required to take action during Open Enrollment to provide proof of other coverage to continue to waive.

  • If you participate in a Health or Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) or Health Savings Account (HSA). Your FSA or HSA election amounts need to be selected each plan year. 

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. 6 - Oct. 20)
  • While in the Open Enrollment tunnel, select to waive County medical insurance
  • Complete the Proof of Other Group Coverage Certification questions
  • Upload your Proof of Other Group Coverage documentation
    • Even if this documentation is the same as last year, you must re-upload!
    • 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

You can 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)

What is not considered other group coverage?

  • Health Care Chost Sharing (such as Christian Healthcare Ministries)
  • Covered California
  • Medicare
  • Medi-Cal is also not accepted due to Medi-Cal income guidelines (part-time employees may receive exceptions)

Electing or Re-Electing an FSA/HSA

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 2024 plan year, you must do the following:

  • Login to BenXcel during Open Enrollment (Oct. 6 - Oct. 20)
  • While in the Open Enrollment tunnel, enroll in your tax savings account and choose your election amount
    • Maximums for 2024
      • FSA: $3,050 -- Rollover from 2023 to 2024: $610
      • HSA: $4,150 individual / $8,300 family
      • DCFSA: $5,000 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.

  • For employees enrolled in the HDHP and eligible for the HSA, you may receive a $750 County contribution to your HSA. This contribution is contributed over the course of the year (roughly $28 per paycheck). 
  • If you do not want to make an employee contribution to your HSA, input $0 in the HSA election amount section in BenXcel. You will still receive the County contribution.

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
    • New Fields: Mobile Phone Number and Personal Email Address
  • 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