Open Enrollment 2027
Welcome to 2027 Open Enrollment!
Open Enrollment is your annual opportunity to review your benefits and make sure your coverage continues to meet your needs. While many of your benefits will remain familiar in 2027, there are several important updates and enhancements to know about—including changes to GLP1 coverage, new life insurance opportunities and expanded access to substance use disorder care through Carrum Health. Take some time to review what’s changing, explore your options, and use the resources on this page to make informed decisions for you and your family.
Open Enrollment Dates: October 2 - 16, 2027
Enrollment Portal: BenXcel Single Sign-On or Benxcel.net
Important Information - Updated Regularly
Open Enrollment is your opportunity to review and update your benefits for 2027. During Open Enrollment, you can:
- Change your medical, dental, and vision plan elections
- Add or remove eligible dependents
- Enroll in or change your Health Savings Account (HSA) contribution
- Enroll in a Flexible Spending Account (FSA) or Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account (DC FSA)
- Enroll in or increase life insurance coverage, including the 2027 guaranteed issue opportunity
- Update your beneficiaries
- Waive County medical coverage
You must complete an Open Enrollment election if:
- You wish waive County medical coverage
- You want to participate in an FSA or DC FSA for 2027. Note: FSA Election amounts do not rollover from the prior year.
| Plan Name | Employee Only | Employee +1 | Family |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blue Shield High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP) | $995.25 | $1,968.25 | $2,564.25 |
| Blue Shield Tandem PPO | $1,008.00 | $1,989.00 | $2,590.00 |
| Blue Shield Choice PPO | $1,146.00 | $2,266.00 | $2,953.00 |
| Blue Shield Care PPO | $1,237.00 | $2,454.00 | $3,200.00 |
| Blue Shield EPO | $1,403.00 | $2,791.00 | $3,648.00 |
To view your per-pay-period premium rates, dental and vision premiums, and County cafeteria contribution amounts, click here.
2027 Summary of Changes
- Effective January 1, 2027, GLP-1 medications prescribed for weight management will no longer be covered under County medical plans. GLP-1 medications prescribed for the treatment of Type 2 diabetes will continue to be covered in accordance with plan guidelines.
- Digbi Health will remain available as an optional program for eligible members seeking support with weight management, nutrition, and healthy lifestyle changes.

Carrum Health Recovery Program helps members access high-quality treatment and recovery services for substance use disorders through a nationwide network of Centers of Excellence. The program provides personalized care, dedicated clinical support, and little to no out-of-pocket costs for eligible members.
- Personalized Care Navigation: Dedicated care specialists guide members through assessment, treatment, travel coordination (if needed), and ongoing recovery support.
- Evidence-Based Treatment: Access to inpatient and outpatient treatment programs, including detox, residential care, intensive outpatient programs, medication-assisted treatment, and therapy.
- Top-Tier Provider Network: Receive care from a curated nationwide network of high-quality treatment facilities focused on better outcomes.
- Low or No Out-of-Pocket Costs: Most eligible members receive treatment at little to no cost, with travel assistance available when medically necessary. Members enrolled in high-deductible health plans may need to meet their deductible first.
- Recovery Support: Ongoing progress assessments, personalized recovery plans, and community resources help support long-term recovery.

Voya Financial provides employees with life insurance coverage and valuable support resources to help protect their loved ones and prepare for life's unexpected events.
- New $300,000 Guaranteed Issue: Employees can elect up to $300,000 in life insurance coverage during Open Enrollment with no Evidence of Insurability (EOI) required.
- Why Consider Life Insurance? Life events such as getting married, welcoming a child, buying a home, or other major milestones make reviewing your life insurance coverage an important part of financial planning.
- Improved EOI Process: Employees requesting coverage above the Guaranteed Issue amount will experience a simpler, faster, and more streamlined Evidence of Insurability process.
- Additional Member Support: Voya benefits include access to Empathy, which provides compassionate guidance and practical support for families navigating the loss of a loved one, along with other value-added resources and services included with your coverage.
Finnita (formerly GotZoom) helps eligible County of San Luis Obispo employees navigate Federal Student Loan repayment and forgiveness programs through personalized guidance and expert support. While the name has changed, the trusted student loan benefit remains the same.
- Same Trusted Benefit, New Name: GotZoom has officially rebranded to Finnita, continuing to provide the same student loan repayment and forgiveness guidance for eligible employees.
- Personalized Student Loan Support: Receive one-on-one assistance to understand your federal student loans, repayment options, and eligibility for forgiveness programs.
- Repayment & Forgiveness Guidance: Get help exploring income-driven repayment plans, Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF), and other federal repayment strategies.
- Ongoing Expert Assistance: Dedicated specialists provide education, support, and resources to help you make informed decisions throughout the life of your loans.
Visit the County of San Luis Obispo's Finnita webpage for more information and access to the benefit: County Finnita Webpage
| Event Name | Event Date |
|---|---|
| Accolade / 2nd.MD Webinar | September 15 | 11:00am - 11:30am |
| Open Enrollment Basics Webinar | September 16 | 10:30am - 11:00am |
| Benefits Fair | September 22 | 11:00am - 2:00pm |
| Open Enrollment Voya Webinar | September 23 | 12:00pm - 12:30pm |
| Tax Savings Account Webinar | September 29 | 1:00pm - 1:30pm |
| HDHP and HSA Overview Webinar | October 1 | 10:00am - 10:30am |
| Benefits BenXcel Workshop/Computer Lab | October 7 & 15 | 9:00am - 12pm & 1:00pm-4:00 pm |
| Benefits 1:1 Meetings | October 8 & 14 | 9:00am - 12pm & 1:00pm-4:00 pm |
| Employee Resources | Details |
|---|---|
| 2027 Premiums and Cafeteria | Review the new 2027 premiums and cafeteria rates. |
| Mandatory Action for Open Enrollment | Click on the ink for more information on waiving County medical insurance, tax savings accounts, and frequently asked questions (FAQs). |
| 2027 Employee Benefit Brochure | Coming Soon! |
| BenXcel.net Single Sign On | Use Single Sign-On to bypass user credentials to access BenXcel. Be sure to review your current enrollments before making your 2027 benefits elections! |
| Benxcel Support | This link includes a video tutorial on navigating the benefit enrollment system. Additional troubleshooting tips are in the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) section including how to reset your password. |
| 2027 Benefits Calculator | Use the Benefits Calculator to determine the net cost impact of different healthcare plan enrollments. This calculator is for permanent, full-time employees only; contact your Department HR for part-time estimates. Disclaimer: SDSA MOU negotiations are still in progress. Premiums for SDSA will be updated when negotiations are concluded. |
| Review Your Confirmation Statement | After you make your benefit elections, be sure to download your confirmation statement and review your elections! Click this link to learn how to download your statement. |
| Navitus Pharmacy Formulary | Navitus is the Pharmacy Benefit Manager (PBM) for all County health plans. The Formulary is the list of covered medications by Navitus. If your medication is not covered, contact Navitus at 1-855-847-1035. |
| Retiree Resources | Details |
|---|---|
| 2027 Premium Rates | Review the new 2027 premiums and cafeteria rates. |
| 2027 Retiree Benefit Brochure | Coming Soon! |
| Navitus Pharmacy Formulary Early Retirees under 65 years old |
Navitus is the Pharmacy Benefit Manager (PBM) for all County health plans. The Formulary is the list of covered medications by Navitus. If your medication is not covered, contact Navitus at 1-855-847-1035. |
| Navitus Medicare D Pharmacy Formulary Retirees 65 years and older |
New - Navitus as the Pharmacy Benefit Manager (PBM) for all County health plans. The Formulary is the list of covered medications by Navitus. If your medication is not covered, contact Navitus at 1-855-213-1106. |
| Benefits Coordinator Corporation (BCC): (833) 574-1838 | Contact BCC during Open Enrollment to make changes to your medical, dental, or vision plan enrollments. Changes will be effective January 1, 2027. |