from our Council 39 Benefits Committee
Open enrollment for 2027 health benefits is open now and closes on Friday, November 20. Review your options and complete your enrollment before the deadline. Don’t wait until the last minute!
Spouse or Domestic Partner Coverage
You must check the box to elect coverage for your spouse or domestic partner for 2027. Their coverage will not renew automatically. If you do not complete this step, they will not have coverage through Alaska next year.
If your spouse or domestic partner is offered health insurance through their own employer, they must enroll in that plan as their primary coverage. Coverage through Alaska would be secondary.
Management will audit this information in the first quarter of 2027; intentionally providing inaccurate information will result in discipline, up to and including termination.
FSA/HSA Contributions
You must re-elect your Flexible Spending Account (FSA) or Health Spending Account (HSA) contributions for 2027, even if you contributed in 2026. Your contribution elections do not renew automatically.
Vision and Dental Coverage
New this year: vision and dental are separate benefit elections. You must select a vision plan and dental plan if you want both types of coverage for 2027. Your vision and dental selections do not have to match your medical plan; you can choose the option that best fits your needs.
Medical Plans
For 2027, there are three PPO options and two Kaiser options. Monthly premiums are similar across all plans. The main differences are:
- Deductibles: what you pay before the plan begins sharing certain costs
- Coinsurance: the percentage of covered costs you pay after meeting your deductible
The Saver Plan has the highest deductible, but the company contributes $600 to your HSA. HSA funds are yours to keep and are not “use it or lose it”.
Optional Add-on Coverage: Short-Term Disability (STD) – $26/month
This is additional coverage for an unexpected illness, injury or pregnancy. It increases STD benefits from 40% to 60% of eligible pay.
For employees enrolled in short-term disability coverage, benefits coordinate according to the STD plan’s rules. If Paid Leave Oregon benefits end while the employee remains medically disabled, STD may pay for the remaining elegible period under the plan.
Note: if you already receive Social Security benefits based on your own record, supplemental STD coverage may provide limited additional value.
Optional Add-on Coverage: Hospital Indemnity Insurance
Consider this coverage if you anticipate an inpatient hospital stay for pregnancy or major surgery.
Vacation and Sick Leave Planning
If you have little or no sick leave, consider moving some vacation days toward the end of the year in case you need a continuous medical leave.
Using vacation during an eligible leave can help maintain your travel benefits and health insurance at active employee rates. If you exhaust both sick leave and vacation, you may need to pay full COBRA premiums and non-revenue travel may no longer be available, depending on your leave status and applicable rules.
Questions?
Contact a member of our Council 39 Benefits Committee for assistance.
