2026 Open Enrollment

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2026 Open Enrollment

What you need to know

Sandia remains committed to providing benefits and resources that make it easier for you to live your best life – physically, emotionally and financially. For 2026, you’ll see that commitment reflected in our continuing comprehensive suite of benefits designed to meet your needs at any stage of life.

You’ll have an opportunity to take advantage of these benefits when Open Enrollment begins on Monday, Oct. 13. You must make your elections by 11:59 p.m. MST (10:59 p.m. PST) on Monday, Nov. 3.

Enroll Here
Resources to Help you Choose
Open Enrollment Virtual Information Sessions
Medical and Prescription Drug Coverage
Three Dental Plan Options
Three Vision Plan Options
Sandia Extras
Enroll by Nov. 3, 2025, through HR Self Service

Resources to Help You Choose

Monthly Premiums:

Benefits Guide:

Plan Comparison Charts:

Informational Videos:

Flyers:

Tools:

Frequently Asked Questions:

2026 Summary of Benefits and Coverage (SBC):

Total Health PPO Plan

Health Savings Plan

Benefit Summaries:

HR Solutions Web Pages:

Open Enrollment Virtual Information Sessions

Each session is 45 minutes long, with 30 minutes for the presentation and 15 minutes for questions, unless noted otherwise.

Click the links below to add sessions to your Outlook calendar.

Sessions will be recorded and posted here.

Blue Cross Blue Shield of NM – Sandia Medical Plans Overview

Davis Vision – Sandia Vision Plan Benefits

Delta Dental of NM – Sandia Dental Plan Benefits

HSA Basics with Optum Bank

HSA Investment Opportunities

Inspira Financial – HCFSA and HRA Program Review

Kaiser Health Plan Overview

Open Enrollment Overview

Open Enrollment Overview – Sandia Family Edition

Sandia Extras – Benefits Overview

Sandia’s Lifestyle Spending Account and Childcare Fund

Sandia Pharmacy Benefits – Optum Rx

UnitedHealthcare – Sandia Medical Plans Overview

Medical and Prescription Drug Coverage

Your medical plan options will not change for 2026; you can choose the Health Savings Plan (HSP) or the Total Health PPO Plan.

What’s New for 2026 Open Enrollment

  • Premiums:
    • Due to rising medical and prescription drug expenses, premiums for the Health Savings Plan (HSP) and Total Health PPO Plan will be increasing. Review the 2026 Employee Monthly Premiums.
    • Part-time employees will pay the same premiums as full-time employees, based on the employee’s salary tier.
  • Health Savings Plan (HSP):
    • Employees will see a few changes to the plan’s deductibles and out-of-pocket maximums.
    • Per the IRS, in 2026 you can contribute more to your Health Savings Account (HSA): up to $4,400 if you have individual coverage, and $8,750 if you cover dependents (these maximums include Sandia’s matching contributions).
  • Total Health PPO Plan:
    • Employees will see a few changes to the plan’s deductibles.
    • The Emergency Room visit cost will change from coinsurance to a $250 copay.
  • Autopay Feature for Total Health PPO Plan:
    • For your convenience, Inspira Financial will process all Health Reimbursement Account (HRA) and Healthcare Flexible Spending Account (HCFSA) claims. Eligible medical, dental and/or vision expenses will automatically be processed by Inspira Financial first through your available HCFSA funds and then through your available HRA funds and reimbursed to you.
    • Please be sure to review your autopay election for 2026. If you do not make any changes to your medical plan and/or you do not elect the Healthcare Flexible Spending Account (HCFSA) for 2026, your 2025 autopay election will carry over to 2026. New Total Health PPO enrollments or changes from Health Savings Plan (HSP) to Total Health PPO – autopay will default to “enroll.” If you wish to view your current autopay election, please go to HR Self Service>Benefits and Retirement>Benefit Details>FSA/HRA AutoPay Elect Status.
  • Prescription Drug Coverage:
    • Optum Rx will be the new prescription drug coverage provider for Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Mexico (BCBSNM) and UnitedHealthcare (UHC).
    • Specialty brand drugs will move to their own tier. The new specialty brand tier will have 30% coinsurance ($75 min/$112.50 max for a 30-day supply; $150 min/$225 max for a 90-day supply).

As you think about your needs for 2026, review the details about the Health Savings Plan (HSP) and the Total Health PPO Plan to determine which plan is best for you.

Keep in mind that if you switch from the Total Health PPO Plan to the Health Savings Plan (HSP), you won’t be able to use any money left in your Healthcare Flexible Spending Account (HCFSA) and/or Health Reimbursement Account (HRA) at the end of 2025. So be sure to spend down those balances if you’re moving to the Health Savings Plan (HSP) in 2026.

Comparing Key Plan Features

Although the plans feature the same administrators and provider networks, they differ in many ways. It’s important to understand what those differences could mean to you.

Where to Learn More: Tools to Help You Choose

To compare coverage and what you’ll pay for services under the two plans, review the Medical Plan Comparison Chart.

Your medical and prescription drug premiums are based on the plan you choose and the dependents you cover. To see what you’ll pay for coverage, review the 2026 Employee Monthly Premiums.

Three Dental Plan Options

For 2026, you have three dental plans to choose from:

  • The Value Plan—offers the lowest maximum benefit, with 70% coverage at the highest level.
  • The Standard Plan—offers 80% coverage at the highest level.
  • The Plus Plan—offers the highest maximum benefit, with 90% coverage at the highest level. You must remain in the Plus Plan for at least two consecutive years.

You do not have to enroll in medical coverage to elect dental coverage.

What You Pay Depends on Your Provider’s Network

Delta Dental of New Mexico administers all the dental plans and offers you a choice of providers and networks:

  • Delta Dental PPO (Preferred*). Dentists in this smaller network charge the least for covered services, so your portion of the cost is also lower.
  • Delta Dental Premier. This is a larger network, and providers charge more for their services. But you are not responsible for any amounts over the Delta Dental maximum approved fee.
  • Out-of-network. You can use any provider; however, out-of-network dentists do not discount their fees, and you will be responsible for any amounts over the Delta Dental maximum approved fee.

*Pro tip: The Delta Dental PPO network provides the highest level of benefits at the lowest cost.

Where to Learn More: Tools to Help You Choose

To compare coverage and what you’ll pay for services under the three plans, review the Dental Plan Comparison Chart.

Your dental premiums are based on the plan you choose and the dependents you cover. To see what you’ll pay for coverage, review the 2026 Employee Monthly Premiums.

Three Vision Plan Options

For 2026, you have three vision plans to choose from, all administered by Davis Vision.

Due to rising healthcare costs, vision plan premiums will be increasing. Review the 2026 Employee Monthly Premiums.

  • The Value Plan—offers higher copays and lower allowances for services and materials.
  • The Standard Plan—offers lower copays and includes a laser eye surgery allowance.
  • The Plus Plan—offers the lowest copays and higher allowances for services and materials, including laser eye surgery. You must remain in the Plus Plan for at least two consecutive years.

You do not have to enroll in medical coverage to elect vision coverage.

Where to Learn More: Tools to Help You Choose

To compare coverage and what you’ll pay for services under the three plans, review the Vision Plan Comparison Chart.

Your vision premiums are based on the plan you choose and the dependents you cover. To see what you’ll pay for coverage, review the 2026 Employee Monthly Premiums.

Sandia Extras

Sandia offers a variety of voluntary benefits* that provide added financial protection, make life easier, and can save you money. Some of these extras are available year-round; others are available only during Open Enrollment.

Visit mysandiaextras.com for more information.

Voluntary Benefits Available Only During Open Enrollment
  • Accident Insurance
  • Critical Illness Insurance
  • Hospital Indemnity Insurance
  • Short-Term Disability
  • Legal Services
  • Voluntary Life Insurance: As a one-time offer during 2026 Open Enrollment, employees can apply for or increase their MetLife voluntary life insurance coverage for themselves and/or their dependents by answering five health questions on the Sandia Extras site.

Visit mysandiaextras.com for more information.


*If you are a represented employee, refer to your collective bargaining agreement to verify your benefit options.

Enroll by Nov. 3, 2025, through HR Self Service

Open Enrollment begins Monday, Oct. 13, and you must make your 2026 elections by 11:59 p.m. MST (10:59 p.m. PST) on Monday, Nov 3.

Review your current benefit elections and consider whether they will continue to meet your needs in the coming year. Once you’ve made your decisions, enroll in the programs you want for yourself (and your family) in 2026.

How to Enroll

Enroll or make changes to your benefit elections at any time between Oct. 13 and Nov. 3, by 11:59 p.m. MST (10:59 p.m. PST).

Enroll in medical, dental, vision, flexible spending accounts (healthcare, dependent care, and, for Northern California employees only, transportation), and vacation buy/sell1 through HR Self Service. Remember, if you’re enrolling in a Healthcare Flexible Spending Account (HCFSA), be sure to plan your expenses carefully, as you’ll lose any balance over $660 after Dec. 31, 2025. As a reminder, if you’re enrolling in the Health Savings Plan (HSP), you cannot contribute to an HCFSA.

To enroll in voluntary benefits (voluntary life insurance, hospital indemnity insurance, accident insurance, critical illness insurance, disability benefits, or legal, for example), go to mysandiaextras.com.

The elections you make during Open Enrollment are effective from Jan. 1 through Dec. 31, 2026.

Questions? Contact HR Solutions at 505-284-4700 or go to hr.sandia.gov and select the HR Solutions dropdown on the top right to “Request Chat.” HR Solutions is available:

Monday – Thursday: 7 a.m. – 5 p.m. MT (6 a.m. – 4 p.m. PT)
Friday: 7 a.m. – 4 p.m. MT (6 a.m. – 3 p.m. PT)
Saturday – Sunday: Closed

1If you are a represented employee, refer to your collective bargaining agreement to verify your benefit options.

Complete your health assessment

Completing an annual health assessment enables you to evaluate your current health status, track progress and identify any potential setbacks.

By pairing the health assessment with health coaching, you create a powerful strategy for heightened awareness and actionable steps that lead to improved well-being.

(Link opens in a new tab)Complete Your Health Assessment