Health Eligibility and Enrollment
What you need to know
Before electing your healthcare benefits, consider what is important for you and your family’s healthcare needs – for example, which family members to enroll, which medical plan vendor you want to provide your coverage, and whether you want to add dental and vision coverage to the mix.
Once you enroll in benefits, your only opportunity to make a change is during an open enrollment period or within 31 days of a qualifying life event (e.g., marriage, birth/adoption of a child, loss of other coverage).
Your Eligibility
You are eligible for medical, dental, and vision benefits if you are a:
- Regular full-time or part-time employee
- Limited-term full-time or part-time employee (exempt or non-exempt)
- Postdoctoral appointee (full-time or part-time)
Year-round student interns enrolled in a postsecondary educational program and co-op employees may be eligible for medical benefits and can use Sandia’s Employee Health & Wellbeing clinic. Certain restrictions apply. See the NTESS Health Benefits Plan for Active Employees Summary Plan Description (SPD) for details.
Contractors are eligible for select wellness programs and emergency care at the Employee Health & Wellbeing clinic.
Your Eligible Family Members
When you enroll for benefits, you can also enroll your family members:
- Your spouse
- Children up to age 26 (includes biological children, adopted children, children placed for adoption, legal guardianship, stepchildren, and children covered under a qualified medical child support order)
- Disabled children age 26 or older
Proof of dependent eligibility is required. Complete eligibility requirements are in the NTESS Health Benefits Plan for Active Employees Summary Plan Description (SPD).
Enrolling as a New Employee
Healthcare coverage is retroactive to your start date with Sandia, and you need to be sure to enroll in your selected plans within your first 31 days of employment. Check out New to Benefits for more information.
You will complete your enrollment online.
Annual Open Enrollment
Each fall, Sandia holds an open enrollment. This is your opportunity to review your benefits and change your coverage, including adding or removing eligible dependents.
Each year, you will receive communications before Open Enrollment begins that explain any benefit plan and cost changes for the coming year.
If you need help or have questions you can contact HR Solutions.
You will complete your enrollment online.
The elections you make during open enrollment are effective from Jan. 1 to Dec. 31 of the following year.
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.