Open Enrollment for 2026 Benefits is Oct. 14 - Nov. 7, 2025
Open Enrollment is your opportunity to make/change your plan elections, add/drop dependents for the upcoming year, and change your monthly sick leave usage (for some groups). You will be able to make changes October 14th through November 7th, with a January 1, 2026 effective date.
2026 Retiree Benefits Guide & Rates
- 2026 Rates for Retired Employees
- 2026 Benefits Guide for Retired Employees
- 2026 Retiree Sick Leave Conversion Chart
Open Enrollment Resources for Retirees
Visit https://benefits.smc-hr.org/retirees/ for webinars schedule and see resources from our Benefit Providers .
What’s New for 2026?
Aetna OAMC PPO Plan Consolidation
For 2026, The OAMC PPO $200 and OAMC PPO $300 Deductible plans will be consolidated into one OAMC PPO $300 Deductible plan.
Members previously enrolled in the $200 deductible plan will now transition to the $300 deductible plan design, with updated coverage guidelines requiring deductibles to be met before coinsurance applies (except for preventive care). At the same time, members will see lower out-of-pocket costs, including hospitalization and inpatient mental health services reduced from a 20% coinsurance to 0% coinsurance, emergency room visits reduced from $100 to $0, and lower prescription copays ($20 for mail-order generics and $40 for mail-order formulary brands).
Members already enrolled in the $300 plan will see no benefit changes to their benefits, but premiums will be impacted.
Visit hr.smcgov.org/oe-retiree for a full comparison of the 2025 and the 2026 plan summaries.
Vision Service Plan Enhancement – Increased Frame Allowance
County retirees will see an increased allowance to their Frame Allowance for all VSP plans.
- VSP Core and Voluntary Plan: Increase in frame allowance from $150 to $170
HOW TO PROCESS YOUR OPEN ENROLLMENT
STARTING OCTOBER 14, 2025
The Open Enrollment Form will be available online at smcgov.org/hr/OE-1
Please email or fax ONLY if making changes.
- Email: benefits@smcgov.org
- Fax: (650)670-3080
(SENDING VIA USPS MAIL MAY CREATE DELAYS)
- All open enrollment changes must be submitted to our office no later than Friday, November 07, 2025
- If changing plans or adding a new Medicare dependent: Medicare recipients must complete all information requested and submit the OE form with a Copy of Medicare Card(s)
- All changes effective JANUARY 1, 2026.
You will receive a postcard or email confirming receipt of your enrollment change form
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
Open Enrollment Lunch and Learn Webinar Series
Benefit partners will be hosting 30-minute Information and Q&A sessions throughout the Open Enrollment period. Retirees can get answers to benefit questions directly from the carriers.
|
Date |
Time |
Topic |
|
Wednesday, October 15, 2025 |
12:30pm – 1:00pm |
Kaiser Senior Advantage Medicare Plan |
|
Friday, October 17, 2025 |
12:00pm – 12:30pm |
VSP Vision Plans for Retirees |
|
Monday, October 20, 2025 |
11:00am – 11:30am |
Cigna Dental Plans for Retirees |
|
Friday, October 24, 2025 |
10:00am – 11:00am |
UHC MAPPO for 65+ plan |
The schedule along with more information about these sessions will be available at:
https://benefits.smc-hr.org/webinars/
Online 2026 Rates and Benefits Guides
For additional information including the 2026 Benefits Guides and Rates, please visit the Benefits Website at: hr.smcgov.org/oe-retiree
Contact Benefits Staff
Email us at benefits@smcgov.orgor call 650-363-1919 Monday – Friday, 8:00am - 5:00pm
*** Please allow up to 1-2 business days for an email response from our team