Frequently Asked Questions

Open/Switch Enrollment is the period of time each Fall during which eligible employees may elect, for themselves and eligible dependents, to:

• Enroll or disenroll in one of the medical, dental, and/or vision plans offered by APS. A two-year lock-in rule applies to dental and vision coverage.
• Enroll or re-enroll in one or both of the Flexible Spending Account plans: Healthcare Flexible Spending and Dependent Care Flexible Spending. You must re-enroll for this benefit every year.
• Add or drop eligible dependents on the medical, dental, or vision coverage. A two-year lock-in rule applies to dental and vision coverage.
• Change medical and/or dental plan options. A two-year lock-in rule applies to dental coverage.
• If you wish to enroll your child or children in Dependent Life Insurance, you must do so during Open/Switch Enrollment.
• Please note that no other life insurance or long-term disability insurance enrollments will be accepted during Open/Switch Enrollment. If you are not currently enrolled in Additional Life Insurance or Long-Term Disability Insurance, you may apply for these benefits (subject to Evidence of Insurability) at any time during the year except between September 20 and October 31. 
• If you currently have Additional Life Insurance and want to apply for more coverage or apply for spouse life insurance, you may do so at any time during the year (subject to Evidence of Insurability) except between September 20 and October 31.

Enroll online using the Winocular Workspace system, the same system you used to enroll in Benefits and renew your contract each year.  Benefit-eligible employees will receive "Welcome to Open/Switch Enrollment" emails between October 1-3, from HRnoreply@aps.edu, with information and links to Winocular.

The Benefits Department will not accept paper enrollment or change forms. APS Benefits Specialists will be available at the Employee Wellness Fair to answer questions and help employees through the online enrollment process.

If you will be adding an eligible dependent to your medical plan, dental plan, vision plan, or adding child life insurance during Open/Switch Enrollment, you will need to submit supporting documentation (marriage certificate to add a spouse, birth certificate(s) to add a child or children, completed Domestic Partner Affidavit and required documents to add a qualified domestic partner).

If you need help enrolling or making a change to your benefits, the Benefits Department will host the Employee Wellness Fair on Wednesday, Oct. 7 and Thursday, Oct. 8, from 2:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Laptop stations and enrollment assistance from our Benefits Specialists will be available. To allow for plenty of parking, we will hold this event at the Berna Facio Professional Development Center (southwest corner of Louisiana and Comanche NE).

If you wish to add an eligible dependent to your medical plan, dental plan, vision plan, or add child life insurance during Open/Switch Enrollment, bring supporting documentation with you for enrollment assistance (marriage certificate to add a spouse, birth certificate(s) to add a child or children, completed Domestic Partner Affidavit and required documents to add a qualified domestic partner).

Review your 2026 Benefits Statement, which will be sent to your APS email between October 1-3. Please keep in mind that not everyone will receive the email on the same day. Emails are sent in batches because of the size of our employee base.  If you have not received the "Welcome to Open Enrollment" email by October 5, please email us at employee.benefits@aps.edu.

Yes. There is a 20.5% increase in the medical, dental, and vision plan premiums for the 2027 calendar year.  The medical, pharmacy, dental, and vision plans will not change for 2027. APS employees may choose between Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Mexico (BCBS) EPO and Presbyterian Health Plan (PHP) EPO for medical insurance. There is no out-of-network coverage with BCBS or PHP medical plans. Please review the medical plan comparison page for additional information. 

• View the 2027 Medical Plan Comparison Chart here.
• View the 2027 bi-monthly medical rates. 
• View the 2027 bi-monthly dental and vision rates. 
• View the 2027 Food Service/C-schedule medical rates.
• View the 2027 Food Service/C-schedule dental and vision rates. 

Yes, if you have not actively enrolled in benefits in the past, then you will not be covered. If you have waived coverage in the past, that election will continue for 2027. 

Or, if you choose to drop your current coverage starting January 1, 2027, you must complete the Open/Switch Enrollment process to specify AND submit any changes to Employee Benefits, including to 'waive coverage', on the Enrollment Change Form. 

Please consider your options carefully before submitting your enrollment in Winocular Workspace. Once the Open/Switch Enrollment period ends, you will not be able to change your benefits until open enrollment in 2027 for the year 2028, unless you have a qualifying mid-year change event.

If you submit your open enrollment form and change your mind before October 16, 2026, email your Benefits Specialist. 

There are premium increases to the 2027 medical, dental, and vision plans. We highly recommend that all benefit-eligible employees attend the APS Employee Wellness Fair to learn more about their 2027 benefits. If you do not wish to change your medical or other plan options or participate in the Flexible Spending Accounts, you do not need to enroll again.

You will be automatically re-enrolled with your current insurance plan for 2027, except for flexible spending. If you want to participate in the health care or dependent care Flexible Spending Account plans for the calendar year 2027, you must enroll or re-enroll during Open/Switch Enrollment. 

Even if you are not making changes, we strongly encourage everyone to review, complete, and submit their 2026 Benefits Statement. However, if you choose not to do this, your current benefit enrollments will continue for 2027, except for the ASIFlex flexible spending account.  

The medical, dental, and vision plan premium increase will apply regardless of whether you make a change to your enrollments. 

Employees have two medical insurance options for 2027. Each medical plan includes prescription drug coverage through Express Scripts. 

Both medical insurance options offer an EPO plan that includes some out-of-state, in-network access. APS employees can choose between Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Mexico (BCBS) and Presbyterian Health Plan (PHP). BCBS offers in-state and out-of-state, in-network options. The PHP EPO plan offers the Aetna network as an extension plan, only for out-of-state enrolled dependents ages 17-26. The Aetna network is not available to PHP members living in New Mexico.  *Neither plan includes out-of-network options. 

More specific information, including a chart comparing benefits between the plans, is available in the 2027 Medical Plan Cost Comparison Grid. 

Prescription drug coverage is included with each of the medical plan options. There are no copay or out-of-pocket maximum changes to the prescription drug plan for 2027. Please refer to the 2027 Medical Plan Cost Comparison Grid.

The medical plan best for you and your family is a very personal decision. Your choice may be based on how much health care you and your family members expect to need, family circumstances and finances, whether you have a current doctor or specialist you would like to continue seeing, whether you have a preferred hospital, and other factors. To help employees make this decision, we strongly suggest attending the Wellness Fair.  You'll have one-on-one access to representatives from Blue Cross Blue Shield, Presbyterian Health Plan, Delta Dental, and Davis Vision. Express Scripts (pharmacy benefit) and ASI-Flex, your flexible spending account vendor, as well as The Standard Life Insurance and Hartford Long-term Disability Insurance, will be at the wellness fair to answer questions.

If you wish to participate in the Health Care Flexible Spending Account (HCFSA) or Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account (DCFSA) in 2027, you must enroll during open enrollment.  Your current FSA election will not roll over to 2027. (Even if you just enrolled in the FSA as a new employee.) The Health Care Flexible Spending contribution limit will increase to $3,400 in 2027. 

The Employer Code for FSA Online Enrollment is “APS”

You may apply for Additional Life Insurance and Long-Term Disability Insurance anytime during the year, except during Open/Switch Enrollment.

APS does not allow employees to submit applications for Additional Life Insurance and Long-Term Disability Insurance between September 20 and October 31. The only exception is if you wish to enroll your child or children for Dependent Life Insurance, which CAN ONLY be done during Open/Switch Enrollment. 

If you are not currently enrolled in Additional Life Insurance or Long-Term Disability Insurance, you may apply for these benefits (subject to Evidence of Insurability) at any time during the year, other than between September 20 and October 31.

If you currently have Additional Life Insurance and want to apply for more coverage or apply for spouse life insurance, you may do so at any time during the year (subject to Evidence of Insurability) other than between September 20 and October 31.

Benefits you elect during Open/Switch Enrollment in October will begin January 1, 2027.