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 2025, 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. 14. You must make your elections by 11:59 p.m. MT (10:59 p.m. PT) on Monday, Oct. 28.
Enroll here!
Resources to Help You Choose
- 2025 Benefits Guide (pdf)
- Medical Plan Comparison Chart (pdf)
- Medical Plan Comparison Tool
- Prescription Drug Pricing Tool (select either the Health Savings Plan or the Total Health PPO Plan; then, select Price a Medication, and enter the information requested)
- Express Scripts – 2025 Formulary and Exclusions List
- Dental Plan Comparison Chart (pdf)
- Vision Plan Comparison Chart (pdf)
- Full-Time Employee Monthly Premiums for 2025 (pdf) Please note that salary tiers have changed for 2025
- Part-Time Employee Monthly Premiums for 2025 (pdf)
- 2025 Open Enrollment At-A-Glance Flyer (pdf)
- Inspira Financial Autopay Option for BCBSNM and UHC HRA/HCFSA
- 2025 Summary of Benefits and Coverage (SBC)
- Get to Know Our Benefit Providers
Informational Videos:
Open Enrollment Virtual Information Sessions:
- Oct. 7: Kaiser Permanente Health Plan Overview Recording
- Oct. 7: Health Savings Account (HSA) Basics with Optum Bank Recording
- Oct. 7: UnitedHealthcare – Sandia Medical Plans Overview Recording
- Oct. 9: Davis Vision – Sandia Vision Plan Benefits Recording
- Oct. 9: Inspira Financial – Healthcare Flexible Savings Account (HCFSA) and Health Reimbursement Account (HRA) Program Review Recording
- Oct. 9: Express Scripts – Sandia Pharmacy Benefits Recording
- Oct. 9: Delta Dental of New Mexico – Sandia Dental Plan Benefits Recording
- Oct. 10: Health Savings Account (HSA) Investment Opportunities Recording
- Oct. 10: Sandia’s Lifestyle Spending Account and Childcare Fund Recording
- Oct. 10: Sandia Extras – Benefits Overview Recording
- Oct. 10: Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Mexico – Sandia Medical Plans Overview Recording
Frequently Asked Questions:
Medical and Prescription Drug Coverage
Your medical plan options will not change for 2025; you can choose the Health Savings Plan or the Total Health PPO Plan.
What’s New for 2025 Open Enrollment
- Infertility treatment lifetime maximum benefit increase: For both the Health Savings Plan (HSP) and the Total Health PPO Plan, the lifetime maximum benefit will increase from $30,000 to $45,000.
- Employees will see a few changes to the Health Savings Plan’s (HSP) deductibles and out-of-pocket maximums.
- The Health Savings Account (HSA), available with the Health Savings Plan (HSP), will also see a few changes listed below:
- Per the IRS, in 2025 you can contribute more to your HSA: up to $4,300 if you have individual coverage, and $8,550 if you cover dependents (these maximums include Sandia’s matching contributions).
- The HSA Monthly Maintenance Fee will be waived, changing from $.95 per account, to $0 per account.
- The HSA Monthly Investment Fee will be waived, changing from $.03% of balance capped at $2/month per account, to $0 per account.
- 2025 premium salary tiers: To keep pace with inflation, Sandia made adjustments to the salary tiers that are used to determine premium rates for 2025.
As you think about your needs for 2025, review the details about the Health Savings Plan 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, you won’t be able to use any money left in your health care flexible spending account (HCFSA) and/or health reimbursement account (HRA) at the end of 2024. So be sure to spend down those balances if you’re moving to the Health Savings Plan in 2025.
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 (pdf).
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 Monthly Premiums for 2025 (pdf).
Three Dental Plan Options
For 2025, 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 (pdf).
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 Monthly Premiums for 2025 (pdf).
Three Vision Plan Options
For 2025, you have three vision plans to choose from, all administered by Davis Vision:
- 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 (pdf).
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 Monthly Premiums for 2025 (pdf).
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.
*If you are a represented employee, refer to your collective bargaining agreement to verify your benefit options.
- Legal Services – enhanced coverages for 2025 at no additional cost, including services for parents and grandparents; Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) benefits; and reproductive assistance
- Accident Insurance
- Critical Illness Insurance
- Hospital Indemnity Insurance
- Short-Term Disability
Visit mysandiaextras.com for more information.
Enroll by Oct. 28, 2024, through HR Self Service
Open Enrollment begins Monday, Oct. 14, and you must make your 2025 elections by 11:59 p.m. MT (10:59 p.m. PT) on Monday, Oct. 28.
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 2025.
How to Enroll
Enroll or make changes to your benefit elections at any time between Oct. 14 and Oct. 28, by 11:59 p.m. MT (10:59 p.m. PT).
Enroll in medical, dental, vision, flexible spending accounts (healthcare, dependent care, and, for 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 $640 after Dec. 31, 2024. As a reminder, if you’re enrolling in the Health Savings Plan, you cannot contribute to an HCFSA.
Autopay Feature for Total Health PPO Plan: For your convenience, Inspira Financial (formerly PayFlex) will process all HRA and 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 2025. If you do not make any changes to your medical plan and/or you do not elect the HCFSA for 2025, your 2024 autopay election will carry over to 2025. 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.
To enroll in voluntary benefits (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, 2025. As you make your choices for 2025, be sure to review the Medical Plan Options video.
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.
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