Defined Benefit Retiree Without System-Paid Medical (Direct Bill)
Open Enrollment for 2026

Open Enrollment Overview

The AlaskaCare Retiree Health Plan is providing you with an opportunity to elect or change your health benefit coverage. Open Enrollment began November 5, 2025, and ends November 26, 2025. During this period, you may make elections or changes to your health coverage effective January 1, 2026.

This Open Enrollment is offered to TRS Tier II and PERS Tier II and Tier III benefit recipients who are currently enrolled in Direct Bill with Inspira Financial.

If you wish to participate in Open Enrollment, please read the instructions below. Any election changes must be postmarked or received by the Division of Retirement and Benefits by November 26, 2025.

For general information about the Defined Benefit Retiree Health plan, please visit our AlaskaCare Retiree Health Plan webpage.

What Benefits Am I Eligible to Enroll in or Change During Open Enrollment?

If at retirement you were not eligible for system-paid medical benefits due to not meeting age and/or service requirements, the following benefit options may be available to you based on your medical and dental elections at the time you retired. Please review the following scenarios carefully.

• If you did not elect to purchase Medical or Dental/Vision/Audio (DVA) coverage at retirement:
  • You may enroll in medical coverage now, however, DVA may be elected now only if the same or increased level of medical coverage is also being elected for the first time. You may not elect to enroll in DVA only.
  • You may also elect to purchase medical and/or dental-vision-audio insurance for your dependents. However, you may not elect either coverage for dependents only.
  • You may elect a higher level of medical coverage than DVA coverage, but you cannot elect a higher level of DVA coverage without electing the same or higher level of medical coverage. For example, if you want to enroll in DVA for retiree and spouse, you must also elect to purchase medical coverage for both you and your spouse.
• If you elected to purchase only medical insurance for you and/or your dependents at retirement:
  • You do not have the opportunity to elect DVA during this year’s open enrollment.
  • If you would like to add an eligible dependent to your medical coverage, you may do so at this time.
• If at retirement you enrolled only in DVA and did not elect to enroll in medical benefits:
  • You may enroll in medical insurance for you, your spouse, and/or any eligible dependent children.
  • If you are electing medical coverage greater than your DVA coverage, you may increase your DVA level of coverage to match your medical level of coverage.

Note: If you need to review the medical, dental-vision-audio, and long-term care elections you chose at your retirement or subsequently during an open enrollment period, please call the in Juneau at or toll-free at to speak to a customer service representative.

Important Information for Retirees Nearing Age 60

Legislation provides for the retirement system to pay the full premium for your medical coverage at age 60 (also known as “system-paid medical”), depending on tier status and service requirements.

• If you are a PERS Tier III retiree, first hired on or after July 1, 1996, you must meet the 10 years of creditable service at the time of your retirement in order to qualify for system-paid medical benefits at age 60.
• If you are a vested PERS Tier II retiree, first hired on or after July 1, 1986, or a vested TRS Tier II retiree, first hired on or after July 1, 1990, you only have to meet the age eligibility requirement in order to receive system-paid medical benefits. You DO NOT have to meet the 10-year service eligibility requirement.

Coverage for retirees reaching age 60 becomes system-paid (no cost to you for major medical premiums) the first of the month following your 60th birthday. This coverage includes the retiree, spouse, and any eligible dependent children you may have.

What You Need to Do

• Review the Health Benefits Enrollment/Waiver form (ben050)Health Benefits Enrollment/Waiver form PDF for next year’s premiums. If you need to review the details of your current elections, please call the to speak to a customer service representative.
• Decide if you want to change the level of coverage you already have.
• Determine if you are eligible to add DVA coverage if you are not already enrolled or if you want to update the level of coverage you already have.
• Complete the Health Benefits Enrollment/Waiver form (ben050)Health Benefits Enrollment/Waiver form (ben050) PDF , indicating the coverage you would like effective January 1, 2026. Return this form to the Division of Retirement and Benefits by 5 p.m. Alaska Time on November 26, 2025.
• Complete the Defined Benefit Retiree Direct Bill Open Enrollment form (ben166)Defined Benefit Retiree Direct Bill Open Enrollment form (ben166) PDF , once more indicating the coverage you would like effective January 1, 2026. Be sure to list any dependents you will be covering under your AlaskaCare Health Plan effective January 1, 2026. Return this form to Inspira Financial by 5 p.m. Alaska Time on November 26, 2025.

If you would prefer a paper copy of the enrollment forms, please contact the Division of Retirement and Benefits as soon as possible to request a copy be mailed to you. You will need to return the signed form to the Division no later than 5 p.m. Alaska Time on November 26, 2025.

If your enrollment is not postmarked or received by the November 26 deadline, your current elections will remain in force for the coming year. Please note that any 2026 benefit changes will apply.

2026 Plan Changes

Teladoc for AlaskaCare Retiree Health Plan Members

On January 1, 2026, the AlaskaCare Retiree Health Plan will be providing access to additional telemedicine provider options by offering Teladoc for acute care, dermatology, and behavioral health services with only a $25 member copay.

Teladoc services have been offered to AlaskaCare Employee Health Plan members since September 1, 2018, and were temporarily available to AlaskaCare Retiree Health Plan members during the COVID pandemic. By reintroducing Teladoc, members will have increased access to timely and affordable care, as Teladoc connects you to board-certified, state-licensed doctors for treatment of non-emergent conditions 24/7/365, by web, phone or mobile app.

Teladoc doctors can help with many health issues, including:

• Cold and flu symptoms
• Allergies
• Bronchitis
• Skin problems
• Respiratory infections
• Sore throat
• Sinus problems
• Urinary Tract Infections
• Dermatology
• Behavioral Health
• ...and more!

To utilize the benefit, you’ll begin by registering your Teladoc account. There are three ways to register:

• Online: teladochealth.com/aetna website
• Mobile App: Teladoc.com/mobile website
• Phone:

During registration, you’ll complete your medical history so when you need Teladoc, it will be fast and easy. Watch a short video website to discover more.

Retiree Foreign Ambulance

Effective January 1, 2026, the AlaskaCare Retiree Health Plan will allow coverage for professional ambulance services received outside of the United States. This includes ambulance transportation by ground or air, via fixed wing aircraft and/or helicopter, for patients with emergent conditions needing immediate medical attention at a hospital with special facilities for treating your condition.

Currently, coverage for transportation by professional ambulance is limited to services received within the United States. To support members traveling or living outside of the United States who may require emergency medical transportation services, the AlaskaCare Retiree Health Plan will extend coverage to allow professional ambulance services received abroad.

Dental-Vision-Audio Changes

Please visit the DVA Open Enrollment page webpage for information about DVA benefit changes in 2026.

Open Enrollment Packet

The Open Enrollment forms will be available on November 5, 2025.

The following forms will exclusively be available during the Open Enrollment period from November 5-26, 2025. You will not be able to access the forms outside of this period.

• Health Benefits Enrollment/Waiver form (ben050)Health Benefits Enrollment/Waiver form (ben050) PDF
  • Complete this form with any election changes for the next benefit year and return the signed form to the Division of Retirement and Benefits.
• Defined Benefit Retiree Direct Bill Open Enrollment form (ben166)Defined Benefit Retiree Direct Bill Open Enrollment form (ben166) PDF
  • Complete this form with any election changes for the next benefit year as well as any dependent changes and return the signed form to Inspira Financial as directed on the form.
• Inspira Financial Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) FormInspira Financial Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) Form PDF
  • Complete this form if you would like to enroll in electronic funds transfer with Inspira Financial. Return the form directly to Inspira Financial.

You can contact the Division of Retirement and Benefits webpage to request a paper copy of the forms. Your forms must be submitted by 5 p.m. Alaska Time on November 26, 2025.