Open Enrollment
Open Enrollment: Plan Year 2026-2027
July is our open enrollment month. This is the only time of year in which you can make changes to your medical and/or dental plan (i.e. add or drop dependents or enroll). It is also the only time a year that you can elect to participate in a Flexible Spending Account (FSA) or a Dependent Care Account (DCA), outside of life events. Please notify Human Resources if you wish to:
- Make any changes to your medical and/or dental plans.
Sign up for FSA or DCA accounts. Please note that you must elect the FSA and DCA accounts every year. Your election does not carry forward from year to year. Any unused funds under $660 will rollover to the 2026-2027 plan year.
All Enrollment Forms should be submitted to Kelly Wood in Human Resources by June 1st, 2026.
If you are not making any changes to your health and/or dental, or enrolling in the FSA, you do not need to submit anything to HR.
All enrollments forms are fillable and electronic signatures will be accepted.
Completed enrollment forms can be sent through interoffice, dropped off to Human Resources in City Hall, or sent via email. If you choose to send completed forms via email, please Encrypt the message for security purposes. To encrypt, please add SECUREMAIL to the subject of the email.
Medical and Dental Insurance
New for July 1st: Site of Service Plan
Effective July 1st, the City has added a voluntary medical insurance option for staff members. Employee contribution is 7% for all collective bargaining units.
HealthTrust Site of Service (SOS) plans, in partnership with Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield, provide lower out-of-pocket costs for members by using preferred providers for labs, imaging, and ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs). Members pay $0 for independent diagnostic labs and significantly less for outpatient procedures at designated ASCs, reducing overall health costs.
FAQs, as well as the most recent flyers from Health Trust on labs, radiology and other providers are linked below. They are also found in the Active Employee Packet.
Medical Insurance Premiums for July 1, 2026 - June 30, 2027
Open Enrollment Meetings
The City in partnership with HealthTrust will be hosting on-site Open Enrollment meetings for staff. These meetings are open to all staff. HealthTrust and HR will be on-site available to answer any coverage questions.
- Thursday April 16th from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM - Hilton Room, Portsmouth Public Library (175 Parrott Ave)
- Monday April 20th from 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM - Training Room, Fire Station 2 (3010 Lafayette Rd)
- Wednesday April 29th from 7:45 AM to 8:45 AM - Training Room, DPW (680 Peverly Hill Road)
HR will be hosting additional meetings for Police and Fire Department for various shifts. Information will be sent to those departments directly.
A recorded presentation by HealthTrust is available to view on demand. Click here to view or visit the link in the Active Benefit Packet.
Flexible Spending Accounts
Available under the Flexible Spending Account (FSA) are the Health Care Reimbursement Account (HICA) and Dependent Care Assistance Account (DCA). This program allows you to take money out of our paycheck on a pre-tax basis, which you can use for eligible out of pocket health care expenses or your eligible dependent care expenses. Since the money you choose to put into these accounts is not considered taxable income, you save by paying less Federal, State (if applicable) and FICA taxes.
Medical Reimbursement Accounts
Employees may set aside up to $3,400 per year with a minimum of $5 per pay period. Can be used to pay for:
- Medical Insurance Deductibles or Coinsurance
- Uninsured Dental Expenses (including orthodontia)
- Hearing Aids and Batteries
- Vision Care Expenses, including exams, glasses, contact lenses, supplies and solutions and Lasik surgery
- Support or corrective devices (such as orthopedic shoes)
- And much more!
Dependent Care Reimbursement Accounts
Employees may set aside up to $7,500 per family per year or $3,750 for a married taxpayer filing separately. Can be used to pay for:
- Day Care Expenses
- Before/After School Care
- Preschool Costs
- Elderly Care
- Day Camps
You must elect the FSA every year, your enrollment does not carry over from year to year.
The FSA is deducted from 24 payrolls each fiscal year.