Annual Enrollment
Enroll October 22 - November 12, 2025
Annual Enrollment is your opportunity to make changes to your AEP benefits for 2026. This year includes some exciting enhancements, making it a great time to take a fresh look at your options.
New year, new Plans! You'll notice changes to both the Medical and Dental Plans, so it's important to review your options and make an election. See What's New >
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Step 1: Review Your Options
Visit aepbenefits.com to review your current coverage in your Benefit Summary.
Explore the 2026 AEP Benefits section on this site to learn about your coverage options for 2026.
You will NEED to take action during this Annual Enrollment in order to:
Medical:
- Add, change or cancel any of your health coverages.
- If you are currently enrolled in one of AEP's Medical Plans and do not take action, you will automatically be enrolled into the default coverages described under "If you do NOT take action" covering the same eligible dependents.
- Attest to your tobacco/nicotine use.
- Attest to your spouse's or domestic partner's tobacco/nicotine use.
- Attest to whether your spouse/domestic partner is eligible for employer-subsidized coverage.
Dental:
- If you are currently enrolled in either of AEP’s Dental Plans, you will need to select one of the new Dental Plans—the Base Plan or the Buy-Up Plan.
- If you do not take action, you will automatically be enrolled in the Base Plan, covering the same eligible dependents.
Other:
- Elect to contribute to a Flexible Spending Account (FSA) and/or Health Savings Account (HSA).
- Purchase additional vacation, if applicable.
- Change your enrollment status in the Legal Plan.
If you do NOT take action:
Medical:
- If you are currently enrolled in the HSA Basic Plan and don't take action—you will be automatically enrolled in the HSA Value Plan, covering the same eligible dependents.
- If you are currently enrolled in the HSA Plus Plan and don't take action—you will be automatically enrolled in the HSA Premium Plan, covering the same eligible dependents.
- If you are currently enrolled in the HRA Plan, you will remain covered in the HRA Plan for 2026 covering the same eligible dependents.
- If you currently waive AEP Medical coverage, you will continue to be waived.
- You and your spouse/domestic partner will be subject to the tobacco surcharge, if enrolled in an AEP Medical Plan.
- Your spouse/domestic partner will be subject to the spousal surcharge, if enrolled in an AEP Medical Plan.
Dental:
- If you are currently enrolled in one of AEP's Dental Plans and do not take action, you will automatically be enrolled in the Base Plan, covering the same eligible dependents.
Other:
- You and your eligible covered dependents will remain enrolled in your current Vision Plan.
- You will remain enrolled in your current Life Insurance (including AD&D); LTD Buy-up; Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital Indemnity Insurance coverages; and any Voluntary Benefits you may have through MetLife.
- You will no longer have payroll contributions made to your Health Savings Account (HSA).
- You will not be enrolled in or able to contribute to a Flexible Spending Account (FSA).
- You will not have any purchased vacation hours for 2026.
Action is Required
- Tobacco Surcharge
- Spousal/Domestic Partner Surcharge
- Health Savings Accounts
- Flexible Spending Accounts
- Vacation Purchase
Automatic Benefits
- Cancer Support and Guidance
- Healthy Rewards
- Financial Well-Being
- Employee Assistance Program
- Digital Well-Being and Health Coaching
- Weight Management and Diabetes Prevention Program
- Basic Life Insurance
- Basic Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance (AD&D)
- Long-Term Disability
- Credit Monitoring & Fraud and Identity Protection
- Travel Assistance
Optional Coverage
- Medical and Prescription Drug Plans
- Dental Plan
- Vision and Hearing Coverage
- Tax-Advantaged Accounts
- Supplemental Life Insurance
- Spouse/Domestic Partner Life Insurance
- Child Life Insurance
- Supplemental AD&D Insurance
- Spouse/Domestic Partner and Child AD&D Insurance
- Long-Term Disability Buy-up
- Accident Insurance
- Hospital Indemnity Insurance
- Critical Illness Insurance
- Long-Term Care Insurance
- Legal Plan
- Pet Health Insurance
- Home and Auto Insurance
Step 2: Enroll by November 12
Beginning October 22, log on to aepbenefits.com to enroll. If you've forgotten your username or password, click Trouble Logging In? for assistance.
Coverage Levels
When you enroll in the Medical, Dental and/or Vision Plans, you may also choose whom you want to cover. Your coverage level and cost are based on the dependents you enroll.
Enrolling Online is Easy
Once logged in, click the Start Here button to review your personal and dependent information.
- You can choose whom you would like to add to coverage for each Plan, or waive coverage.
- Once you have made your elections, review and click Approve.
- To finish, click I Agree and you will receive a confirmation number and be able to print your 2026 Benefit Summary.
SofiaSM, your personal benefits assistant, can answer questions and guide you as you enroll.
"I prefer to use my computer or tablet"
Visit aepbenefits.com from any internet-capable device.
New users need to Register—create a user name and password and answer a few security questions. Our Company Key is AEP (case sensitive).
Once registered, log in using your user name and password.
"I use my phone for everything"
The MyChoice® benefits app gives you direct access to upload verification documents, store pictures of your ID cards, elect your benefits, and much more. If you have questions, ask Sofia 24/7 in over 50 languages.
Click the Annual Enrollment link in My Tasks to enroll.
Tools to Help You Choose
Get Help Choosing a Plan
Not sure which benefits are right for you? Enroll with the decision support tool!
Just click I'd Like Help Choosing Plans when you start your enrollment!
Simply answer a series of questions about your medical history, risk tolerance, and ability to pay out-of-pocket expenses. Using your answers to those questions (which are never shared with AEP), the decision support tool will display the Medical Plan that best aligns to your responses. You can either accept the Best Match Plan that is suggested or choose your own Plan.
Get Help From Sofia
You can get answers anytime with Sofia, your personal digital benefits assistant. Sofia can answer many of your benefits questions virtually—24 hours a day, 7 days a week, in over 50 languages.
Some of her most commonly requested topics include:
- Dependent Verification
- Plan Information
- Benefit Education
- Enrollment Status
- Carrier Information
Access Sofia at aepbenefits.com and via the MyChoice benefits app.
Benefit Scout for Voluntary Benefit Guidance
This online benefits decision tool can help you and your family make your Life Insurance elections with confidence. It provides step-by-step guidance so you can find the insurance that makes sense for you. Benefit Scout walks you through a questionnaire that provides a recommendation for your specific needs and situation along with an explanation of why a certain coverage was recommended.
Benefit Scout also helps you decide if Voluntary Benefits are a good fit for you and your family.
Step 3: Verify Dependents
Dependent Verification
In some cases, you will be required to submit documentation to verify your dependents’ eligibility. After you’ve completed your enrollment, you’ll see a notification in My Tasks if any documentation is required. Simply click on it and follow the instructions to verify your dependents. Your dependent(s) will not be added to your coverage until your documentation is provided and approved.
What's Next?
Medical ID Cards
If you enroll in a new Medical Plan during Annual Enrollment, you will receive a new Medical Plan ID card in late December. Make sure to use your new card when you use the Medical Plan in the new year, including updating with your retail pharmacy.
Name or Update Beneficiaries
It’s important to designate a beneficiary for your Life Insurance benefits (someone who will receive the value of your account in the event of your death). During the enrollment process you will have the ability to review and/or update your beneficiaries. You can also update your beneficiaries anytime throughout the year.
Qualified Life Events
Once you choose your benefits during Annual Enrollment, you won’t be able to change them until the next Annual Enrollment period, unless you experience a qualifying life event. Change your benefits at aepbenefits.com within 31 days of a qualifying event in order to make any change to your benefits.
This guide is not intended to be a Plan document, Summary Plan Description, or required notice with respect to any of the Plans mentioned. AEP reserves the right to modify, amend, suspend, or terminate the Plans at any time. Refer to the applicable Plan document if you have any questions relating to a specific Plan or benefit.