Changes Explained

Comparing the New Medical Plans

All AEP Medical Plans include $0 in-network preventive care—such as annual physicals and screenings—and $0 for drugs on the No-Cost Drug List.

The main differences between the PPO and HSA Plans is HOW and WHEN you pay for health care.

PPO Plan

Higher Cost Per Paycheck

Lower Deductible

Most office visits are paid with a low copay

You can budget for health care costs with a Health Care Flexible Spending Account (HCFSA)

HSA Plans

Lower Cost Per Paycheck

Higher Deductible (how much YOU pay before the Plan pays)

You pay all expenses, until your deductible is met

You can budget for out-of-pocket expenses by funding a Health Savings Account (HSA)

What happens if I change my Medical Plan for 2026?

This chart helps you understand how switching from your current 2025 Medical Plan to a new 2026 Plan may impact you.

Find your current 2025 Plan in the left column.
Look across the row to see what changes apply if you enroll in a different Plan for 2026.
Each box explains what you can expect—such as eligibility for HSA or FSA accounts, AEP contributions, and whether any funds will be forfeited.

Plan Changes	2026 Classic PPO Plan	2026 HSA Premium Plan	2026 HSA Value Plan	2026 HRA Plan
2025 HSA Plus Plan	You can not contribute to a Health Savings Account (HSA) for 2026, but can use funds in an existing HSA. You can enroll in a Health Care Flexible Spending Account (FSA).	You will have lower employee contribution amounts. Lower deductible and out-of-pocket maximum. The Company HSA contribution for employee + spouse and employee + child(ren) tiers increases by $250. You can enroll in a Limited Purpose FSA.	You will have lower employee contribution amounts. You will have a higher deductible and higher non-embedded out-of-pocket maximum. You can enroll in a Limited Purpose FSA.	Not open to new enrollees.
2025 HSA Basic Plan	You can not contribute to an HSA for 2026, but can use funds in an existing HSA. You can enroll in a Health Care FSA.	You will receive a Company HSA contribution. Lower deductible and embedded out-of-pocket maximum.	You will have lower employee contribution amounts. The deductible and out-of-pocket maximum is non-embedded.	Not open to new enrollees.
2025 HRA Plan	You can enroll in a Health Care FSA. Your accumulated HRA funds will be forfeited.	You can contribute to an HSA. You will receive a Company HSA contribution. Your accumulated HRA funds will be forfeited.	You will have lower employee contribution amounts. You can contribute to an HSA. Your accumulated HRA funds will be forfeited.	No changes to employee contributions nor Plan design. You can enroll in a Health Care FSA.

2026 Medical Plans

The three new Plans will have deductibles and out-of-pocket maximums determined at either the employee only or family (employee + 1 or more) level. AEP is contributing more toward your health Plan, lowering the amount you pay for coverage. This means the three new Plans will have lower employee contributions in 2026, and the HRA Plan will have the same employee contributions as in 2025.

Medical Plan Details (In-network)	Classic PPO Plan	HSA Premium Plan	HSA Value Plan	HRA Plan (Closed to new entrants)
Company HSA or HRA Contribution	N/A	Employee: $500 Family: $1,000	$0	Employee: $1,000 Employee + spouse* or child(ren): $1,500 Family: $2,000
Deductible	Employee: $750 Family: $1,500	Employee: $1,800 Family: $3,400	Employee: $3,300 Family: $6,000	Employee: $1,500 Employee + spouse* or child(ren): $2,250 Family: $3,000
Coinsurance	20% after deductible	15% after deductible	20% after deductible	15% after deductible
Out-of-Pocket Maximum	Employee: $1,500 Family: $3,000	Individual: $3,400 Family: $6,000 (Embedded)**	Employee: $6,000 Family: $9,200	Employee: $4,000 Employee + spouse* or child(ren): $6,000 Family: $8,000
Preventive Care	Covered at 100%	Covered at 100%	Covered at 100%	Covered at 100%
Office Visits	Primary care: $25 copay Specialist & urgent care: $50 copay	15% after deductible	20% after deductible	15% after deductible
Emergency Room	$200 copay + deductible & coinsurance	15% after deductible	20% after deductible	15% after deductible
Prescription Drugs	20%, no deductible	15% after deductible	20% after deductible	15% after deductible
No-Cost Drug List	$0	$0	$0	$0

Monthly Employee Contributions	Classic PPO Plan	HSA Premium Plan	HSA Value Plan	HRA Plan
Employee only	$168.01	$99.10	$0	$185.95
Employee + spouse*	$454.45	$292.53	$59.65	$489.51
Employee + child(ren)	$380.18	$242.38	$44.18	$410.81
Employee + family	$667.00	$435.80	$103.82	$714.36

* The employee + spouse coverage tier includes coverage for domestic partners. See aepbenefits.com for more details.

** The HSA Premium Plan has an embedded out-of-pocket maximum meaning each person covered will be capped at the individual limit shown until the overall family limits have been met.

What is a Deductible and Out-of-Pocket Maximum?

What is Embedded vs. Non-embedded?

2026 Dental Plans

2 new Dental Plan options will be available in 2026, both offering the broad Aetna Dental PPO network. The biggest differences between the Plans are the annual maximum and orthodontia coverage.

Dental Plan Details	Base Plan	Buy-Up Plan
Annual Deductible (The amount you pay before the Plan pays.)	$50 employee only/$150 family	$25 employee only/$75 family
Maximum Annual Benefit (The maximum amount the Plan will pay in a year. Includes costs for 100% Plan-paid services, excludes orthodontia.)	$1,500 maximum per year per covered person	$2,500 maximum per year per covered person
Preventive Care	100% covered, no deductible (Subject to frequency limits)	100% covered, no deductible (Subject to frequency limits)
Basic Services	80% after deductible	90% after deductible
Major Services	50% after deductible	60% after deductible
Orthodontics coverage	None	60% adults and children
Orthodontics lifetime benefit maximum	N/A	$2,500 per covered person
Out-of-network benefits	Visit any licensed dentist to receive benefits. You will typically pay lower out-of-pocket costs if you choose a dentist who participates in the Aetna Dental network.	Visit any licensed dentist to receive benefits. You will typically pay lower out-of-pocket costs if you choose a dentist who participates in the Aetna Dental network.
Procedures NOT covered	You are responsible for the cost of procedures not covered by your Plan. Note: Aetna’s Preferred Dental Program dentists offer discounts on procedures not covered by the Plan.	You are responsible for the cost of procedures not covered by your Plan. Note: Aetna’s Preferred Dental Program dentists offer discounts on procedures not covered by the Plan.

Monthly Employee Contributions	Base Plan	Buy-Up Plan
Employee only	$11.92	$16.85
Employee + spouse/domestic partner	$25.33	$35.80
Employee + child(ren)	$38.07	$53.80
Employee + family	$51.48	$72.76

Find an In-Network Provider >

2026 Vision Plan

Vision Plan Details (PDF) >

Monthly Employee Contributions	Comprehensive Vision Plan
Employee only	$6.82
Employee + spouse/domestic partner	$12.93
Employee + child(ren)	$13.61
Employee + family	$20.41

There are no changes to employee contributions for the Vision Plan.

Learn more at a live session

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.