2026 Annual Open Enrollment
November 3 to November 21

Benefits Effective date: January 1, 2026

This Open Enrollment page explains your benefit options to help you make informed decisions related to your healthcare coverage for 2026. Our goal is to provide comprehensive, competitive, and consistent benefits to all of our employees.

Open Enrollment is the one time during the year you can make changes to your benefit elections without experiencing a Qualifying Life Event.

While most of your elections will roll over to 2026, it is important to review your options to see what has changed. If you would like to participate in the Flexible Spending Account, you will need to make an active election. This plan requires enrollment every year. You also have the opportunity to increase your HSA and Commuter/Parking contributions to the new 2026 IRS limits.

You must make your Open Enrollment benefit elections by November 21, 2025.

What’s New for 2026

Employee Contribution Rate Changes: Medical, Dental, Vision Contribution Rates.

Medical Plans: Employees will continue to have the choice between two plan options with Aetna. Employees enrolling in the Aetna HDHP who are eligible and enrolled in the HSA will still receive employer contributions to their HSA to use for eligible health care expenses. There are two plan changes to the POS plan. The Emergency Room copay will increase to $500 (from $250) and the Urgent Care copay will decrease to $50 (from $75).

Health Savings Account (HSA): Employees enrolling in the Aetna HDHP with HSA can increase their pre-tax contributions in 2026. The IRS is allowing eligible members with single coverage to contribute up to $4,400 (increased from $4,300), and members with coverage including one or more dependents may contribute up to $8,750 (increased from $8,550). There is no change to the age 55+ catch-up limit rules; this remains at $1,000 per year. Remember, this contribution limit is inclusive to Apple Bank’s contribution to your HSA. Apple Bank will fund their portion of the contribution on a biweekly basis.

Flexible Spending Account (FSA): As long as you are not enrolled in a Health Savings Account (HSA), you can contribute pre-tax dollars to a Healthcare FSA to help pay for eligible healthcare expenses. The IRS contribution limit for 2026 is $3,400.

Dental Plan: Employees will continue to have the choice between three plan options with Aetna. This year, we have made plan enhancements to our dental coverage. The PPO Plus orthodontia benefit maximum is increasing to $1,500 (from $1,000). Composite (white) fillings for molars and porcelain crown build up will now be eligible, under all three dental plans. Contributions will not increase for 2026!

Vision Plan: We will continue to offer two plan options with VSP. Cost will not change for 2026, but contributions will be taken on a semi-monthly basis (across 24 pays in 2026).

Lincoln Financial will be replacing Reliance Matrix as our carrier for Life and Disability coverages.

NEW! Accident, Critical Illness and Hospital Indemnity plans:  As of January 1, 2026, employees will have the opportunity to enroll in Accident, Critical Illness and Hospital Indemnity coverage through our partnership with Lincoln Financial. These benefits are voluntary and employee paid.

MetLife Legal Plans: There are no changes to this benefit, and you do not need to take action during open enrollment; however, payroll deductions will now be taken on a biweekly basis.

Additional Benefits: Apple Bank offers additional benefits to our employees. Some of these benefits can be elected or accessed at any point in the year. Please use the navigation bar at the top of this page to review all of our offerings, such as:

  • Basic Life and AD&D Insurance: Employees are automatically enrolled in these company-paid benefits.
  • Disability Insurance: Long-Term Disability coverage is company-paid and available to employees after one year of service.
  • Retirement Savings: The IRS increased the contribution limits for 2026 – take advantage of the pre-tax savings! Visit 401(k) to learn more about your retirement plan options. Visit retirementplans.vanguard.com to make updates to your contributions.
  • Commuter Accounts: Increased IRS limits affords you the ability to contribute more to your transit and parking accounts. Remember, you can start, change or stop your elections throughout the year.
  • Pet Insurance: Access preferred rates and sign up for coverage anytime throughout the year by visiting metlifepetinsurance.com.
  • Employee Discounts: BenefitHub, Plum Benefits, and LifeMart provide discounts on travel, restaurants, shopping and more! More information, including links to each vendor, can be found at Employee Discounts.
  • Employee Assistance Program: The EAP is a confidential counseling and referral service available to you and your family members at no cost.

Full-time employees working a minimum of 30 hours per week are eligible for benefits.

Dependent Eligibility

When you enroll yourself in the benefits program, you may also enroll your eligible dependents in benefits including medical, dental, vision, and voluntary life insurance. Please review your dependents’ eligibility to ensure they meet the requirements to be covered under our benefit plans.

Eligible dependents include your:

  • Legal Spouse (the person recognized as a covered employee’s husband or wife under the laws of the state where the covered employee lives.)
  • Children up to age 26, regardless of marital, employment or student status
  • Children age 26 or older who are unmarried, disabled and financially dependent on you
  • Children include:
    • Natural and adopted children and children placed with you for adoption
    • Children of your current spouse
    • Children for whom you are the legal guardian
    • Children named in a Qualified Medical Child Support Order

Dependent Children are covered under the medical, dental, and vision plans until the end of the month in which they turn age 26. For voluntary child life coverage, a child is covered until the end of the month in which they turn age 20, or until age 26, if a full-time student.

You will be required to submit supporting documentation when you add new dependents to any plan.

The benefit choices you make during annual enrollment remain in effect for the entire year. You cannot change your benefits during the year unless you have a qualifying life event.

If you have a qualifying life event, you have 31 days to add or remove your dependent(s). Any change you make must be consistent with the qualifying life event. You will be required to submit documentation that supports your life event. You will also be required to submit dependent documentation if you are adding a new dependent to the plan(s).

As defined by the IRS, a qualifying life event includes:

  • Birth, adoption, or placement of a child for adoption
  • Marriage, divorce, legal separation, annulment or death of your spouse
  • Employment changes that cause you or a dependent to gain or lose eligibility for benefits, such as starting or leaving a job, changing from part-time to full-time employment, and starting or returning from an unpaid leave of absence
  • An event that causes your child to no longer be eligible for coverage, such as reaching age 26
  • Any change in your home or work location that affects your eligibility for coverage — for example, moving out of the medical plan’s network area
  • You, your spouse, or your child becoming enrolled in Medicare or Medicaid

Dependent Children are covered under the medical, dental, and vision plans until the end of the month in which they turn age 26. For voluntary child life coverage, a child is covered until the end of the month in which they turn age 20, or until age 26, if a full-time student.

Contact benefits@applebank.com with questions.

NOTE: Enrollment through the ACA Exchanges does not count as a Qualifying Life Event.

2026 COST OF COVERAGE
Apple Bank pays a portion of the cost of your health coverage. Your contributions for your coverage are based on your plan selection, coverage tier elections, and your salary. Premiums will be deducted from your pay on a pre-tax basis.
Your 2026 cost for health coverage is outline in  Medical, Dental, Vision Contribution Rates.
ATTEND AN OPEN ENROLLMENT WEBINAR
Join our webinar information sessions to learn how to maximize your coverage and minimize your out-of-pocket costs.
Open Enrollment Webinar Sessions
Date Time Location
Mon., November 3 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM Teams Webinar
Wed., November 5 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM Teams Webinar
Sat., November 8 9:00 AM – 10:30 AM Teams Webinar
Thurs., November 13 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM Teams Webinar
Mon., November 17 4:00 PM – 5:30 PM Teams Webinar
Thurs., November 20 4:00 PM – 5:30 PM Teams Webinar
2026 OPEN ENROLLMENT MATERIAL
Open Enrollment Plan Changes Overviews
2026 Cost of Coverage – Contributions
2026 Medical & Rx Benefits Overview
2026 HSA Overview
2026 Dental Overview
2026 NEW! Supplemental Benefits Overview
Open Enrollment Plan Documents
2026 Aetna Choice POS II SBC
2026 Aetna Choice POS II Benefit Summary
2025 Aetna – HDHP SBC
2026 Aetna – HDHP Summary
2026 DMO Dental Benefit Summary
2026 PPO Low Plan Dental Benefit Summary
2025 PPO High Plan Dental Benefit Summary
2026 Premier Vision Plan
2026 VSP Base Plan
Lincoln Financial – Critical Illness Benefit Summary
Lincoln Financial – Hospital Indemnity Benefit Summary
Lincoln Financial – Accident Benefit Summary
Plan Notices
2026 Annual Health Plan Notices
CHIP Model Notice
2026 Medicare Part D Notice of Creditable Coverage
2026 APPLE BANK CONTRIBUTIONS TO YOUR HSA
When you enroll in the HDHP with HSA, Apple Bank will contribute to your HSA. Employees enrolled in Single-level coverage will receive $600.00. Those enrolled in Family coverage will receive $1,200.00.
Apple Bank’s contributions to your HSA will be on a biweekly basis in 2026.
2026 Maximum IRS HSA Annual Pre-Tax Personal Contribution Limits:
2026 IRS HSA Contribution Limits Employee Only Family
Maximum HSA Contribution Limits $4,400 $8,750
Less Employer Contributions $600 $1,200
Employee Pre-Tax Personal Contribution Limit $3,800 $7,550
Age 55 or Over – Catch Up Contributions $1,000 $1,000

How to Enroll

Please be sure you’ve carefully reviewed all materials provided as you consider your benefit needs. This is your one opportunity to select your benefits for the 2026 plan year, unless you experience a qualified life event (marriage, divorce, birth etc.).

Benefit enrollment takes place online at Workday. Follow the steps below to get started.

1. On the Workday homepage, under “Awaiting Your Action,” select the “Open Enrollment Change,” task.

2. Click on “Let’s Get Started”

3. Review each benefit card and select “Enroll” if you wish to enroll for the first time or “Manage” to review/make changes to that particular benefit. Follow the instructions and prompts on each screen.

4. Carefully review the summary page and legal notice and select the “I accept,” checkbox as this is your electronic signature for your enrollment. Select “Submit,” when finished.

To view how to add new dependents, beneficiaries, emergency contacts and more, visit Workday Open Enrollment Steps.

 
2026 Pre-tax IRS Maximum Contribution Limit Changes
Benefit Amount
Health Savings (HSA) Single Coverage $4,400*
Health Savings (HSA) Family Coverage $8,750*
Health Savings (HSA) Catch-up Over Age 55 $1,000
Transit Commuter (monthly) $340
Parking Commuter (monthly) $340
401(k) Traditional & Roth (combined) $24,500
401(k) Traditional & Roth Catch-Up (combined) – Age 50-59, or 64 or older $8,000
401(k) Traditional & Roth Catch-Up (combined) – Age 60-63 $11,250
Healthcare FSA $3,400
* Includes employer contributions of: $600 individual / $1,200 family
SECURE 2.0 allows for a higher catch-up contribution limit for employees aged 60-63 who participate in these plans.
– Standard catch-up limit = $8,000 (ages 50+)
– SECURE 2.0 catch-up limit = $11,250 (ages 60-63)
For more information regarding your 401(k) plan visit the Financial Protection section under 401(k) + Catchup Contributions.
READY TO ENROLL?
Visit Workday to complete your benefit enrollment for 2026.
ADDING DEPENDENTS?
You will be required to submit supporting documentation when you add any new dependents to any plan.
Documentation includes:
  • Spouse: a copy of the marriage certificate or page 1 of the most recent certified/filed tax return with financial information redacted
  • Child(ren): copy of the birth certificate
QUESTIONS?
For questions about your benefits or enrollment you may contact our third-party benefits help desk:
Phone: 877-373-6535 from 8 a.m.–8 p.m. ET,
Monday through Friday
Email: BenefitsHelpDesk@epicbrokers.com.
After hours, you can leave a voice mail message — your call will be returned within 24 hours (or on Monday, if received during the weekend).
You may also contact the Apple Bank Benefits Department directly at:
Email: Benefits@applebank.com
Phone: (212)643-5598