Open Enrollment 2025. Your Benefits Made Simple!

RETIREE BENEFITS: ENROLLMENT DEADLINE NOVEMBER 7, 2025

The Cigna Healthcare rates are pending final negotiations and ratification with the Unions and Board approval. If premium changes occur, you will be notified and will be given another opportunity to make any necessary changes.

 

Welcome to your 2026 M-DCPS Open Enrollment!

What You Need to Know:

  • The current Cigna healthcare plans (OAP Extended Network, LocalPlus Focused Network and SureFit Network) will continue to be offered to eligible retirees and dependents who are under age 65 or dependents over age 65 and not Medicare eligible. There are rate increases on all three healthcare plans. Visit the 2026 Healthcare Plan Comparison Chart to view the plan designs side-by-side.
  • The current Medicare healthcare and Prescription Drug Plans (PDP), except for the AvMed Medicare Advantage plans, offered to eligible retirees and dependents who are over age 65 or under age 65 and Medicare eligible will continue to be offered. Visit Medicare Plans to view the plan designs side-by-side. Participants currently enrolled only in a Prescription Drug Plan (PDP) may enroll in any of the School Board sponsored Medicare Group Healthcare plans.
    • AvMed has made the decision to exit the Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug (MAPD) market effective December 31, 2025; therefore, the AvMed Medicare Advantage plans will not be offered for the 2026 plan year. During this open enrollment period, review your options to determine which Medicare healthcare plan best meets your needs. Visit AvMed’s FAQ to get answers to some common questions.
    • The Humana Medicare Advantage PPO plans will have a slight rate increase for the 2026 plan year.
  • The current Flexible Benefits will continue to be offered to eligible retirees. There will be a slight rate increase in the dental plans for the 2026 plan year.

If you would like to continue your current benefits, with the exception of AvMed, you DO NOT need to re-enroll; both plan design and premium changes will automatically be applied, if applicable.

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Understand Your Health Needs and Budget:

  • Assess your current health: Do you have a chronic condition, or are you generally healthy and only visit the doctor for annual check-ups?
  • Assess your family’s health needs: Consider specific health needs of all family members covered by your plan, as these needs can change year to year.
  • Consider upcoming needs: Do you anticipate any planned surgeries or need regular prescription medications?
  • Evaluate your budget: Determine your comfort level with higher premiums versus the costs you’ll pay for services like copays and deductibles when you access care.
  • Network: Are your preferred doctors and specialists in the network? Providers in the networks can change each year, so it’s important to do your homework first to ensure your needs are still met.

Take time now to compare the benefits, costs (premiums, deductibles, co-pays), provider network, and drug coverage of each plan.

Even if you’re planning to stay enrolled in the same healthcare plan, you should still take time to review your options before you enroll.

Enrollment Assistance:

To assist you with your enrollment election, we enclosed in your enrollment packet a Benefits Summary detailing the healthcare and/or flexible benefits you are currently enrolled in. We strongly encourage you to use this summary to evaluate if the plan you currently have still meets your needs.

Benefits Educators are ready to support, guide and assist you with your online benefits enrollment. We are providing in-person, telephonic and virtual enrollment assistance. To schedule an appointment with a Benefits Educator, click on the below link and select what type of enrollment assistance you would like.

Retiree Scheduler

For general questions regarding the 2026 open enrollment, please call the FBMC Service Center at 1 (855) 632-7748, Monday- Friday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Adult Child (AGES 26-30) Cigna Healthcare:

Your currently enrolled adult child healthcare coverage will continue. You must submit annually proper dependent documentation establishing the eligibility of your adult child. Your completed adult child affidavit and documentation must be received by the enrollment deadline.

If you want to add your newly eligible adult child dependent, please contact the FBMC Service Center 1-855-632-7748, Monday – Friday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., ET.

Dependent Verification:

Retirees covering a dependent in their medical, dental, vision, and/or hospital indemnity must submit dependent eligibility documentation (i.e., marriage certificate for spouse, birth certificate for natural children) for each covered dependent upon request.

  • Dependent Social Security Numbers are required for each covered dependent.
  • Failure to submit this required documentation will result in termination of your dependent coverage.

Please click on the link below for dependent eligibility requirements

Dependent Documentation Requirements

Download

Domestic Partner Eligibility

Download

Affadavit of Domestic Partner

Download

For questions and/or additional information about your 2026 benefits, please use the below contact information.

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FAQs

Retiree FAQs

Do I have to enroll during the 2026 Plan Year Open Enrollment Period?

No, this is a changes only enrollment. If you do not re-enroll your current benefits with the exception of AvMed will continue for the 2026 plan year; however, plan design and premium changes will apply.

 

Can I make a change to my benefits after I have completed my enrollment?

Throughout the Open Enrollment period you can make changes to your enrollment. No changes will be accepted after the deadline unless you experience a qualifying event.

Can I add my dependents during this enrollment period?

Yes. You can add your eligible dependents during this enrollment period. All retirees selecting medical, dental, HIC and/or vision coverage for family must submit dependent eligibility documentation for all covered dependents, if not previously submitted.

Can I enroll my eligible dependent(s) and not cover myself in healthcare benefits plan?

No. You must cover yourself to cover your eligible dependent(s).

What if my eligible dependent is Over 65 and I am Under 65 or vice versa?

The Medicare eligible recipient must enroll in an offered Medicare plan and the non­ Medicare eligible participant must enroll in one of the Cigna (non-Medicare) healthcare plans being offered.

If my dependents and I are both Medicare eligible, can we enroll in different healthcare plans?

Yes. You and your dependent(s) can be enrolled in any of the School Board sponsored Medicare healthcare and Prescription Drug Plans (PDP). Participants currently enrolled in a Prescription Drug Plan (PDP) only may enroll in any of the sponsored Medicare Group Healthcare plans.

Can I cancel my dependents during this enrollment period?

Yes. You can terminate your dependent coverage, but you will not be eligible to re-enroll them until the next open enrollment, unless you have experienced a qualifying Change in Status (CIS) event provided you have maintained your enrollment in a School Board sponsored Healthcare plan.

If I cancel my healthcare coverage could I enroll at a later date?

No. If you cancel your healthcare enrollment, you will never again be offered the opportunity of enrolling in a School Board sponsored Healthcare plan.

Do I need to complete a new Florida Retirement System (FRS) Payroll Authorization Form?

If you are currently having FRS deductions and you are not making any changes to your benefits, your deductions will continue and premium changes, if applicable, will be automatically applied. If you are making changes to your benefits or want to enroll in this payment method, you must complete an FRS Payroll Deduction Authorization Form.

If I am Medicare eligible, can I choose to decline Medicare and remain enrolled in a Cigna Plan?

No. If you and/or your eligible dependents are Medicare eligible. you cannot elect not to enroll in Medicare. Not enrolling in Medicare while being Medicare eligible means a dis­ enrollment of your Cigna plan.

What happens to my medical plan if I become Medicare eligible during calendar year?

To enroll in Medicare Part B, contact your local Social Security office. According to CMS
guidelines, you are required to enroll in a Medicare Product. The Office of Risk and Benefits Management will send you an Over 65 Benefits Package, 60 days prior to the birth month in which you reach age 65 to provide you with the opportunity to enroll in an offered Medicare healthcare plan. You will be automatically dis-enrolled from your Cigna healthcare plan. It is your responsibility to notify us of Medicare entitlement awarded before age 65, if not, this will result in an automatic termination of your Cigna plan.

Do I have to submit dependent documentation for my covered dependents?

Yes. All retirees selecting dependent coverage must submit dependent eligibility documentation for all covered dependents, if not previously submitted. Failure to submit the required dependent eligibility documentation may result in the termination of your dependent’s coverage.

Getting Started

Am I eligible to enroll for benefits as a Retiree?

As a retiree of Miami-Dade County Public Schools (M-DCPS), you are eligible to continue healthcare coverage for you and your eligible dependents, if currently insured. If you maintained at least one active flexible benefit, you are eligible to enroll in any of the following flexible benefits:

  • Dental: Delta Dental (DHMO & PPO) and UnitedHealthcare Dental (DHMO & PPO)
  • Vision: EyeMed
  • Legal: ARAG and Hyatt (MetLaw)
  • Identity Theft Protection: ID Watchdog

Additionally, you must be currently participating in the following benefits, to be eligible to enroll. You can continue or decrease the coverage level, but you cannot increase it.

  • Hospital Indemnity Coverage (HIC): Metropolitan Life Insurance Company (MetLife)
  • Voluntary Life: Metropolitan Life Insurance Company (MetLife)
  • Accidental Death and Dismemberment (AD&D): Metropolitan Life Insurance Company (MetLife)

If you decide to cancel your healthcare coverage and/or all your Flexible Benefits during this enrollment period, you will not be allowed to re-enroll in any School Board-sponsored plan in the future..