Open Enrollment is the time to select your benefit choices for 2027. The City will be accepting Open Enrollment changes in Employee Online from October 26 through November 16 at 5pm.
Familiarize yourself with your eligibility for benefits
Compare medical and dental plans
Explore voluntary plans
Review annual legal notices
Further explore your Benefits options by visiting the 2027 Virtual Benefits Platform AIRBO . This interactive online experience is a fun and convenient way to learn about your options, watch videos and get answers to common questions.
Get Started: Sign up using your employee Email address and complete the registration. It only takes a few minutes!
Reminder: Use the platform as an additional resource to help you learn about your benefits.
When you are ready to attend an Open Enrollment Session, make changes or to view the FAQs, please review the following:
All benefit plans will have a rate increase for the upcoming plan year. Don't forget to check out the new Blue Shield Trio HMO 40 plan!
New voluntary plans will be available during Open Enrollment. These options include Accident, Hospital Indemnity, and Short-Term Disability coverage, providing employees with additional protection.
Important: Voluntary Short-Term Disability is intended exclusively for employees in the unrepresented group. All voluntary plans are employee-paid.
Please click on the Benefits Providers Directory to obtain answers to questions from Plan Providers (e.g. Kaiser, Blue Shield of California, Delta, Local Advantage, and VSP) directly. Specific problems or questions (e.g. billing) that cannot be addressed by the plan providers should be sent to the Benefits Division below [email protected]or by calling (951) 826-5639.
The City offers Medical plans that are provided through Kaiser Permanente and Blue Shield California. Each medical plan offers range of benefits to employees and their families.
You can review each medical plan’s benefit summary and access the Provider website by utilizing the links below.
Notice Regarding SB-729: New Coverage Requirements for Fertility Treatments
Effective January 1, 2026, California Senate Bill 729 (SB-729) requires certain health plans to expand coverage for fertility treatments. For more information on how this may affect your Blue Shield plan, view the SB-729 Fertility Coverage Notice.
For benefitted employees, the City provides a choice of three (3) dental plans which are provided by Delta Dental of California and Local Dental Advantage Plus. The three (3) choices include a DeltaCare (HMO), Delta Preferred Option (DPO) and Local Dental Advantage plan. Each dental plan offers a range of benefits for employees and their families.
Vision Service Plan (VSP) allows participants the option of seeing an optometrist from their extensive listing or to go out of network. Directories of the contracted providers are available. Only employees who are covered by one of the medical plans are automatically covered by VSP.
The Vision Service Plan enrollment packet contains complete details of benefits, coverage areas, and exclusions. The City of Riverside Human Resources Department and Vision Service Plan Member Services are also available to answer questions.
For more information, please contact VSP member services at (800) 852-7600 or visit the VSP website
The City's, Section 125 Flexible Spending Account for Out-of Pocket Health related expenses and Dependent care cost are administered by TRI-AD. This plan allows employees to redirect a portion of their salaries to pay for the qualified Health Care or Dependent Care expenses on a pre-tax basis.
The following Flexible Spending Account documents contain complete details of benefits and exclusions. Please contact the City of Riverside Human Resources Department or TRI-AD Member Services for additional questions.
Health Care out-of-pocket expenses such as co-pays, prescriptions, deductibles, etc., that are not covered by insurance can be claimed (please refer to the TRI-AD FSA Brochure for details). The maximum that employees can elect on out-of-pocket Health related expenses is $3,400.
Child and dependent care costs for qualified individuals. Tuition costs for private schools are excluded. The maximum contribution is $7,500 per year. Claim forms are available in Human Resources and should be submitted be submitted to TRI-AD directly.
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) permits employers to offer a “carryover” of up to $660 ($680 for 2026) in Health Care FSA Plans, allowing unspent FSA money to roll into future plan years. Carryover balance from prior year will not be allowed unless employees re-enroll.
If you do not re-enroll for the new plan year, participation in the plan will end December 31st. Employees enrolled in Health or Dependent Care FSA that retire or resign before the end of the year will be deducted any remaining admin fees that were not collected for that calendar year on their last payroll check.
A $3.75 monthly administration fee applies for enrolling in one or both plans and is your responsibility for the entire calendar year.
Employees should calculate anticipated costs carefully.
Employees enrolled/enrolling in a Health Flexible Spending Account (FSA) must re-enroll, each year. Carryover balance from prior year will not be allowed unless employees re-enroll. If you do not re-enroll for the new plan year, participation in the plan will end December 31st.
Amounts not claimed by the end of the year for Dependent Care will be forfeited.
Once an employee signs up to participate in the plan, he/she cannot stop or change contributions unless the employee, or a dependent, experiences a material change in economic circumstances.
These are provisions under Section 125 of the IRS Code. Questions regarding qualified deductions should be directed to TRI-AD at (888) 844-1372.
As a new hire, enrollment must be made within 30 days of the date of hire, using the Employee Online System.
The Out-of-Pocket Health Care and Dependent Care deductions are effective the first of the month following date of hire.
If enrollment is not completed within 30 days of hire, employees must wait until the next open enrollment period.
Active, benefitted employees, can enroll in a FSA plan during the Open Enrollment period using the Employee Online System. Coverage is effective January 1st.
Health Savings Accounts (HSA’s) work with lower-premium, higher-deductible medical plans; unused funds accumulate in the HSA account year to year. Because it's employee-owned, the account stays with
the employee even if they change jobs, retire, or leave employment.
2026 Maximum HSA Contribution Limits
Individual $4,400
Family $8,750
The HSA contribution limits are set annually by the IRS. Eligible individuals who are 55 or older by the end of the tax year can increase their contribution limit up to $1,000 a year (referred to as a catch-up contribution).
This is in addition to the standard annual contribution limit.
You cannot be covered by any other health plan that reimburses you for health expenses unless it is another HSA qualified High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP).
If you participate in the HSA and FSA plans, your HSA account is for medical expenses only and your FSA will be for dental and vision expenses only.
If your spouse’s FSA allows for reimbursement of your medical expenses, you are not eligible to establish/contribute to an HSA account.
If you are enrolled in Medicare you cannot have an HSA.
The City’s HSA is administered by HealthEquity. You must enroll into the Blue Shield HDHP PPO to use the HSA. There is a monthly administration fee of $2.95 for enrolling in this HSA.
This is a City-paid life insurance plan through Standard Insurance and is available to benefitted employees only. The value of the life insurance may differ between bargaining units; please refer to the Life Insurance Highlights. Additional life insurance coverage is available to all benefitted employees and eligible dependents; for more information please review the brochure below.
Benefitted employees are automatically enrolled in basic life insurance coverage
Additional life insurance enrollment is voluntary and paid at the expense of the employee
Beneficiary Designation can be completed via the Standard Online portal. Employees may change beneficiaries at any time
To apply for Additional Life Insurance or make changes to your existing policy click here to go to the Standard's website. You will be redirected to The Standard's website and must create a user account if it is your first time accessing the site. For the initial log-in, your username is your employee ID number and your password is the last four digits of your social security number and the last two digits of your birth year.
The Standard Insurance Member Services phone # is 800-368-1135. The Riverside Human Resources Department can be reached at 951-826-5639 and are also available to answer questions
The City of Riverside is excited to offer LegalGUARD; an affordable optional legal insurance plan underwritten by Nationwide that protects members from unexpected personal legal issues.
Benefits are designed to meet the typical needs of an employee and their family. There are no deductibles to worry about for covered services. Benefits cover the attorney’s time. Other costs such as filing fees or court costs are not covered. Please visit the LegalGUARD website for a list of matters that are covered and detailed plan information. This plan offers the convenience of in-network and out-of-network benefits.
Plan Cost
The LegalGUARD Plan is only $17.54 per month, via payroll deduction. Deductions are after-tax.
Who's Covered?
The Member’s spouse, or domestic partner, the parents of the Member or their Spouse, and Member’s unmarried dependent children, including stepchildren, legally adopted children, children placed in the home for adoption and foster children, up to age 19, and from age 19 up to 26 years if they are enrolled in an accredited school or college as full-time student(s) and are primarily dependent upon the Member for support.
The City of Riverside is excited to offer Critical Illness Insurance; a voluntary insurance plan that pays the insured a lump sum benefit upon the diagnosis of a covered critical condition including heart attack, cancer, stroke, renal failure, organ transplant, infectious disease, and more.
Medical insurance alone can’t stop a major diagnosis from draining an employee's finances. Copays, deductibles, alternative treatments — these unexpected expenses add up quickly. Critical Illness insurance gives you an affordable option for easing the financial burden that can come with a serious illness. Under this plan, children are covered automatically at no extra cost.
Critical Illness insurance enrollment is voluntary and paid at the expense of the employee. To apply for Critical Illness Insurance or make changes to your existing policy CLICK HERE to go to the Standard's website. You must create a user account if it is your first time accessing the site. For the initial log-in, your username is your employee ID number, and your password is the last four digits of your social security number and the last two digits of your birth year.
The Standard Insurance Member Services phone # is 800-368-1135. The Riverside Human Resources Department can be reached at 951-826-5639 and are also available to answer questions. Critical Illness insurance is available to all benefitted employees and eligible dependents; for more information, please review the brochure below.
Effective the 2027 plan year, the City of Riverside is offering Hospital Indemnity Insurance to provide additional financial protection in the event of a covered hospital stay. The plan provides daily benefits for hospitalization due to injury, illness, pregnancy, or mental health conditions. Benefits are paid in addition to your medical insurance, regardless of billed charges, and coverage is portable.
Hospital Indemnity Insurance
A hospital stay can be stressful, especially when you’re also dealing with unexpected out-of-pocket expenses.
Hospital Indemnity Insurance from The Standard can help provide financial support when you or a covered family member is hospitalized due to a covered childbirth, illness or injury.
The plan pays a fixed benefit directly to you or your covered family member—not to the medical provider. You can use the benefit however you choose, including deductibles, copays, child care, groceries, rent or mortgage payments, or other everyday expenses.
Coverage may include hospitalization due to:
Childbirth
Illness or injury
COVID-19
Mental Health
You may also choose coverage for your spouse and children.
How It Works
If you or a covered family member is hospitalized for a covered condition, you can submit a claim to The Standard. Claims should be submitted within 90 days of the hospitalization, when possible, but no later than one year after the hospitalization.
Once The Standard receives the required documentation, a claim decision generally takes approximately five business days.
For example, if you are hospitalized following an unexpected medical emergency or childbirth, your Hospital Indemnity benefit may help with expenses such as your deductible, copays, childcare, groceries or other household expenses.
Additional plan features include:
Benefits paid directly to you or a covered family member
Coverage options for your spouse and children
Premium waiver if you are hospitalized for more than 30 days
A hospital stay shouldn’t derail your budget. Hospital Indemnity Insurance can provide additional financial support so you can focus on what matters most, getting better.
Questions or want to apply? Contact your HR/Benefits representative for information about your coverage and how to enroll.
Effective the 2027 plan year, the City of Riverside is offering Voluntary Accident Insurance through The Standard. This optional coverage provides additional financial protection if you or a covered family member experiences an accidental injury.
Accident Insurance pays benefits directly to you for covered injuries and related treatments, which may include fractures, dislocations, sprains, concussions, hospital care, and other eligible accident-related services. These benefits are paid in addition to your medical insurance and can be used however you choose to help with out-of-pocket medical expenses or other costs associated with an accident.
Employees may elect coverage for themselves and eligible family members. Additional features include a 25% additional benefit for covered children age 18 or younger who are injured while participating in an organized sport, a health maintenance screening benefit, and portable coverage that may be continued if you leave City employment.
Coverage is voluntary and employee paid. Please review the plan materials below for complete coverage details, benefit amounts, limitations, exclusions, and enrollment information
