Open Enrollment

Please review the Open Enrollment newsletter applicable to your status/situation.

Active Employees
Active Employees: Rail – BLET

Retiree: LEOFF II, PPSMA & Rail
Retiree: TERS

COBRA: Enrolled/Participating in COBRA Coverage
COBRA: Pending – in COBRA Election Period

If you choose to add a dependent* to your benefit coverage during Open Enrollment, you must also submit a Dependent Eligibility Verification Form and supporting documentation to the Benefits office no later than November 13, 2025.

*Note: If you experienced a qualified family life event (e.g., marriage, birth of a child, divorce, loss of coverage, etc.) you should contact the Benefits Office for assistance to make sure your dependent(s) are added appropriately now and for next year.

How to Submit Supporting Documentation to Benefits Office

(Preferred) Scan and email: to benefits@tacoma.gov
USPS Mail: Human Resources Benefits Office, 747 Market Street, Room 1420, Tacoma, WA 98402
Interoffice Mail: to Human Resources-Benefits Office TMB 1420

Who Can I Cover on my Benefits?

• Spouse: Your current legal spouse.
• Domestic Partner: Your grandfathered domestic partner who met the requirements of the City of Tacoma Affidavit of Domestic Partnership and was registered and on file with the City of Tacoma as of December 31, 2016; OR, after January 1, 2017, is registered with the State of Washington under chapter 26.60.030 RCW.
• Child under age 26: Your children up to age 26 may include: a natural child, adopted child, or a child legally placed with you for adoption, including a child for whom you have assumed a total or partial legal obligation for support in anticipation of adoption, a stepchild or domestic partner’s child, or a child for whom you have legal guardianship or court-ordered custody.
• Child age 26 and over: Your, your spouse’s, or your domestic partner’s otherwise eligible child who is age 26 or over and incapable of self-support because of physical, mental, or developmental disability that prevents the child from establishing or maintaining consistent employment or independence that began before their 26th birthday, if you complete and submit the affidavit of dependent eligibility form, with written evidence of the child’s incapacity, within 30 days of the later of the child’s 26th birthday or your effective date and either:
  • They are a dependent immediately before their 26th birthday; or
  • Their 26th birthday preceded your effective date and he or she has been continuously covered as your dependent on group, individual, or other insurance plan (including public programs) coverage since that birthday.
  • Newly hired employees wishing to enroll an eligible dependent must also be able to demonstrate that the dependent child has been covered on a group, individual, or other insurance plan (including public programs) immediately prior to enrollment on this plan.

Note: You are required to contact the Benefits Office immediately to report any dependents on your plans that no longer meet the above definitions. Visit the Benefits web page for more information on what to do when you have a family status change under the Dependents section.

Active Employee Dependent Eligibility Verification Form

Employee Self Service Help Document

Waiver Form for Full-Time Employees (Proof of other benefits coverage required)

Waiver Form for Part-Time Employees (Proof of other benefits coverage required)

Domestic Partner Imputed Income Rates

Part Time Employee Benefit Rates

All other Active Employee Benefits Forms can be found on the employee benefits web page.

View the recorded Open Enrollment webinar

Non-represented City employees and those represented by a union agreement that includes a PTO conversion option are offered an annual opportunity to change from vacation/sick leave to PTO. For more detailed information about the PTO conversion process, including which union agreements allow for this option, how the conversion works, benefit levels, and how to make a conversion election during Open Enrollment, please review this document and the active employee newsletter that applies to you. After reviewing the related information, you can make your election for PTO by clicking here.

Questions?
Contact the Human Resources HRMS Team at HRMSTeam@tacoma.gov, or by Microsoft Teams or phone:

• • Kathy Emerson: (253) 591-5407
  • Athena Meisenheimer: (253) 573-2482
  • Nicole Ratliff: (253) 433-4705

2026 Contribution Limits Coming Soon Pending the IRS Release of the Information

To delay the change effective date until the first pay day in January, enter your updated contribution change between December 15 and December 28. Any changes made before or after these dates will have a different effective date. Changes made now will be effective immediately.

2026 Information

Enrollment and Contribution Change Instructions
(Updated annual limits coming soon)

MissionSquare Deferred Compensation Enrollment & Change Instructions
Nationwide (Local 31 Only) Deferred Compensation Enrollment & Change Instructions

Contributions Limits

Employee Contribution Limits (Except Commissioned Police and Fire)
Deferred Compensation Open Enrollment (Police Local 6 Only)
Deferred Compensation Open Enrollment (Police Local 26 Only)
Deferred Compensation Open Enrollment (Fire Local 31 Only)
Deferred Compensation Open Enrollment (PPSMA Only)

If you choose to add a dependent* to your benefit coverage during Open Enrollment you must also submit your Dependent Eligibility Verification Form and supporting documentation to the Benefits office no later than November 26, 2025.

*Note: If you experienced a qualified family life event (e.g., marriage, birth of a child, divorce, loss of coverage, etc.) you should contact the Benefits Office for assistance to make sure your dependent(s) are added appropriately now and for next year.

How to Submit Supporting Documentation to Benefits Office
(Preferred) Scan and email: to benefits@tacoma.gov
USPS Mail: Human Resources Benefits Office, 747 Market Street, Room 1420, Tacoma, WA 98402

Who Can I Cover on my Benefits?

• Spouse: Your current legal spouse.
• Domestic Partner: Your grandfathered domestic partner who met the requirements of the City of Tacoma Affidavit of Domestic Partnership and was registered and on file with the City of Tacoma as of December 31, 2016; OR, after January 1, 2017, is registered with the State of Washington under chapter 26.60.030 RCW.
• Child under age 26: Your children up to age 26 may include: a natural child, adopted child, or a child legally placed with you for adoption, including a child for whom you have assumed a total or partial legal obligation for support in anticipation of adoption, a stepchild or domestic partner’s child, or a child for whom you have legal guardianship or court-ordered custody.
• Child age 26 and over: Your, your spouse’s, or your domestic partner’s otherwise eligible child who is age 26 or over and incapable of self-support because of physical, mental, or developmental disability that prevents the child from establishing or maintaining consistent employment or independence that began before their 26th birthday, if you complete and submit the affidavit of dependent eligibility form, with written evidence of the child’s incapacity, within 30 days of the later of the child’s 26th birthday or your effective date and either:
  • They are a dependent immediately before their 26th birthday; or
  • Their 26th birthday preceded your effective date and he or she has been continuously covered as your dependent on group, individual, or other insurance plan (including public programs) coverage since that birthday.
  • Newly hired employees wishing to enroll an eligible dependent must also be able to demonstrate that the dependent child has been covered on a group, individual, or other insurance plan (including public programs) immediately prior to enrollment on this plan.

Note: You are required to contact the Benefits Office immediately to report any dependents on your plans that no longer meet the above definitions. Click Here for the forms needed to make a change.

Please submit all forms and supporting documentation, if required, to the benefits office before the deadline.

Retiree Change & Cancellation Form

Retiree High-Deductible Health Plan (HDHP) Disclaimer Form (signing up for the HDHP)

Retiree Dependent Eligibility Form  (adding or dropping dependents)

Retiree Health Insurance Cancellation Form