Open Enrollment for Kaiser Physicians: Are You Maximizing Your Benefits?

Introduction
Q: If my medical and dental coverage are already set, why pay attention to open enrollment?
As a Kaiser physician, your health coverage is among the very best with comprehensive medical, dental, vision, and prescription benefits, fully paid by TPMG for you and your family. Most physicians see almost no out-of-pocket costs. But open enrollment matters: it’s your annual chance to update family coverage, add important optional protections, and ensure your benefits match your life right now.

 IMPORTANT: The 2025 Open Enrollment runs from November 3 through November 28. Changes or elections made outside of this period require a qualifying life event.

Open Enrollment: What Should I Actually Do?

Q: If I don’t need to choose health or dental, what are my actual options?
You don’t need to “shop” between medical or dental plans, as TPMG has provided these benefits for you. During open enrollment, focus your time on:

• Reviewing and updating dependents: spouse or domestic partner, children, or removing ineligible dependents.
• Electing medical/dental coverage for eligible parents, in-laws, or a domestic partner’s parents.
• Enrolling in or modifying optional supplemental benefits:
  
  • Reviewing and updating your life insurance elections for yourself and family.
    Dependent Care FSA and backup childcare/family care resources
  • Legal insurance
    Identity theft protection
  • Pet insurance

Life Insurance: Are You Protected?
Many physicians overlook life insurance during open enrollment—don’t make that mistake. Here’s what you need to know:

• Physician Life Insurance: TPMG provides coverage automatically, usually equal to one times your annual base salary and you have the option of increasing up to four times salary for eligible physicians (to a $2,000,000 maximum).
  
• Family Coverage: You can add or change spouse/domestic partner life insurance (in $50,000 increments up to $500,000, but not exceeding your own coverage amount).  If you cannot be insured under physician coverage and spouse/domestic partner coverage (e.g. dual Kaiser Physician families)
  
• Why Check? Life changes (marriage, birth, divorce) often require updates. Use open enrollment to:
  
  • Increase or decrease your coverage.
  • Add or adjust family members’ coverage.
  • Update beneficiaries.
    
• Tax Note: Coverage above $50,000 is taxable as imputed income—factor this into your choice.

Action: Check life insurance amounts and beneficiaries in your HR portal, and submit changes if your situation has changed or you want additional protection.

Parental and In-Law Medical & Dental: A Hidden Gem
Q: Can I really cover my parents or in-laws with Kaiser, and why is this valuable?
Yes! You can enroll eligible parents, in-laws, or parents of a domestic partner. While you do need to pay the premium via payroll deduction, this can be valuable benefit because it grants access to:

• Stable Group Rates: The premiums are generally based on favorable group rates that older individuals often cannot match on the private market.
  
• Quality Medicare Access: Those 65 or older may be eligible for you to enroll in Kaiser Senior Advantage.

This ability to provide high-quality, stable, group-rate insurance for your extended family that may need it is an option not many employers offer.

Voluntary Benefits That Protect Your Financial Life
Q: What extra options can I add at open enrollment?
Open enrollment is your annual opportunity to elect additional benefits:

• Legal Insurance: Robust support for estate planning (Wills, Trusts), contracts, and family matters. This voluntary plan provides access to a network of attorneys for covered services at no or significantly lower cost than paying out-of-pocket for similar services.
  
• Dependent Care FSA: Tax savings and real-life flexibility for child and elder care costs, potentially saving $1,000+ annually in taxes.
  
• Identity Theft Protection
  
• Pet Insurance: Up to 90% veterinary bill reimbursement, payroll-deducted.
  
• Life Insurance: Re-evaluate your and your family’s life insurance to align coverage with your current needs and financial protection goals.
  
  

Be sure to compare these benefits with what you may be able to access outside of Kaiser.

Common Mistakes and How to Prevent Them
Q: What are some commonly overlooked actions during open enrollment?

• Not updating dependents due to family changes (birth, marriage, divorce, etc.).
  
• Overlooking life insurance elections or failing to update coverage/beneficiaries after life changes.
• Failing to enroll parents or in-laws during this window.
  
• Missing out on dependent care tax savings or voluntary benefits.

Tip: Even if you don’t change your coverage, open enrollment is the time to review your life and disability insurance beneficiaries.

Take Action—How to Maximize Your Benefits

• Access your HR portal to confirm all coverage—including life insurance amounts and beneficiaries—and dependent information.
  
• Consider the value of parental/in-law medical and dental coverage, even with the required premium cost.
  
• Weigh optional benefits now—legal, identity, pet, and dependent care coverages.
  
• Use the open enrollment period to make changes or new elections for next year.
  
• Reach out to benefits support or your advisor for expert help if needed.
  

Conclusion

TPMG has a robust benefits package that spans your health and financial life. Every year, open enrollment is your best opportunity to ensure you and your loved ones are protected—across health, life insurance, and voluntary coverage options—for whatever life brings next.

Have questions about your options or next steps - we’re here to help!