Healthcare Benefits Contract Renewal Process

The current APS healthcare benefits contract will expire in December 2026. Leading up to that date, APS is committed to a transparent contract renewal and Request for Proposal (RFP) process. In Fall 2024, APS formed a Benefits and Wellness Engagement Committee, including members from APS and Arlington Education Association (AEA), to help review the procurement process and ensure decisions regarding benefits and healthcare reflect the voices of our diverse staff.

APS is launching an anonymous survey that will be open to all staff June 9-June 27.

Please note that APS will be conducting two separate RFP processes that will follow a similar timeline.

• One RFP process will determine healthcare options for current APS employees who are benefits eligible AND APS retirees under age 65 who are currently receiving APS benefits
• A separate RFP process will determine healthcare options for APS retirees 65 and older. APS retirees 65 and older are covered under a separate healthcare contract. Because retirees 65 and older are Medicare-eligible, a distinct process is necessary to ensure the RFP requirements address the specific needs of this group. Not all healthcare providers offer Medicare-compatible plans.
• Any changes to healthcare options will take effect on January 1, 2027, for all groups
• Healthcare survey results will be disaggregated and summarized in multiple ways to ensure the perspectives of various groups (e.g. active benefits eligible employees, retirees under 65, retirees 65 and older) are clearly identifiable in the results and used to inform the respective RFP process. Results are shared with stakeholders.
• APS will include representatives from current benefits-eligible APS employees, retirees under age 65, and retirees 65 and older on the selection advisory committees for the respective RFP processes. These committees will evaluate potential providers during the evaluation process that will occur in early 2026. Additional information on these committees will be shared in the Fall.

Your feedback will inform the RFP and criteria used to evaluate potential providers.