The 2026 Annual Open Enrollment Dates are as follows:

October 7, 2025 to October 16, 2025 – (these dates are for Active employees and Retirees)." Retirees, please read the two previous posts."

Active Employees:

During our latest ACHC meeting on August 19, 2025 the company made us aware that it will not be mailing the annual enrollment materials to active members homes and instead active members will be mailed a post card to their homes with instructions on how to access the materials via the Benefits Connection website. The Union objected to this change but Verizon is not required to mail the documents to members’ homes.

* Active employees who wish to have a copy of the materials mailed to their homes may do so by requesting a copy be mailed to them by contacting the Benefits Center at 855- 4VZ-BENS (855-489-2367) oBrgining October 1st.

This is your opportunity to review your benefits and make any changes to your benefits.

Most 2025 elections and designations automatically carry over into 2026 Annual Enrollment. Members who want to stay with their current elections for medical, dental, vision and AD&D life insurance plan without any changes don’t need to do anything except complete a wellness activity if they wish to receive the $100 credit.

If you have a Qualifying Life Event between open enrollment and the end of the year, you will need to make changes on Benefits Connections for both 2025 and 2026. Examples of a Qualifying Life Event are adding a spouse if you get married, adding a child when there is a birth of a new baby etc.

Communications Workers of America AFL-CIO, DISTRICT 1 80 Pine Street, 37th Floor New York, New York 10005 212-344-2515 Fax: 212-425-2947 Claude Cummings, Jr. President Dennis G. Trainor Vice President District 1

Health Assessment/Wellness Activity Credit:

Unlike last year the $100 credit is not automatically rolling over from last year. In order to receive the full credit employees must complete one of the five activities by December 31, 2025 (credit will be prorated when completed after 12/31/2025.) In order to complete an activity access the Benefits Connection website > Annual Enrollment > Well-being Activity or visit Personify Health > Rewards.

Non- Tobacco User Credit - $600:

· If you are a non-tobacco user and are already receiving credit, no further action is needed.

· If you are not receiving this credit and you and your covered dependents DO NOT use tobacco products, indicate your NON-TOBACCO status by visiting Personify Health to receive your $600 credit towards your annual medical contributions.

· If you and your covered dependents DO USE tobacco products but have completed a tobacco cessation course within the last six months indicate your status on the Personify Health platform during Open Enrollment for the full credit.

· If you have NOT completed a tobacco cessation course in the last six months, you can earn the full Non-Tobacco Credit in 2026 if you and/or your covered dependents satisfy the reasonable alternative standard as follows:

1) During Annual Enrollment, log on to Personify Health and answer the Tobacco User Status question while completing your Annual Enrollment elections: - answer YES and intend to complete a tobacco cessation course before July 31, 2026.

2) Before July 31, 2026, complete a tobacco cessation course (journey). This is also housed in the Personify Health platform.

Retirees:

Retirees are urged to make any changes during the annual enrollment period; however they continue to have “Anytime Enrollment”. When a retiree makes a change outside of the Annual Enrollment period, the change is effective the first of the month following a 30 day waiting period. An exception to the “Anytime Enrollment” for retirees is for those retirees who choose to enroll in the HRA option. Those retirees who enroll in the HRA option must remain in the HRA for the 2026 plan year unless they have a qualifying life event.