Benefits
PLEASE NOTE! As of July 14, 2025, our office has relocated to 201 East Green Street, 5th Floor, Ithaca, NY 14850. Please feel free to use the following form to email us: Email Us Here
Open Enrollment 2027!
2027 Open Enrollment is here! Beginning Tuesday, October 13th benefits eligible employees will have the opportunity to review their current plan elections and make any changes they wish to their health, dental, vision and voluntary supplemental plans. This includes changing plan coverage levels, adding dependents or spouse/domestic partner and removing spouse/domestic partner or dependents.
New in 2027: Employees will be locked into their elected health plans for a period of three (3) years if a change is made for 2027. If you elected the Silver Plan during the 2026 Open Enrollment period and you wish to change back to the Platinum Plan in 2027, you may do so without delay.
Don’t procrastinate! All plan elections must be received by 11:59 pm on Friday, November 20, 2026. No exceptions will be made. All changes take effect January 1, 2027.
Full 2027 Open Enrollment Booklet Available HERE(PDF, 4MB)
2027 Open Enrollment Presentation(PDF, 1MB)
2027 Open Enrollment Electronic Submission Form
OPEN ENROLLMENT 2027
Health Plans:
Important: You will be locked into the health plan you choose during this open enrollment period for a duration of three (3) years. If you changed to the Silver plan during the 2026 Open Enrollment period, you will be able to change back to Platinum without delay this year only. Life events outside of open enrollment will allow you to change coverage levels (individual vs. family), but not health plans.
Dental Plans:
CSEA Dental:
Excellus Dental:
IMPORTANT: All Excellus BCBS Dental plans will have a 12-month waiting period for Class IIA, III, IV, and Pediatric Orthodontia applied to any new enrollees who enrolled after their initial eligibility period (new hire period) or who were not covered by another dental plan within 63-days of 01/01/2027. This applies to all bargaining units.
Vision Plans:
Voluntary Supplemental Plans:
The Hartford:
Rates Worksheet(PDF, 124KB)
The Hartford Enrollment Form(PDF, 163KB)
Mass Mutual:
Mass Mutual Enrollment Form(PDF, 171KB)
Ready to enroll? Click Here: 2027 Open Enrollment Electronic Submission Form
If you have questions about any of the benefits presented above, please reach out to the Benefits Team at 1-607-274-5526 or by email at Benefits@tompkins-co.org.
Tompkins County offers a comprehensive benefits package that promotes employee well-being and professional growth, including health insurance, pension through the NYS Retirement System, generous paid leave, flexible and remote work options, professional development support, life insurance, wellness programs, and supplemental plans.
Active Employee Benefits Documents
Health Insurance
Dental Insurance
Vision Insurance
Active Employee Enrollment Form(PDF, 330KB)
- Use this form for qualifying life events outside of open enrollment.
Flexible Spending Account/Health Reimbursement Account (VEBA)
The Hartford (Voluntary Supplemental Benefits)
- The Hartford - Benefits w. Rates(PDF, 572KB)
- The Hartford: Supplemental Benefits Rate Worksheet(PDF, 124KB)
- Basic Life ADD Policy for Full Time Employees(PDF, 129KB)
- Basic Term Life and Accident Insurance(PDF, 192KB)
- Critical Illness (Specified Disease)(PDF, 146KB)
- Voluntary Supplemental Accident(PDF, 306KB)
- Hospital Indemnity (PDF, 220KB)
- Long-Term Disability(PDF, 231KB)
- Ability Assist Flyer(PDF, 438KB)
- Empathy Overview Flyer(PDF, 612KB)
Mass Mutual (Voluntary Supplemental Benefits)
Benefits Info Sessions
2026 Open Enrollment Videos
The following info sessions cover the new employee benefits available to county employees as of 07/01/2024.
Retiree Benefits Documents
Non-Medicare Eligible Retirees (Under 65) and/or Families with 2+ Dependents
Medicare Eligible Retirees (Over 65)
Excellus BCBS Dental Plan Options
Fitness and Weight Management Program
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Blue4U Wellness Incentive Program
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Tompkins County employees may be reimbursed for fitness facility membership, participation in structured classes such as strength training, yoga or Pilates, or a weight management program, including attendance at meetings.
Fitness Program and Weight Management Reimbursement Form
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Tompkins County created the Blue4U Wellness Incentive program to add a financial reward to its traditional health screening, helping participants understand their health and achieve wellness goals.
Blue4U FAQ(PDF, 204KB)
2026 Wellness Incentive Funds Form (Last Submission Date of 2026 was 6/30/2026)
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New York State Student Loan Forgiveness Program
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The New York State Higher Education Services Corporation offers student loan repayment programs that reimburse individuals for some or all of their student loans in exchange for completing a qualifying service over a set period.
For more information or to sign up, click here!
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Flexible Work Schedule Information
NYS Deferred Compensation Plan
Available Help Lines
- Dial 988: The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline connects you to trained crisis counselors 24/7. They can help anyone feeling any kind of emotional distress. 988 is free and confidential.
- For even more information you can also visit this website: https://ithacacrisis.org/
- Veterans Crisis Line: for Veterans and their loved ones, dial 988 (1-800-273-8255) and Press 1, or text 838255
- Ithaca Warm Line 607-210-8328: Do you have times when you are feeling lonely and need to talk? Need to chat with someone to get your thoughts out with no judgment? This line has time to connect with you and hear you out.
- Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741-741
- Ithaca's Suicide Prevention and Crisis Service Hotline: 1-607-272-1616