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Part of Alberta Public Service benefits

Choice Time

Employees can make changes to their benefits plan coverage during this annual enrolment period.

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Alberta Public Service benefits
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Choice Time open enrolment period is currently closed.

Note: this information is intended for Government of Alberta (GoA) employees.

Overview

The Choice Time open enrolment period occurs annually (typically from late May to mid June) and offers eligible employees the opportunity to make certain changes to their MyCHOICE or 1stchoice benefit plan coverage. Changes made during the Choice Time open enrolment period will be effective the first day of the pay period that includes July 1.

Benefit plan and Choice Time information is in the MyCHOICE and 1stchoice employee handbooks. It will also be available on this page and on myAPS, with additional information and reminders sent via email, through internal newsletters, posted on department intranets and on pay cheque messages prior to, during and immediately following the open enrolment period.

For more benefit plan information, including premium rates for plans, see Alberta Public Service benefits programs.

Make changes

To make changes during the open enrolment period, follow these steps.

Step 1. Sign in to 1GX

1GX Sign in

If you cannot access 1GX, contact the Government of Alberta Time and Benefits Support Line.

Step 2. From your employee profile, navigate to the 'My Benefits' tab

  • Click on 'Go to Benefits'.
  • Navigate to the 'Open Enrolment' section.

Step 3. Review and change your benefits enrolment

If it is currently Choice Time you will be able to access a series of webpages that allow you to review and change your benefit plan coverage online.

Troubleshooting

  • If you are away during the open enrolment period

    You can make changes through 1GX on any computer with internet access, even if you are away.

    If you cannot access 1GX, contact the Government of Alberta Time and Benefits Support Line.

  • If you accidentally enrolled in the wrong plan

    You are able to edit your benefits multiple times throughout the open enrolment period, so if you have made a mistake or enrolled in the wrong plan, you can simply go back in and make a change through 1GX.

    Once the open enrolment period has closed, you cannot make any further changes through 1GX. You must contact the Government of Alberta Time and Benefits Support Line within one pay period after the open enrolment period ends to make corrections to your benefit changes.

Change options

The following change options are available within the Choice Time open enrolment period.

Benefit planChoice Time change options
Dental Plan
  • Increase from Opt Out to Core coverage
  • Increase from Opt Out to Enhanced coverage
  • Increase from Core to Enhanced coverage
  • Decrease from Enhanced to Core coverage if one Choice Time has passed
  • Decrease from Core to Opt Out
Extended Medical Benefits Plan
  • Increase from Opt Out to Core coverage
  • Increase from Opt Out to Enhanced coverage
  • Increase from Core to Enhanced coverage
  • Decrease from Enhanced to Core coverage
  • Decrease from Core to Opt Out
Prescription Drug Plan
  • Increase from Opt Out to Core coverage
  • Increase from Opt Out to Enhanced coverage
  • Increase from Core to Enhanced coverage
  • Decrease from Enhanced to Core coverage
  • Decrease from Core to Opt Out
Dependent Life Insurance
  • Increase from Opt Out to Enrolled coverage
  • Decrease from Enrolled to Opt Out

Coverage changes

  • You can also change the coverage class from Single to Family or Family to Single during the Choice Time Open Enrolment period.
  • You can set up each benefit plan to align with your specific requirements:
    • Some benefits can be single coverage while others are family coverage. For example, you could have family Dental coverage and single Extended Medical and Prescription Drugs coverage.
    • Some benefits can be Core coverage while others are Enhanced coverage. For example, you could have Enhanced Prescription Drugs and Enhanced Dental and Core Extended Medical coverage.
  • You can only reduce your coverage one level during Choice Time. For example, you cannot reduce your coverage from Enhanced to Opted Out. You would only be able to reduce one level from Enhanced to Core coverage.

There is a locked-in period under the Enhanced Dental Plan, which means you must pass one Choice Time before you can decrease the coverage to Core.

Changing benefits outside of Choice Time

Benefits can only be changed:

  • during the Choice Time enrolment period
  • within 31 days of a recognized Life Event

For details about Life Events, see the employee handbook that is relevant to you:

Beneficiary changes

Fillable PDF forms may not open properly on some mobile devices and web browsers. See the step-by-step guide or contact PDF form technical support.

  • MyChoice plan

    To update your Life Insurance Beneficiary, fill out the Designation of Beneficiary and mail the original form to:

    Service Alberta and Red Tape Reduction
    Client Services Operations
    Pay and Benefits Administration
    3rd Floor, John E Brownlee Building
    10365 97 Street
    Edmonton, Alberta  T5J 3W7

    To update your Pension Beneficiary, see the Alberta Pension Services Corporation website and select ‘Forms and Information Sheets'. Send the completed form to the Alberta Pension Services Corporation.

  • 1stchoice plan

    To update your Life Insurance Beneficiary, fill out the Designation of Beneficiary and mail the original form to:

    Service Alberta and Red Tape Reduction
    Client Services Operations
    Pay and Benefits Administration
    3rd Floor, John E Brownlee Building
    10365 97 Street
    Edmonton, Alberta  T5J 3W7

    To update your Pension Beneficiary, see the Alberta Pension Services Corporation website below that applies to you and select ‘Forms and Information Sheets’. Send the completed form to the Alberta Pension Services Corporation.

Contact

Connect with the Government of Alberta Time and Benefits Support Line:

Phone: 780-644-8114
Toll-free: 310-0000 before the phone number (in Alberta)
Email: [email protected]

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