Choice Time

Overview

The Choice Time open enrollment period occurs annually in June and offers eligible Government of Alberta employees the opportunity to make certain changes to their MyCHOICE or 1stchoice benefit plan coverage. Changes made during the Choice Time open enrollment 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 (PDF, 12 KB) and 1stchoice (PDF, 43 KB) employee handbooks. It will also be available on this web page and on myAPS, with additional information and reminders sent via email, through internal new letters, posted on department intranets and on pay cheque messages prior to, during and immediately following the open enrollment period.

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

Change options

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

Coverage changes

• You can also change the coverage class from Single to Family or Family to Single during the Choice Time Open Enrollment 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.

Changing benefits outside of Choice Time

Benefits can only be changed:

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

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

• MyCHOICE H​andbook​ (PDF, 1.5 MB)
• MyCHOICE Handbook for visually impaired​ (DOCX, 147 KB)
• 1stc​​hoice Handbook​  (PDF, 1.2 MB)
• 1st​choice Handbook for visually impaired (DOCX, 149 KB)

Beneficiary changes

MyChoice plan

• To update your Life Insurance Beneficiary, fill out the Designation of Beneficiary (PDF, 261 KB) and mail the original form to:
  Service Alberta
  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 (PDF, 274 KB) and mail the original form to:
  Service Alberta
  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.
  • MEPP website
  • PSPP website

How to make changes during open enrollment period

Step 1. Sign in to 1GX

1GX

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 Enrollment' section

Step 3. Review and change your benefits enrollment

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 enrollment 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. Instructions on how to do this are included in the Choice Time Open Enrolment Reference Guide (PDF, 2.0 MB).

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 enrollment period ends to make corrections to your benefit changes.

Contact

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

Email: [email protected]
Phone: 780-644-8114
Toll-free: 310-0000