U.S. Benefits Open Enrollment
Changes for 2027
The following changes will be effective on January 1, 2027, and may require you to make new elections during Open Enrollment:
As our company grows, we want to make sure our benefits continue to be a valuable part of your total rewards offering. That's why we review our plans each year to ensure they're competitive and cost-effective. To allow us to keep providing great coverage for everyone, we’ve made some adjustments and enhancements that will go into effect on January 1, 2027.
Costs of Medical Plan Coverage: As a result of rising healthcare and prescription drug costs, premium contributions for our medical plans are increasing - for both Samsara and employees. Your employee premium contributions, which you pay through pretax deductions each pay period, vary by the plan you choose and the number of dependents you cover. We will share the updated premium costs for 2027 in Workday and on the Total Rewards Microsite prior to open enrollment.
NEW! Aetna Informed Choice within Aetna PPO: If you're enrolled in the Aetna PPO, Informed Choice is automatically available to you as a part of the plan (excluding Montana and South Dakota). It's a smarter way to search for care within your existing plan. When searching for a provider, designated Smart Compare doctors will have a label next to their name. Choosing one of these providers means:
$10 office visit copay (vs. $20 with your regular network providers)
A single $1,000 flat copay, covering admission through discharge, for knee, hip, or shoulder replacement surgery (vs. 10% after deductible with your regular network)
Your regular network providers are unaffected — same coverage as today. Smart Compare just gives you a lower-cost option when you're choosing where to go. New ID card coming: You'll receive a new Aetna ID card in the mail for 2027. Digital version always available on the Aetna app.
NEW! Dental plan moves from Guardian to Aetna: We are moving our dental plans from Guardian to Aetna. Guardian Dental PPO will be replaced with Aetna Dental PPO and Guardian Dental Preferred PPO will be replaced with Aetna Dental PPO Preferred. The Aetna dental plan designs are comparable to our Guardian plans, and include enhancements:
Larger network of in-network providers
Removal of the rollover feature; replaced with higher calendar year maximums
Aetna Dental PPO: currently $1,500 with Guardian, increasing to $1,750 with Aetna
Aetna Dental PPO Preferred: currently $5,000 in network/ $2,000 out-of-network with Guardian, increasing to $5,000 in-network/ $2,250 out-of-network
If you are currently enrolled in the Guardian Dental PPO, you will be automatically enrolled in the Aetna Dental PPO; If you are currently enrolled in the Guardian Dental Preferred PPO, you will be automatically enrolled in the Aetna Dental PPO Preferred.
NEW! Vision coverage moves from Guardian to VSP: Same coverage, same network, same employee premium contributions to you — just some nice perks added on top. Nothing changes about your coverage — just more ways to use it!
Shop almost anywhere. One of the largest vision networks around, plus retail favorites like Visionworks, Pearle Vision, Costco, Walmart, and Sam's Club.
Shop online, easily. Browse and buy eyewear from home, and connect your benefits right through Eyeconic.
Extra savings, just for being a member. VSP Simple Values gets you everyday discounts on health and wellness extras.
IRS-Mandated Changes
Health Savings Account (HSA) contributions:
As required by the IRS, the maximum annual Health Savings Account (HSA) contribution limits are increasing from $4400 to $4500 per individual, and from $8750 to $9000 per family. (You can contribute to the HSA if you participate in the Aetna Medical High Deductible Health Plan.)
Aetna Medical High Deductible Health Plan: Annual deductibles are increasing from $3,400 to $3,500 per individual, and from $6,800 to $7,000 per family.
Flexible Spending Account (FSA) contributions:
Currently at $3400, FSA contribution maximums should be increasing for 2027. The IRS generally releases the new limit in October or November.
The maximum annual contribution limit for the Dependent Care FSA is $7,500.
Contribution limits for the Healthcare and Limited Purpose FSAs will likely increase as well. IRS maximum carryover for Healthcare FSA has not yet been announced either (currently $680). We'll share the new amounts when they become available.
2027 Benefit Plan Options
Elections You Can Make Only During Open Enrollment
When you complete the Open Enrollment process, you’ll be prompted to select coverage under the plans listed below. Carefully consider your options before enrolling. You can only change your elections mid-year if you experience a qualifying life event, such as getting married or adding a child to your family. To learn more about any plan, click the section heading.
When you complete the Open Enrollment process, you’ll be prompted to select coverage under the plans listed below.
Samsara offers up to three medical plan options, depending on where you live. Please review the side-by-side comparison of medical plan benefits for information on your costs of care under each plan.
Aetna Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) Plan–Available to all employees, except those in Hawaii
Aetna High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP)–Available to all employees, except those in Hawaii
Kaiser Permanente Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) Plan–Available to employees in California, Georgia, and Hawaii; plan provisions vary by location
If you’re injured in an accident, diagnosed with a critical illness, or admitted to the hospital, your Samsara medical plan will help cover the cost of your care. However, you may still have some out-of-pocket costs, and likely some unexpected expenses as well. To enhance your Samsara medical plan coverage, you have the opportunity to enroll in three new supplemental health plans administered by Aetna: Accident, Critical Illness, and Hospital Indemnity.
Samsara offers two dental plan options: the Aetna Dental PPO and the Aetna Dental PPO Preferred. Both plans allow you to visit the provider of your choice whenever you seek care, but your out-of-pocket costs are lower when you visit a provider in each plan’s network. The annual maximum benefit and the lifetime maximum orthodontia benefit is higher under the Dental PPO Preferred, which also covers adult orthodontia.
Our Vision Plan, which is now administered by Vision Service Plan (VSP) directly, allows you to visit the provider of your choice whenever you seek care, but your out-of-pocket costs are lower when you visit a provider in the VSP Signature Network. The plan offers discounts on eyeglasses, contacts, LASIK and PRK procedures, and even hearing aids.
Samsara partners with Forma to open HSAs for participants in the Aetna HDHP Medical Plan. Each pay period, Samsara will deposit money in your HSA to help you pay for eligible healthcare expenses, such as medical and dental office visit costs, prescription drugs, and eyeglasses. You can elect to make additional contributions to your HSA through pretax payroll deductions.
Healthcare, Limited Purpose, and Dependent Care FSAs allow you to make pretax payroll contributions to savings accounts and submit claims for reimbursement as you incur eligible expenses.
You can elect Supplemental / Voluntary Life Insurance Plan coverage for yourself and your dependents. Samsara automatically provides you with Basic Life Insurance Plan coverage equal to two times your annual salary, up to a maximum of $500,000.
Samsara’s commuter benefits allow you to contribute to transit and/or parking accounts through pretax payroll deductions.
The ARAG Legal Plan offers access to a network of local attorneys with expertise in estate planning, contract disputes, identity theft resolution, elder law, and more. They can provide advice, review and draft documents, and represent you in court if needed.
Elections You Can Make Anytime Throughout the Year
You’ll have the option to contribute to a Health Savings Account (HSA) if you enroll in the Aetna HDHP Medical plan, and to contribute to our Commuter Benefits Program. You can elect to contribute to these plans during Open Enrollment or anytime throughout the year. You can also stop, increase, or decrease your elections at any time.
Samsara partners with Forma to open HSAs for participants in the Aetna HDHP. Each pay period, Samsara will deposit money in your HSA to help you pay for eligible healthcare expenses, such as medical and dental office visit copays, prescription drugs, and eyeglasses. You can elect to make additional contributions to your HSA through pretax payroll deductions.
Samsara’s Commuter Benefit Program allows you to contribute to transit and/or parking savings accounts through pretax payroll deductions.
Additional Benefits
In addition to the plans outlined above, you’re eligible for all of the following programs and services. Some are provided by Samsara at no cost to you - you're automatically enrolled and don't need to take any action. Others are voluntary programs available for you to enroll in at any time; if you choose to participate, the cost is 100% yours.
Samsara’s 401(k) plan includes both traditional and Roth contribution options, as well as a “mega backdoor Roth” after-tax contribution option. Samsara matches 100% of the first 4% of your traditional and Roth contributions, and you own 100% of the matching contribution as soon as it’s deposited in your account. (When you join Samsara, you’re automatically enrolled in the traditional plan at a 1% contribution rate. You can change this rate anytime.) You also have access to financial planning services if you need help setting savings goals, assessing your tolerance for investment risk, selecting investment options, and more.
Samsara provides Basic Life and Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D) Insurance Plan coverage equal to two times your annual salary (base + bonus/commissions), up to a maximum of $500,000. Your Basic Life Insurance Plan coverage pays your beneficiary if something happens to you. Your Basic AD&D Insurance Plan coverage pays a benefit to you in the event of your accidental injury, or to your beneficiary in the event of your accidental death. You don’t need to enroll in either plan, but you do need to designate beneficiaries. You can designate any person or entity as your beneficiary for either plan and update your designations at any time in Workday.
Carrot provides personalized fertility care (testing and diagnosis, egg freezing, in-vitro fertilization, and more) and family-building services for employees who are adopting or having a child through surrogacy. Services are provided regardless of gender, sexual orientation, marital status, or geographic location. The lifetime maximum benefit is $25,000.
Whether you’re planning a family, new to parenting, or preparing to return to work after a leave, Cleo can help you build confidence in your parenting with the personalized support of a Cleo coach and educational programs. This benefit is available to all parents.
The ESPP gives you the opportunity to purchase shares of IOT through after-tax payroll deductions at a 15% discount. That’s a 15% return on your investment when shares are purchased, regardless of the price of IOT at that time. The plan also includes a “lookback provision,” which means your discount might be even more than 15%.
Samsarians receive $150 each fiscal quarter through the Hootfund to use on wellness, professional development, and family and home expenses.
Samsara’s leave of absence policies, which include bereavement leave, jury duty, and parental leave, allow you to take time off work to care for yourself or your family members, or fulfill civic or military responsibilities.
Nationwide administers our pet insurance plan. You can choose basic coverage that reimburses you for medical expenses related to accidents and illnesses, or basic coverage plus wellness coverage, which reimburses expenses for annual checkups, vaccinations, and other routine care.
If you’re unable to work due to an illness or injury, Samsara’s short-term disability plan pays 66.67% of your pre-disability base salary + bonus/commissions, up to $2,500 per week, until you’re able to return to work. If your disability lasts longer than 180 days, our long-term disability plan pays 66.67% of your pre-disability base salary + bonus/commissions, up to $12,000 per month, until your disability ends or you reach age 65, whichever comes first.
Samsara offers paid time off through a combination of vacation days and holidays.
Resources
2027 Open Enrollment: Guide to the Workday Enrollment Process
Alliant (our benefits advocate):
samsara@alliant.com or 925-378-6828
representatives available Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Pacific time
Note: Some of the links on this page go to documents that can only be accessed by Samsara employees.
Medical Plan Semi-Monthly Costs of Coverage
Dental Plans Semi-Monthly Costs of Coverage
Vision Plan Semi-Monthly Costs of Coverage
