Health & Insurance
Health Benefits
National Medical Options
Below is an overview of the features of Bayer’s national medical coverage options through Aetna and Anthem. Please note that the plan designs for each carrier are identical, but the provider network may differ. When enrolling, you can choose between the Health & Savings Plan, 90% PPO Plan or the 85% PPO Plan. Additionally, you may also be eligible to enroll in a regional medical plan option based on your home ZIP code.
Employees in Hawaii and Puerto Rico are only eligible for regional plan options. Refer to the regional medical options for more details.
When reviewing the national medical plan options through Aetna and Anthem, know that each coverage option offers:
- Preventive care, covered at 100% with no deductible
- Prescription drug coverage through CVS Caremark
- An unlimited lifetime maximum
- Virtual exercise therapy program through Hinge Health*
- Telemedicine, second opinion, and expert medical services through Teladoc
- Surgical orthopedic support through Transcarent*
- Mental health and substance abuse benefits (To access, call the number on the back of your medical ID card)
- Enhanced health management support:
- To contact Anthem’s dedicated family advocate, call 1-800-635-0964
- To contact Aetna’s concierge service for individualized support, call 1-800-560-3724
*For participants 18 years and older enrolled in the Aetna or Anthem medical plan.
View more details, including rates, on the National Medical Plan Options.
Regional Medical Options
Based on your home ZIP code, you may be eligible to enroll in a regional medical plan option. Employees in Hawaii and Puerto Rico are only eligible for regional plan options.
Each option offers:
- Preventive care, covered at 100% with no deductible
- Prescription drug coverage through your regional plan carrier
- Telemedicine, second opinion, and expert medical services through Teladoc
- Mental health and substance abuse benefits (To access, call the number on the back of your medical ID card)
View more details, including rates, on the Regional Medical Plan Options.
Prescription Benefit
Dental
Bayer’s dental options, administered by Delta Dental, help you and your family maintain good dental health. You will generally save money if you visit a dentist in Delta Dental’s national PPO network. To check if a dentist is in-network, visit deltadentalins.com/bayer or download the Delta Dental mobile app.
Delta Dental Plan Contributions & Benefit Highlights
To view Dental plan contributions, you need to be logged in from a Bayer device. Alternatively, you can access them by logging on to benefits.bayer.us and navigating to the Reference Library.
| Feature | Delta Dental Basic PPO Plan Option | Delta Dental Comprehensive PPO Plan Option |
| Annual Maximum | $1,500 per person | $2,000 per person |
| Basic Services | 80% covered | 100% covered |
| Major Services | 50% covered | 80% covered |
| Orthodontia Services | Not covered | 100% covered ($2,000 lifetime maximum) |
In both dental plan options, the annual deductible is $50 per person with a $150 maximum per family and preventive care is covered at 100%.
Delta Dental PPO Network – Dentists in the Delta Dental PPO Network provide a deeper discount. Delta Dental contracts directly with PPO dentists with no unbundling of services, less paperwork and no required pre-payment for services. Additional information can be found in the resources below.
Understanding Delta Dental PPO and Delta Dental Premier networks
Vision
Bayer’s vision coverage, administered by EyeMed, provides coverage for eye care and vision correction. You will generally save money if you visit a provider in EyeMed’s national network. To check if a provider is in-network, visit www.eyemed.com or download the EyeMed app. Additional information can be found in the document below.
To view Vision plan contributions, you need to be logged in from a Bayer device. Alternatively, you can access them by logging on to benefits.bayer.us and navigating to the Reference Library.
| Feature | Vision Care Services |
| Plan Coverage | In-network Cost |
Exams and Appointments Exam Fit and Follow-up–Standard Fit and Follow-up–Premium |
$10 copay $10 copay; contact lens fit and two follow-up visits $10 copay; 10% off, retail price, then apply $40 allowance |
Contact Lenses (Contact lens fit and two follow-up visits are available once a comprehensive eye exam has been completed.) Conventional & Disposable Contact Lenses Medically Necessary Contact Lenses Frames |
$0 copay; $175 allowance $0 copay, paid in full $0 copay; $175 allowance |
Standard Plastic Lenses Single Vision, Bifocal, Trifocal Progressive (Standard) Progressive (Tier 1 – 4) Polycarbonate (Standard) Anti Reflective Coating (Premium) |
$0 copay $0 copay Tier 1 – $20; Tier 2 – $30; Tier 3 – $ 45; Tier 4 – $110 copay $0 copay Tier 1 – $45; Tier 2 – $68; Tier 3 – $ 85 |
Laser Vision Correction Lasik or PRK from U.S. Laser Network |
15% off retail price or 5% off promotional price |
| Amplifon Hearing Health Care | Through Amplifon Hearing Health Care Network, members receive up to 64% off hearing aids at thousands of locations nationwide. |
| Second Pair Benefit | Enrolled participants receive a second pair benefit. Download the EyeMed app to see what additional discounts are available. |
Vision Discount Program for non-enrolled participants
If you choose not to elect Bayer vision coverage, a vision discount is available at no cost to you. For a copy of the discount program details, click here or go to the Bayer Benefits Center at benefits.bayer.us.
Medical Plan Resources
Behavioral & Mental Health Support
Each national and regional medical plan option offers mental health, substance abuse, and health management benefits. To access these benefits, call the number on the back of your medical ID card.
Benefits Enrollment Decision Support
For help with choosing a medical plan, visit the Decision Support page to learn more about ALEX® and the Plan Comparison tool.
Medical Carrier Contacts
Visit the Benefits Directory page for contact information.
Fidelity Participant Advocacy (PA) Services: For assistance with medical and claims
If you are a participant in a Bayer medical plan option, the Fidelity PA is a specialty service that can assist you with medical claims that your insurance carriers or providers may have been unable to resolve. PA is made up of a team of case managers who specialize in handling participant inquiries to supplement the carrier experience and provide education on available benefits. PA helps solve complex issues related to benefit plans by acting as a liaison with third-party administrators. They also work directly with Bayer to handle escalated matters and identify trends and issues. To request a PA case be opened on your behalf, call the Bayer Benefits Center at 1-888-473-1001, Option 1.
Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
Bayer offers three different types of FSAs, through Fidelity. An FSA lets you save tax-free to pay for eligible health care or dependent care expenses. When you enroll, you will enter the total amount you want to contribute for the year. Your pay period amount will be determined by the number of pay periods remaining in the year.
Note: Employees in Hawaii are eligible to participate in the Health Care FSA, but not the Limited Purpose Health Care FSA. Employees in Puerto Rico are not eligible to participate in FSAs.
Health Care FSA (HCFSA) | Limited Purpose FSA (LPFSA) | Dependent Care FSA (DCFSA) | |
| Who's Eligible | HCFSAs are available for employees who are enrolled in a PPO Plan or regional medical plan and not enrolled in the Health and Savings Plan. | LPFSAs are available to employees who are enrolled in the Health and Savings Plan. | DCFSAs are available to all employees. |
| Contribution Limits For 2026 | You can contribute up to $3,300 in 2026. | You can contribute up to $3,300 in 2026. | You can contribute up to $7,500 in 2026. |
| Use This Account For |
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| Carryover | If you enroll in an FSA for 2026, you may carry over up to $660 of unused funds remaining in your HCFSA into 2026. | If you enroll in an FSA for 2026, you may carry over up to $660 of unused funds remaining in your LPFSA into 2026. | Unused funds will not carry over to 2026. |
Refer to IRS Publication 502, available at www.irs.gov, for a list of eligible expenses. You can also view more information in the ALEX tool on the Bayer Benefits Center.
Additional resources on Flexible Savings Accounts (FSA) can be found below:
Health Savings Account (HSA)
Bayer offers an HSA through Fidelity. An HSA allows you to pay for qualified medical expenses with tax-free dollars. It also works as a savings account to pay for healthcare expenses in retirement. An HSA is available to employees who are enrolled in a high-deductible health plan, such as Bayer’s Health & Savings Plan options.
Note: You are not eligible to participate in an HSA if you are covered under any non-high-deductible health plan option, including the Bayer PPO plans, located in Hawaii or Puerto Rico, or eligible for and enrolled in Medicare.
Additional resources on Health Savings Account (HSA) can be found below:
- HSA: Eligible Expenses and Ways to Pay Them (1:53 min. video)
- Getting Started with your New HSA (1:34 min. video)
- Understanding your Health Savings Account, or HSA (self-guided presentation)
- Consolidating your HSA (self-guided presentation)
You will need to actively elect your annual contribution each year.
Bayer HSA Annual Company Contribution
Bayer contributes to your HSA annually to help you save for future costs or cover current costs. To receive Bayer’s contribution, you must open an HSA with Fidelity. You’ll be prompted to do this as you complete your enrollment. The amount you receive will be prorated based on the date your medical coverage is effective. See below for details.
Bayer HSA Contribution:
| You Only | You + Spouse/Domestic Partner | You + Child(ren) | You + Family | |
| Bayer HSA Company Contribution | $550 | $825 | $825 | $1,100 |
| 2026 IRS Limit for Total Contributions (from both you and Bayer) | $4,400 | $8,750 | $8,750 | $8,750 |
For employees over 55, you can contribute an additional $1,000 into your HSA in 2026.
- After enrolling, you will receive an HSA debit card in the mail from Fidelity that you may use to pay for qualified medical expenses.
- Funds are only available for use after they have been posted to your Fidelity HSA®, which usually will be by the Wednesday following payday. You may change your contribution amount at any time during the year.
Note for new hires: When making your HSA or FSA elections, keep in mind what you have contributed into your account prior to joining Bayer.
Pro-rated Bayer HSA Contribution New Hires:
| New Hire Coverage Date | Bayer HSA Contribution |
| January 1 | 100% |
| January 2–March 31 | 75% |
| April 1–June 30 | 50% |
| July 1–September 30 | 25% |
| October 1–December 31 | 0% |
Retiree Medical Account (RMA)
The retiree medical account (RMA) is a tax-free account that can be used by eligible retirees to reimburse eligible retiree health care expenses. The RMA does not provide medical plan coverage. Additional information on RMA’s can be found here.
Commuter Benefit
Bayer offers a commuter benefit, administered by Fidelity. This benefit allows eligible employees to pay for public transit passes (e.g., train, subway, light rail, bus, and ferry) and related parking expenses with pre-tax payroll deductions. Enroll through the Bayer Benefits Center website at benefits.bayer.us and select the Fidelity Flexible Spending and Reimbursement Account Services link from the home page. Submit by the 10th of each month to be active for the next month.
Transit and parking expenses are eligible if they are part of your daily commute to work. You must submit by the 10th of each month to be active for the next month.
For details, view the resources below:
To enroll, visit the Fidelity Flexible Spending and Reimbursement Account Services link from the home page. For questions, contact 1-833-299-5089.
Important Note for Cambridge, MA Employees: If you are an employee assigned to a workstation in Cambridge, MA, you may be eligible to receive a separate commuter benefit. Please refer to the Cambridge Subsidy section for further details.
Insurance Benefits
Insurance Overview
To help protect your financial well-being, Bayer offers Life Insurance and Accidental Death & Dismemberment Insurance (AD&D) coverage up to 1.5x your annual base salary at no cost to you. Life insurance benefits are administered by Securian.
You can choose from different levels of additional coverage to meet your needs. Here are some things to keep in mind:
- Supplemental employee life rates are based on your age and whether you are considered tobacco-free.
- Spouse/Domestic Partner Life insurance rates are based on your spouse’s/domestic partner’s age.
- There is imputed income on Basic Employee Life Insurance of more than $50,000 and you may also have imputed income on your Spouse/Domestic Partner and Child Life Insurance options as well.
Contributions for Spouse/Domestic Partner Life, Child Life, and Supplemental AD&D options are after-tax.
Basic Life Insurance
- Bayer provides 1.5x your Annual Base Salary (no cost to you); $1 million maximum
- $25,000 (you will receive flex credit)*
- $50,000 (you will receive flex credit)*
- You will be required to complete EOI if you are enrolled in the $25,000 or $50,000 option and you want to move to the 1.5x option or if you elect $1 million in coverage
Supplemental Employee Life Insurance
- You can elect Supplemental Life Insurance if enrolled in 1.5x basic life
- You can elect an additional 1x to 9x your annual base salary
- Maximum benefit is $4 million
Spouse/Domestic Partner & Child Life Insurance
- Spouse/Domestic Partner Life Insurance ranges from $10,000 to $250,000
- Child Life Insurance ranges from $5,000 to $25,000
- To elect Spouse/Domestic Partner and Child Life Insurance, an eligible dependent must be on file
For more information about your coverage options & costs through Securian, click here.
Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D)
- Basic AD&D (this must match Basic Life election)
- Bayer provides 1.5x your Annual Base Salary (no cost to you); $1 million maximum
- $25,000 (you will receive flex credit)*
- $50,000 (you will receive flex credit)*
- Supplemental AD&D (You Only or Family coverage)
- You can elect an additional 1x to 9x your annual base salary
- Maximum benefit is $4 million
Employees in the ILWU have different options.
Additional resources on Insurance can be found below:
*If you elect the $25,000 or $50,000 option, you get a rate reduction based on the value of the 1.5x option minus the lower option. For example, if the 1.5x is $4.00 and the value of the $25,000 option is $2.00, you get a $2.00 credit in your paycheck
Business Travel Accident (BTA) Insurance
Business Travel Assistance Services are offered to Bayer employees at no cost for emergency medical and security evacuation services while traveling on company business. The coverage includes worldwide travel assistance, including 24-hour access to a multilingual response center. Refer to the Business Travel Assistance Resource Guide. You can print the Travel Assistance policy number and contact information for your records before traveling. Coverage ends on your last day worked.
Additional Information on the Business Travel Accident (BTA) Insurance can be found below:
Short-Term Disability (STD)
The company automatically provides STD coverage, administered by Sedgwick, at no cost to you. You may contact Sedgwick for more details. STD benefits are as follows:
- Non-Maternity disability benefits – Bayer provides 80% of salary for up to 26 weeks for an approved non-maternity disability if you are ill or injured and unable to work.
- Maternity disability benefits – Bayer provides 100% of your salary for a maternity disability beginning up to two (2) weeks prior to your expected delivery date. In addition to the two (2) weeks of STD prior to the expected due date, all birthing parents will have eight (8) weeks of STD, regardless of delivery type, for postpartum recovery, for a total of up to ten (10) weeks.
Long-Term Disability (LTD)
LTD for employees below VS 4.1
(Must work at least 30 hours per week to be eligible)
- For an illness or injury that extends beyond 26 weeks, the company provides LTD coverage of 50% of your monthly base pay at no cost to you and is automatic (you don’t need to enroll). LTD coverage is fully insured by New York Life.
- When you have an enrollment opportunity, you may also want to elect additional “buy-up” LTD coverage of 10% or 20% of your monthly base pay, subject to the restrictions below. Contributions are after-tax. See details below:
Supplemental LTD for employees below VS 4.1
(Must work at least 30 hours per week to be eligible)
- 10% Buy-Up (After tax contributions)
- 20% Buy-Up (After tax contributions)
- $25,000 monthly max (Bayer-provided coverage and supplemental, combined)
Executive LTD for Pay Grades VS 4.1 and Above
Employees in pay grades VS 4.1 and above are provided Executive LTD at 60% of your current base salary plus bonus at target (up to $25,000 monthly maximum) at no cost.
VICAD Participants
If you are eligible and elect to participate in the Voluntary Incentive Compensation Award Deferral Plan (VICAD), you must elect to participate in split dollar life insurance during the initial offering. You will continue to be eligible for $50,000 Basic Life and will not have the option to elect Supplemental Employee Life Insurance. You will also not be eligible for the Basic Life Insurance flex credit. For questions or concerns regarding split dollar life insurance please contact Karr Barth Administrators, Inc. at 1-800-826-8457 or 1-610-660-4560.
Supplemental Individual Disability Insurance (IDI) Coverage
If your job is assigned to VS3 or above, Bayer offers you Supplemental Individual Disability Insurance (IDI) coverage to help protect more of your income if you’re ever unable to work because of an illness or injury.
- Increased income protection — up to an additional $15,000 in monthly tax-free benefit.
- Coverage for total compensation including long term incentive that is not protected by the Bayer Corporation Disability Plan.
Please note there is a separate enrollment window that occurs once a year. If eligible you will be receiving enrollment information from Unum, Bayer’s IDI administrator. For questions, contact Unum customer service at 1-800-633-7490, Option 3.
Note: While on LTD, you may decrease, but not increase, your life insurance and/or AD&D coverage amount during Annual Enrollment.
Important Reminders
Health Insurance May be Required
The Health Care Reform law, also known as the Affordable Care Act (ACA), requires almost all U.S. citizens and legal residents to have health insurance. We encourage you to compare all of your Bayer medical options, as well as other options available to you. Other options for meeting this requirement may include enrolling in a plan through another employer (such as your spouse’s/domestic partner’s employer, or your parent’s employer—if you’re under age 26, or a public health insurance marketplace). Learn more at www.healthcare.gov.
Summary of Benefits and Coverage (SBC) is Available to You
The legally required SBC, which summarizes your medical options in a standard format, lets you compare Bayer’s medical options and make an informed decision. Please see the Reference Library section of benefits.bayer.us at the top of the Benefits Enrollment page for details. You may also call the carrier for more information.
Tax Forms 1095-C and 1095-B
As required by the ACA, in March, employees who were eligible to participate in Bayer medical coverage in the previous year will receive a 1095-C Form. If you participated in a regional medical option in the previous year, you will also receive a 1095-B Form from the carrier that provided coverage to you.
The Fidelity® Debit Card is issued by PNC Bank, N.A, and the debit card program is administered by BNY Mellon Investment Servicing Trust Company. These entities are not affiliated with each other, and Fidelity is not affiliated with PNC Bank or BNY Mellon. Visa is a registered trademark of Visa International Service Association, and is used by PNC Bank pursuant to a license from Visa U.S.A. Inc.