A Message to you from your Human Resources Team:
Helping you and your family reach and maintain good health is very important to Apex Engineering Group. We review our benefit programs each year to ensure we consider the best combination of benefit coverage, network access and affordability for employees. Please use the resources found on this site to help you chose the best benefits package for you and your loved ones and make sure to contact our team if you have any further questions.
Eligibility Regular employees working at least 30 hours per week are eligible to participate in benefits offered by Apex. When you enroll in the benefits program, you may also cover your eligible benefits. Dependents include your legal spouse, child(ren) up to age 26 (regardless of student status, marital status, residence, or financial dependence on you), and an unmarried child incapable of self-support.
Apex Engineering is committed to providing a competitive, cost-effective benefit program. Please review the Benefit Overview below and the Benefit Summaries found on this page for information on all of your benefits.
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We are pleased to offer our employees an easy to use, online enrollment tool called Ease. Please use the link below to access your enrollment portal.
The benefit choices you make during your initial enrollment remain in effect for the entire year.
You can, however, modify your elections under certain circumstances, called "Qualifying Events" These are events such as marriage, divorce, birth or adoption of a child, loss of eligibility under another plan. If you experience a qualifying event, you may make changes to your benefits within 30 days of the event or 60 days if the event is due to birth or adoption of a child. Please contact Human Resources if you have questions about qualifying events.
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2026 Medical Plans with Sanford
Sanford Health Plan will continue to administer your medical and prescription drug benefits this year. The medical plan includes a prescription drug benefit, which covers prescriptions at participating pharmacies and mail-order maintenance drugs.
To find out if your provider is in-network, please visit the Sanford Health website below and click on "Find a Doctor."
Sanford Health Gym Membership Program As an added benefit to your health plan, Sanford provides up to $20/month per covered employee and covered spouse for attending a gym a minimum of 12 times per month. For more information, and to enroll, visit: https://nihcarewards.org/
Sanford Health - Virtual Care Options This benefit allows you to consult with a doctor through videoconferencing using your smartphone, tablet or computer. Board-certified doctors diagnose your condition, recommend treatment and send a prescription directly to your pharmacy if needed. For more information, visit: https://www.sanfordhealth.org/find-care/virtual-care
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HSA and FSA though Alerus - New Carrier in 2026!
To improve the level of service for your HSA and FSA, we are excited to inform you that on January 1, 2026, Apex Engineering Group will be moving from WEX to Alerus for the administration of our Flexible and Health Savings Accounts, as well as our COBRA administration.
Flexible Spending Accounts Apex offers employees the opportunity to enroll in health care and dependent care flexible spending accounts (FSAs) for eligible employees, administered by Alerus in 2026. These accounts allow you to pay for eligible health and dependent care expenses with pretax dollars. By contributing to one or both of the Flexible Spending Accounts you reduce your taxable income, so you pay less in taxes - which saves you money.
Contributions - The election you make during enrollment is your election for the entire plan year. You may change it only if you have a qualifying life event and the change request must be consistent with the event.
You may contribute as follows:
Health Care FSA:
- Up to $3,400 annually
- All FSA benefit eligible employees can participate, unless you or your spouse are contributing to an HSA.
- Reimbursements allowed for qualified medical, RX, dental, and vision expenses.
- Grace Period Provision - this means that after the plan year ends, you are still eligible to use your FSA funds until March 15 the following year. After March 15, if you still have unspent funds, you will lose those funds.
Dependent Care FSA:
- Up to $7,500 annually
- Limited to $3,750 if you are married and file separate tax returns.
- Dependent Care allows employees to use pre-tax dollars to pay for incurred childcare expenses (such as daycare, nanny, after-school care, etc.)
How the Plan Works - You must incur your eligible expenses during the plan year - January 1 to December 31. An expense is considered to be incurred when the service is performed, not when you are billed or pay for the service. You do, however, have until March 30th annually to file your claims. Any funds after March 30 unclaimed will be forfeited.
Health Savings Account The Health Savings Account (HSA) allows you to set aside pre-tax dollars to pay for eligible expenses. By contributing to a HSA you reduce your taxable income, so you pay less in taxes - which saves you money.
To be eligible for an HSA, you must be enrolled in the High-Deductible Health Plan (HDHP). Once you are enrolled, you will open an HSA through Alerus. Keep in mind the employer contribution and your contribution cannot exceed the overall IRS maximum. You may change the amount you contribute throughout the year. The above employer and employee contributions are subject to prorating.
Who's Your Beneficiary? Naming a beneficiary is a crucial part of electing an HSA. Also, don't forget to update your primary or secondary beneficiary if you experience a life event, such as a divorce or birth of a child.
Log into My Alerus at alerusrb.com
- The first time you log in, you will need to Set up online access.
- Follow the prompts to set up and validate your account.
- Once sign up is complete, click the Log in button and enter your new credentials.
- Select your plan under Accounts.
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To improve the level of service for your HSA and FSA, we are excited to inform you that on January 1, 2026, Apex Engineering Group will be moving from WEX to Alerus for the administration of our Flexible and Health Savings Accounts, as well as our COBRA administration. We understand that change is never easy, and we will do everything we can to ensure the transition goes as smoothly as possible.
Things to know:
- Please plan to attend an Open Enrollment meeting the week of November 3rd, 2025. The HR team will be in-person at every office, and the meetings will also be offered via Teams for those who are not able to attend in person. Refer to Page 6 of the most recent newsletter for dates and times. Mark your calendars!
- If you are currently enrolled in an FSA (Medical or Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account), plan to have a $0 balance by December 31 if possible. This will make the transition to Alerus a little smoother if you do not have a balance in your FSA at the end of the year. We will still offer the grace period for our medical FSA, so if you absolutely aren’t able to spend your medical FSA before December 31, you still have until March 15 to use the funds. But with the difficulty we have experienced with WEX’s customer service, our suggestion is to have your account at $0 and have your receipts turned in as well.
What happens to my current HSA/FSA with WEX?
- HSA: You will have the option to either keep your existing HSA with WEX or transfer your funds to Alerus. If you wish to transfer your HSA balance to Alerus, you will need to complete a transfer form from Wex. Wex will then send your HSA balance to Alerus, but you may experience a blackout period in early 2026. More details on how to transfer funds will be provided during open enrollment.
- FSA: Your 2025 FSA will remain with WEX through the end of the plan year. Reminder: if you have a balance, please spend this down prior to the end of the year. New 2026 FSA elections will be administered by Alerus and made in Ease during open enrollment.
Will I need to re-enroll in my HSA or FSA?
- HSA: If you wish to contribute to your HSA in 2026, you will need to re-enroll through Ease during Open Enrollment.
- FSA: Yes, FSA elections do not carry over year to year. You must re-enroll for the 2026 plan year through Ease during Open Enrollment.
What happens to my HSA debit card?
You will receive a new Alerus HSA debit card with a beginning date of January 1, 2026. If you choose to leave a balance with WEX, you will take over the monthly administration fees, as Apex will no longer sponsor the WEX HSA. Apex will pay for the monthly administrative fees through Alerus moving forward.
What support will be available during the transition?
Alerus will provide:
Health Flexible Spending Accounts
Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts
What do I need to do now?
- Attend an Open Enrollment session to learn more.
- Watch for upcoming communications with instructions on how to set up your Alerus account.
- Decide whether you want to transfer your HSA funds from WEX to Alerus.
Thank you for your attention and cooperation as we make this transition to better serve you!
Dental Coverage with Sun Life
Apex partners with Sun Life to administer dental coverage. The dental plan provides comprehensive coverage to help you and your family maintain good dental health. To find out if your provider is in-network, please visit the Sun Life website below. The Dental PPO Network is Sun Life Dental Network.
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Vision Coverage with Sun Life
Apex partners with Sun Life for vision coverage to help pay for eye exams, prescription glasses and contact lenses. You receive a higher level of benefits when you see a provider in the network. Please note vision insurance is issued by Sun Life. Certain claims and network administration services are provided through Vision Service Plan (VSP). To find out if your provider is in-network, please visit the VSP website below or call 1-800-877-7195.
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Life & Disability Insurance with SunLife
Apex provides you with Basic Life/AD&D coverage as well as Short-Term and Long-Term Disability through Sun Life. You also have the option to purchase additional life insurance for you, your spouse and dependent children.
Basic Life/AD&D Apex Engineering provides benefit eligible employees are eligible for $50,000 coverage payable to your designated beneficiary in the event of your death. An additional accidental death & dismemberment benefit (AD&D) is payable to you in the event of a covered dismemberment or to your beneficiary if your death is the result of an accident.
Voluntary Life/AD&D A sudden accident or death can leave you or your loved ones in a vulnerable position. Employees have the opportunity to enroll in Term Life and Accidental Death & Dismemberment insurance which will supplement lost income in the event of an accident or death. If you choose to enroll in employee coverage, this will be in addition to your employer provided Basic Life coverage.
Who's Your Beneficiary? Naming a beneficiary is a crucial part of electing life insurance. Also, don't forget to update your primary or secondary beneficiary if you experience a life event, such as a divorce or birth of a child.
Short-Term Disability Everyday illnesses or injuries can interfere with your ability to work. Even a few weeks away from work can make it difficult to manage household costs. Short-Term Disability coverage provides financial protection for you by paying a portion of your income, so you can focus on getting better and worry less about keeping up with your bills. Your coverage through Sun Life pays 60% of your income to a maximum of $1,600 per week. You will pay taxes on the benefit through a payroll tax, so in the event of a claim your benefit will be tax free.
Long-Term Disability Serious illnesses or accidents can interrupt your life, and your ability to work for months – even years. Long Term Disability provides financial protection for you by paying a portion of your income, so you have financial support to manage your disability and your household. Benefits begin after a 90-day elimination period are equal to 60% of covered monthly earnings up to $10,000 for full-time employees. You will pay taxes on the benefit through a payroll tax, so in the event of a claim your benefit will be tax free.
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Voluntary Benefits with SunLife
Apex Engineering provides eligible employees with the opportunity to participate in a variety of voluntary benefits through Sun Life. The voluntary benefits are designed to help offset the cost of medical care, should you need it. You may enroll in any of the following benefits during our open enrollment period.
Accidental Injury Insurance As we all know, accidents can happen at any time. Having an accident doesn’t just hurt you– it can also damage your finances. Your medical insurance will cover some of the expenses, but you’ll be left to foot the bills for your copays and deductible. Accident insurance is designed to help meet out-of-pockets expenses and extra bills that can follow an accidental injury, whether minor or catastrophic. Coverage includes payments for emergency treatment and hospitalizations, as well as treatment for broken bones, lacerations, and burns. There is also a wellness benefit that includes a payment for completing a health screening or preventive care visit. Our group accident insurance is an affordable way to make sure you can cover the gap between what your medical insurance covers and what you’d owe out-of-pocket if you or a family member were to get injured.
Critical Illness Insurance You may have medical insurance– But that doesn’t mean you’re covered for all of the expenses resulting from a serious illness. Critical Illness, including cancer, impacts so many lives. One of the greatest and most easily forgotten effects is the financial burden associated with such diagnosis. In addition to the cost of treatment, the time away from work can deplete your savings account in no time. Coverage for yourself includes payments up to $20,000 depending on the level of coverage you choose. Coverage for spouses and children can also be chosen.
Hospital Indemnity Insurance Even with health insurance, a hospital stay can leave you facing many bills. Your deductible, copays, and coinsurance can add up fast, leaving you scrambling to cover unexpected costs. This is where hospital indemnity insurance steps in to offer a helping hand. Unlike traditional health insurance which pays for medical
bills directly, hospital indemnity insurance provides a cash benefit directly to you if you’re hospitalized. This cash can be used for anything you need, including out-of-pocket health care expenses, replacing lost income during recovery, and everyday expenses.
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2026 NFP Wellness Challenges
- Quarter One Challenge:
- Quarter Two Challenge:
- Quarter Three Challenge:
- Quarter Four Challenge:
401(k) Retirement Plan
By joining the Apex Engineering Group’s 401(k) plan you have an opportunity to make a real difference in the future of your retirement.
The Plan we offer is a valuable benefit to help you save for the future. Saving now can help you have the income you’ll need at retirement. Participating in the Plan is easy. You contribute a portion of your pay to your Plan account each payday through convenient payroll deduction. Contributions are then allocated to the Plan's investment options you select. Apex Engineering Group also makes contributions to your account.
There are significant tax advantages, too. For example, your qualifying contributions, employer contributions and all earnings on your account are not subject to current federal income tax (or, where applicable, state, or local taxes) until you take them out of the Plan. This tax deferral gives your retirement savings the ability to grow under the most favorable terms possible. The Plan also allows you to make designated Roth contributions. However, designated Roth contributions are included in your current taxable income, but may be withdrawn tax-free, if certain conditions are met. See your Summary Plan Description for more details.
By combining convenience with these special tax benefits, your retirement savings plan offers you one of the best ways to fund your future. We are excited to offer you this worthwhile benefit and we hope you will use it to help make your retirement dreams a reality. So, get started today and take the first step toward a brighter financial future!
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Additional Company Benefits
Apex provides a competitive benefits package for all employees as part of our total compensation package:
- Paid Time Off (PTO)
- 8 Paid Holidays
- Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
Sometimes a personal or professional issue can affect your work, health, and general well-being. In these times, you may need an experienced professional to talk with to help you manage life’s challenges. Apex partners with Sun Life to offer you a Comprehensive Employee Assistance Program (EAP) from ComPsych. The EAP is here to help support you when dealing with issues such as emotional well-being, family and relationships, legal and financial issues, healthy lifestyles, or work / life transitions.
Some highlights of the EAP include:
- Unlimited telephone access to EAP professionals 24/7
- Three face-to-face sessions with a counselor (per member per issue),
- Legal assistance and financial services
- Access to a library of educational articles and resources through a website.
Contacting the EAP:
- Call: 1-877-595-5281 (or)
- Visit: www.guidanceresources.com
- Click “Register”
- Enter Organization Web ID: EAPBusiness
- Enter Company Name: Apex (please include a space after the word Apex)
- Select the company name: Apex Engineering Group, Inc. Employees
Employee Perks Program - Working Advantage
More perks. More savings. More of what makes you happy. We’re here to support your personal and financial well-being through exclusive deals and limited time offers on the products, services and experiences you need and love.
How to Access your Account:
- Visit www.workingadvantage.com
- Click "Become a Member"
- Enter your company code or work email to create your account
- Company Code: APEXENGGROUPFUN
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Contact Us
As you consider your benefit options, please be sure to review all available information. Including the Employee Benefits Overview, Ease Portal and other videos and flyers found on this webpage. If you don't understand your benefits or need any assistance, please contact:
Lisa Markert
701-373-7999
Lisa.Markert@ApexEngGroup.com
If you would like a printed copy of any of the documents found on this page, please contact Human Resources.