The Benefits Open Enrollment period is October 5 – October 30, 2026. This is your annual opportunity to enroll in or make changes to your benefits and dependents for the upcoming calendar year. Changes made during Benefits Open Enrollment are effective January 1, 2027. Highlights of the benefits changes for 2027 are below.
State Group Health Insurance
The plan designs (health plan and high deductible health plan) will remain the same. The coinsurance within each plan design will also remain the same but some copayments will increase. The annual deductible starting January 1, 2027 will also increase, as follows:
- High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP): $2,000 for individual coverage, $4,000 for family coverage
- Health Plan (non-HDHP): $400 for individual coverage, $800 for family coverage
Robin with HealthPartners will be renamed HealthPartners Northeast. If you are currently enrolled with Robin with HealthPartners, you will be enrolled with the renamed plan with the same plan design and dependents unless you make a change during the enrollment period.
All health insurance carriers currently available in the State Group Health Insurance Program will continue to be available for 2027. However, HealthPartners Southeast and HealthPartners West will have changes to their service areas.
If you are currently enrolled in a plan with a name change, you will be enrolled with the renamed plan with the same plan design and dependents unless you make a change during the Benefits Open Enrollment period.
Employee premiums for all plan designs will increase.
Pharmacy Benefits
Pharmacy benefits are included in all State Group Health Insurance plan designs. Starting January 1, 2027, the copayments and coinsurance for each level, based on the formulary, will increase.
Uniform and Preventive Dental Insurance Plans
These plans provide coverage for preventive dental services, most basic dental services, and orthodontia services (up to age 19). Employee premiums for Uniform Dental (individual coverage) and Preventive Dental Insurance will increase. Employee premiums for Uniform Dental (family coverage) will remain the same.
Supplemental Dental Insurance Plans
The Select and Select Plus plans provide coverage for major and restorative dental services. The Select Plus plan covers orthodontia services for children and adults. Employee premiums for the Select plan will remain the same. Employee premiums for the Select Plus plan will increase.
Vision Insurance Plan
The vision insurance plan provides coverage for an annual eye exam and materials (contacts or glasses). The $150 allowance for materials will remain the same. Employee premiums will also remain the same.
Individual & Family Life Insurance
This plan provides group term life insurance and includes an accidental death & dismemberment benefit. If you currently have coverage, you may increase your employee, spouse/domestic partner, or child coverage during the enrollment period, up to the coverage level maximum. Or you may decrease or cancel coverage, at any time. Premium rates will remain the same.
Accidental Death & Dismemberment Insurance
This plan provides a benefit if you die as the result of an accident, or suffer the loss of a limb, your eyesight, hearing, or speech. You can enroll in, change, or cancel coverage at any time. Employee premium rates will remain the same.
Accident Insurance
This plan provides a lump sum payment to you for specific injuries due to an accident and includes an accidental death & dismemberment benefit. Employee premiums will remain the same.
Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)
Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs) allow you to pay for certain health care, dependent day care, and parking and transit expenses using tax-free dollars. The contribution and carryover limits for 2027 are below.
- Healthcare Flexible Spending Accounts
- Maximum annual contribution: $3,400 (increase)
- Carryover minimum: $50 OR balances less than $50 will carryover if you re-enroll for 2027 (no change)
- Carryover maximum: $680 (increase)
- Dependent Day Care Account
- Maximum annual contribution (depends on tax filing status): $3,750 or $7,500 (no change)
- Carryover: $0 (no change)
- Parking & Transit Accounts
- Maximum monthly contribution: $340 (increase)
- Carryover minimum: $50 OR balances less than $50 will carryover if you re-enroll for 2027 (no change)
- Carryover maximum: unlimited (no change)
Health Savings Account (HSA)
A Health Savings Account (HSA) is a required component of the High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP). In 2027:
- The employer contribution to your HSA, if eligible, will increase to $876 for individual coverage and $1,752 for family coverage. These amounts are pro-rated if you’re not eligible and enrolled for the entire calendar year.
- The total contribution amounts will increase to $4,500 for individual coverage and $9,000 for family coverage. These amounts include the employee and employer contributions to your HSA and may be pro-rated if you’re not eligible and enrolled for the entire calendar year.
Next Steps
Some universities will host onsite benefits fairs to help you understand the benefits available to you in 2027. Check the benefits fairs schedule to see if your university will host an onsite benefits fair.
Watch for emails in September for more information about the Benefits Open Enrollment period.
Source: Universities of Wisconsin Office of Human Resources