Open Enrollment

Open Enrollment 2026-2027 Is Closed

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The 2026-2027 Enrollment Guides

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Looking Ahead to the 2026-2027 Plan Year

Working Spouse Contribution

Effective July 1, 2026, a working spouse contribution of $100 per month ($23.08 weekly for 52 paychecks) may apply if your spouse has access to group medical coverage through an outside employer but enrolls in one of Penn’s medical plans. The working spouse contribution will be deducted on a pre-tax basis (post-tax for NRSA post-docs).

For details about the Working Spouse Contribution and whether it applies to you, please visit the Working Spouse Contribution webpage.

During Open Enrollment, faculty, staff, postdocs, and NRSA Fellows who have a spouse enrolled in one of Penn’s medical plans or who add a spouse to one of Penn’s medical plans will be required to log into Workday and select or waive the Working Spouse Contribution. By waiving the contribution, you are attesting that your spouse/domestic partner does not have access to other coverage through their employer. 

Even if you do not make changes to your benefits coverage, you must complete the process in Workday if you are covering your spouse/domestic partner on one of Penn’s medical plans. If you do not take action, you will be defaulted to the $100 monthly contribution. 

Re-elect to Continue Participating in Flexible Spending Accounts

You will need to re-elect your Health Care and/or Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts to continue coverage in the new plan year.
  • Unlike your medical, dental, vision, and life insurance, which rolls over to the next plan year if you don’t make changes, you must re-elect your Flexible Spending Account this year if you wish to continue participation in the plan.
  • If you do not re-elect the coverage for the upcoming plan year, you will be defaulted with a $0 annual goal amount and you will not be able to enroll in the plan until the next Open Enrollment period unless you have a qualifying life event.
  • Please log in to Workday to review and re-elect your FSA. If you need assistance, please contact Health Advocate at 1-866-799-2329.

Higher Contribution Amount Allowed for Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account

The maximum contribution you can make to your Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account (DCFSA) is increasing from $5,000 to $7,500. Highly compensated employees’ maximum remains at $2,500. You cannot roll over any unused DCFSA funds to the following plan year. Due to an IRS regulation known as “use it or lose it,” if you don’t use the full balance in your DCFSA each plan year, you forfeit the unused money. 

Higher Health Care Flexible Spending Account Rollover Increase

The Health Care Flexible Spending Account (HCFSA) helps you pay for eligible healthcare expenses with pre-tax dollars. The maximum annual contribution remains $3,400. In the new plan year, the amount you can roll over to the next plan year will increase from $660 to $680. You will forfeit any remaining balance over $680.   

Health Savings Account Contribution Increase

The High-Deductible Health Plan and the Health Savings Account work together to help manage healthcare costs. In the new plan year, you can contribute more: up to $3,400 for individual coverage and up to $6,750 for family coverage.  

Additional Voluntary Benefits Options

Penn is enhancing its Penn Benefits Extras program, administered by Corestream, with new voluntary benefits such as legal services, purchase financing, and pet wellness. Learn more on the Penn Benefit Extras webpage. 

PennCare/Personal Choice PPO Transitions to New Behavioral Health Provider

Independence Behavioral Health Network (IBX) will replace Quest Behavioral Health as the behavioral health provider for the PennCare/Personal Choice health plan. Independence has made significant investments to expand and strengthen its behavioral health network, which now includes Penn Medicine providers. IBX is working with Quest to ensure a smooth transition, continuity of care, and expanded provider participation, including to bring some Quest providers onboard as an in-network provider. For information about your providers' participation, contact the Benefit Solution Center at 866-799-2329. Behavioral health providers for all other medical plans will remain the same. 

Health Plan Deductibles Increase

Effective July 1, 2026, health plan deductibles will increase by $125. Penn This adjustment helps manage rising healthcare costs while continuing to offer comprehensive coverage for our faculty, staff, and postdocs.

Curalinc is Penn's Employee Assistance Program Provider

Curalinc, a recognized leader in providing comprehensive EAP solutions, is Penn’s Employee Assistance Program provider. Penn offers both preventative and treatment services to Penn employees and their families through the EAP. All Penn benefits-eligible faculty, staff, and postdocs have 24/7 access to masters-level intake counselors via the EAP, which offers free confidential counseling services to help you manage challenges. You can reach out in any of the following ways:

Medical Plan, Dental and Vision Rates

For the 2026-2027 plan year, medical plan rates and Penn Dental Plan rates will increase, while MetLife Dental Plan and vision plan rates will remain the same. Visit the Open Enrollment webpage or the Benefits Enrollment Guide for complete rate information. 

New Identification Cards for Penn Care/Personal Choice Plan Holders

All Penn Care/Personal Choice Plan holders will receive new identification cards mailed to their homes at the end of June.   

All changes are effective July 1,2026                                                                                           

Benefits Presentation

To learn about plan changes for the upcoming plan year, you can download a PDF of the Benefits 2026-2027 Presentation. 

Workday@Penn Features

During Open Enrollment, you can make changes to your benefits coverage anytime - 24 hours a day, 7 days a week – by visiting Workday@Penn. Login at http://www.myworkday.com/upenn/login.html. 

How to Enroll or Make Changes
  • From the left-hand navigation on the Workday homepage, select Personal then select Benefits, Comp and Pay Hub
  • Review and update your benefit elections.
  • Print a confirmation statement for your records.
  • Refer to the Self-Service: Manage, View and Change Your Benefits Workday tip sheet for step-by-step instructions.
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Model My Pay Tool Feature

  • While in Workday, click on the Model My Pay feature to estimate how changes to your pre-tax and post-tax deductions and federal and state tax elections may impact your net, or take home, pay.
  • Read the Self-Service: Model My Pay tip sheet.
  • Note: Model My Pay is for informational purposes only.

Update Your Beneficiary

Please review and update your life insurance beneficiary information in the Benefits, Comp and Pay Hub in Workday. To update your retirement plan beneficiaries, log in to your retirement planning account through Penn’s TIAA.org SSO link.  

Your Contributions

Your contributions for medical, dental, vision, and the flexible spending accounts are made with pre-tax dollars. You pay for employee and dependent life insurance with after-tax dollars. All contributions are taken from your paycheck in the month for which your benefits are effective. Your pay must support your contributions for the benefits elected. If that is not the case, then your enrollment cannot be processed.

Making Changes to Your Elections Outside of Open Enrollment

If you have a qualifying life event you may be eligible to make changes to your benefit elections outside of Open Enrollment. For more information visit the Qualifying Life Event Changes page.

For More Information