myHR: April 15, 2026 Open Enrollment Edition

Penn Benefits Open Enrollment Starts April 20

Penn’s Benefits Open Enrollment is your annual opportunity to make changes to your health plans, life insurance, and flexible spending accounts. Open Enrollment will be held Monday, April 20, through Friday, May 8. Before it begins, we encourage benefits-eligible faculty, staff, postdocs, and NRSA fellows to take this time to learn about the upcoming 2026-2027 plan year.

There are many changes for the new plan year. One of the changes is a working spouse contribution. Please note that if you choose to have your spouse/domestic partner covered on one of Penn’s medical plans and your spouse/domestic partner has access to other coverage, the working spouse contribution will apply to you. Please carefully consider whether having your spouse on your Penn medical plan is the right choice for you. The working spouse contribution does not apply to dental and vision coverage.

Also, if you participate in a Flexible Spending Account (FSA), you will once again have to re-enroll in your Health Care and/or Dependent Care FSA to continue participation in the plan. New offerings include additional voluntary benefit options in the Penn Benefit Extras program, administered by Corestream. For details about each of the plan changes, read the “Plan Changes Effective July 1, 2026” article in this newsletter.

Be sure to carefully review your Benefits Enrollment Guide 2026-2027. Regular full-time faculty and staff and regular part-time and ACA-eligible faculty and staff can visit the Open Enrollment webpage to download their benefits enrollment guide. Postdocs and NRSA fellows can visit the Postdoctoral Researchers and Fellows webpage for a copy of their guide.

Faculty, staff, postdocs, and NRSA fellows can also gather information about the new plan year at the Open Enrollment Benefits Fair on Tuesday, April 28, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Houston Hall, Bodek Lounge. A benefits fair will also be held at New Bolton Center on April 29 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Alumni Hall.

If you are unable to attend a benefits fair, you can review the 2026-2027 Open Enrollment Benefits presentation, benefit comparison charts, contribution charts, and more. This information will help you understand your benefit options so you can make informed decisions that are right for you and your family.

Plan Year Changes Effective July 1, 2026

One of the most important steps faculty, staff, postdocs, and NRSA fellows take during the Open Enrollment period is to get familiar with the upcoming plan changes. There are several changes for the 2026-2027 plan year that affect flexible spending accounts, coverage of your spouse, voluntary benefits options, as well as medical, dental, and vision rates.

You should review all the plan changes before enrolling or making changes to your elections. Once you have determined the benefits that are right for you and your family, you can make changes to your benefits coverage 24 hours a day, 7 days a week in Workday. Changes can only be made during Open Enrollment unless you have a qualifying life event.

You can review all the 2026-2027 plan changes below. Faculty, staff, postdocs, and NRSA fellows should also review their respective enrollment guides for specific plan options and details about which changes apply to you.

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 postdocs). 

The working spouse contribution applies to:

• A spouse/domestic partner eligible for medical coverage through their employer but is covered on one of Penn’s medical plans.
• A spouse/domestic partner eligible and enrolled in medical coverage through their employer and covered on one of Penn’s medical plans.
• A spouse/domestic partner eligible for Pre-65 retiree medical coverage through their former employer but is covered on one of Penn’s medical plans.

The working spouse contribution DOES NOT apply to:

• Medicare, Tricare, Medicaid.
• Married couples who are both employed at Penn.
• A spouse/domestic partner who is only eligible for Penn’s retiree medical benefits.
• A spouse/domestic partner who is not employed.
• A spouse/domestic partner who is self-employed.
• A spouse/domestic partner who is employed but not eligible for medical coverage through their employer.
• A spouse/domestic partner who works for an employer that does not offer medical coverage.

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. You can choose to select or waive the contribution. If you have a spouse/domestic partner enrolled in one of Penn’s medical plans and that individual has access to coverage or does not have access to other coverage through their employer, you can waive the working spouse contribution. You can also choose to maintain coverage for your spouse/domestic partner on one of Penn’s medical plans. 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 any action, you will be defaulted to the $100 monthly contribution. Please note the working spouse contribution does not apply to dental and vision coverage. For more information, please review the Working Spouse Contribution FAQ on the Working Spouse Contribution webpage.

• 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 roll 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 Benefit 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 Health Advocate at 866-799-2329. Behavioral health providers for all other medical plans will remain the same.
• Health Plan Deductible Increase – Effective July 1, 2026, health plan deductibles will increase by $125. 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:
  • Call 1-888-503-2380
  • Email support@curalinc.com
  • Visit https://www.hr.upenn.edu/eap
• Medical, 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 see your Benefits Enrollment Guide for complete rate information.
• New Identification Cards for Penn Care/Personal Choice Plan Holders – All PennCare/Personal Choice Plan holders will receive new identification cards mailed to their homes at the end of June. 

Enrolling and Making Changes During Open Enrollment

Open Enrollment is the ideal time for you to enroll in one of Penn’s benefits plans or consider changing elections if you need coverage that better meets your needs and your family’s current needs. From April 20 through May 8, you can enroll or make changes to your health and life insurance benefits coverage 24 hours a day, 7 days a week in the Benefits, Comp and Pay Hub in Workday.

To enroll or change your benefits elections:

1. Log into Workday.
2. From the left-hand navigation on the Workday homepage, select Personal, then select Benefits, Comp and Pay Hub.
3. Review and update your benefit elections.
4. 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.

Some of the changes you may need to make during Open Enrollment include:

• Selecting or waiving the working spouse contribution. You can choose to select or waive the contribution. If you have a spouse/domestic partner enrolled in one of Penn’s medical plans and that individual has access to coverage or does not have access to other coverage through their employer, you can waive the working spouse contribution. You can also choose to maintain coverage for your spouse/domestic partner or add a spouse on one of Penn’s medical plans. Even if you do not make changes to your benefits coverage, you must select or waive the working spouse contribution in Workday if you are covering your spouse/domestic partner on one of Penn’s medical plans. If you do not take any action, you will be defaulted to the $100 monthly contribution. Please note the working spouse contribution does not apply to dental and vision coverage. Please see the Working Spouse Contribution webpage for details.
• Re-enrolling in a Flexible Spending Account (FSA) or changing how much you contribute. If you have an FSA now, you will have to re-select your monthly and annual contribution or 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. Whether you are making a first-time election or currently have an FSA, those eligible to participate in an FSA must take action.
• Enrolling in a healthcare plan for the first time or dropping an existing plan.
• Switching to a different medical, dental, or vision plan.
• Increasing or decreasing your life insurance coverage.
• Adding a dependent or dropping a dependent from your benefits coverage. If you add a new dependent, under Penn’s plan rules, you will need to verify your dependent’s eligibility in Workday by submitting the appropriate documents when you enroll. 
• You should also review your life insurance beneficiary information, confirm its accuracy for all elections, and update it if necessary. To make an update, log into Workday. You can also make life insurance beneficiary changes by contacting Health Advocate at answers@HealthAdvocate.com or 1-866-799-2329, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. If you need to update your retirement plan beneficiaries, log in to your retirement planning account through Penn’s TIAA.org SSO link.

What Happens If You Don’t Make Changes?

If you don’t make changes during Open Enrollment, your current elections (except for your FSA) will roll over when the new plan year starts on July 1, 2026. 

What If You Waive Coverage?

Under the Affordable Care Act, if you waive your University coverage, you are still responsible for obtaining coverage through some other source. For example, you can obtain coverage through a spouse’s plan, your parent’s plan (if you are under age 26), or via the Health Insurance Marketplace.

When Are Changes Effective?

Whether you decide to make no changes to your current Penn benefits, or you choose different plan options, the elections you make during Open Enrollment will be effective on July 1, 2026, and stay in effect until June 30, 2027. 

Making Changes After Enrollment

You cannot make changes to your healthcare benefit elections after the Open Enrollment period unless you experience a qualifying life event. Qualifying life events include the birth or adoption of a child, marriage, divorce or separation, death of a dependent, and change in your dependent’s eligibility for benefits.

Keep in mind that the IRS limits the types of changes you can make for qualifying life events. If you experience a qualifying life event, please contact Health Advocate at answers@HealthAdvocate.com or 1-866-799-2329, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Resources for Choosing Benefits Coverage

Penn provides a variety of resources for faculty, staff, postdocs, and NRSA fellows to learn about the available benefits programs, compare plans, and choose options that best meet your healthcare needs.

Below are details about each of the available resources. Before you enroll or make changes to your current elections, review these materials to help with your coverage decisions.

Benefits Presentation

Penn provides several virtual and on-campus Open Enrollment presentations. For a list of dates and links to register, please visit the Open Enrollment webpage. If you are unable to make one of the presentations, you can still get the information you need about the upcoming plan year changes, plan options, rates, and more by downloading the 2026-2027 Open Enrollment Benefits presentation.

Benefits Fairs

The Open Enrollment Benefits Fair will be held on Tuesday, April 28, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Bodek Lounge, Houston Hall. Penn HR staff as well as representatives from Penn’s healthcare providers and wellness partners will be there to answer your questions. A benefits fair will also be held at New Bolton Center on April 29 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Alumni Hall.

Benefits Enrollment Guides

The Benefits Enrollment Guide provides a summary of the benefits programs available to all benefits-eligible full-time faculty and staff, part-time and ACA benefits-eligible staff, postdoctoral researchers and fellows, and NRSA fellows. Click on the links below to download your Benefits Enrollment Guide (Note: NRSA fellows should refer to the Postdoctoral Researchers and Fellows Benefits Enrollment Guide): 

• Full-time Benefits Enrollment Guide
• Part-time & ACA Eligible Benefits Enrollment Guide
• Postdoctoral Researchers and Fellows Benefits Enrollment Guide

If you have questions about Open Enrollment, contact Health Advocate at answers@HealthAdvocate.com or call 1-866-799-2329, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Retirement Planning All Year Long

Eligible faculty and staff can review and change their Penn retirement savings plan elections during the Open Enrollment period or any time of the year.

Update your plan beneficiaries, increase your contributions, revise your investment mix, or just check your elections when the time is right for you at TIAA.org.

For information about Penn’s retirement savings plans, visit the Retirement Saving Plans webpage.