Open Enrollment begins Oct. 12

Open Enrollment is Oct. 12-30, 2026. Be sure to enroll to get the coverage you want for 2027! Your new elections will go into effect Jan. 1, 2027.

There are a few important changes for 2027, including a new plan design for the State Health Plan. See below for a quick overview of what you need to know and actions you should take, along with reminders about our two enrollment platforms.

Open Enrollment Engagement Opportunities

Virtual Information Sessions: Several virtual benefits education sessions are available to help you prepare for the 2027 Open Enrollment period. See the 2027 Benefits Open Enrollment flyer for session dates, times, access links, and additional details.
In-Person Lab: There will be in-person connection opportunities for any employee seeking additional assistance during Open Enrollment on the following dates, times, and locations: Oct. 20–22 in the UNCSA Library, second floor computer lab (room 2209), from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Virtual Drop-In Lab: Several virtual benefits drop-in sessions are available to help you prepare for the 2027 Open Enrollment period. See the 2027 Benefits Open Enrollment flyer for session dates, times, and Zoom access links.

State Health Plan Changes

NEW Tiered Provider Network Plan Design	There will be four tiers of providers, and your out-of-pocket costs will vary based on the tier of the provider you choose: Preferred: You’ll have lower deductibles, out-of-pocket maximums, and copays than what you are currently paying when you receive care from a preferred provider. Access: You’ll generally have the same out-of-pocket costs as you have today but in some cases costs may be lower when you receive care from an access provider. Non-Preferred: You’ll have significant increases to your out-of-pocket costs when you receive care from a non-preferred provider. Out-of-Network: You’ll continue to have higher out-of-pocket costs when you receive care from an out-of-network provider since these providers are not included in the Plan’s broad, national network.
Health Care Premiums	There will be increases to premiums. Active members will have a monthly increase ranging from less than $2 to around $8 for individual coverage and less than $29 to $42 per month for family coverage.

NEW Tiered Provider Network Plan Design

There will be four tiers of providers, and your out-of-pocket costs will vary based on the tier of the provider you choose:

Preferred: You’ll have lower deductibles, out-of-pocket maximums, and copays than what you are currently paying when you receive care from a preferred provider.
Access: You’ll generally have the same out-of-pocket costs as you have today but in some cases costs may be lower when you receive care from an access provider.
Non-Preferred: You’ll have significant increases to your out-of-pocket costs when you receive care from a non-preferred provider.
Out-of-Network: You’ll continue to have higher out-of-pocket costs when you receive care from an out-of-network provider since these providers are not included in the Plan’s broad, national network.

Health Care Premiums

There will be increases to premiums. Active members will have a monthly increase ranging from less than $2 to around $8 for individual coverage and less than $29 to $42 per month for family coverage.

UNC Plan Updates

Employee Voluntary Life Insurance Plan	The monthly cost of coverage for employee voluntary life insurance (with matching AD&D rider) has slightly decreased.
Voluntary Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D) Plans	The monthly cost of coverage for employee voluntary AD&D as well as employee and family AD&D has decreased.

NCFlex Changes

Cancer and Specified Disease Vendor	Our vendor for Cancer and Specified Disease, Allstate, was acquired by The Standard in 2025. They have been operating under the Allstate brand during the transition but their name is officially changing to The Standard. The phone number will remain the same but the website is changing to https://mybenefits.standard.com. You will see The Standard name on the enrollment site and NCFlex site. There are no changes to your benefit.
Critical Illness Plan	Rates are increasing.
Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)	The Health Care FSA maximum annual contribution is increasing to $3,400.

Learn More

Click here for more Open Enrollment information. You can also visit www.shpnc.gov for details about your health benefits, https://myapps.northcarolina.edu/hr/benefits-leave/ for details about your UNC income protection plans and the UNC Legal Plan, and www.ncflex.org for details about your NCFlex benefits.

Enrollment Platform Reminders

Logging into these enrollment platforms is easy. Click here for easy access to both enrollment platforms for your institution. All employees will need to log in via single sign-on (SSO) using your campus login credentials.

If you have forgotten your network ID/username and/or password or need assistance unlocking a locked account; contact your IT department.

eBenefits (Benefitfocus)	UNC Empyrean (COMPASS)
If you are currently enrolled in health coverage under the State Health Plan and don’t take action, you and your covered dependents will be enrolled in the Standard PPO Plan for 2027. If you want to participate in the Plus PPO Plan in 2027, be sure to enroll during Open Enrollment. If you don’t currently have a Primary Care Provider under Aetna on file, be sure to designate one to enjoy lower copays when visiting your PCP in 2027. Questions about enrolling? During the Open Enrollment period of October 12 - 30, 2026, the Eligibility and Enrollment Support Center will have extended hours. Call 855‑859‑0966, Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-10 p.m., ET, and Saturday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m., ET.	You will continue to go here to enroll in/make changes for all benefits except health. Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs) require re‑enrollment every year, so your benefit election from last year will not roll over for 2027. If you want to participate in either of the FSAs, you must make an election during Open Enrollment. Keep in mind: The 2027 Health Care FSA maximum annual contribution limit has increased to $3,400. The 2027 Dependent Day Care FSA maximum annual contribution limit remains unchanged at $7,500. All other elections made through this platform will remain in effect for 2027 unless you make a change during Open Enrollment. Questions about enrolling? Call the University of North Carolina Benefits Service Center at 833‑862‑1490, Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m., ET.

eBenefits (Benefitfocus)

UNC Empyrean (COMPASS)

If you are currently enrolled in health coverage under the State Health Plan and don’t take action, you and your covered dependents will be enrolled in the Standard PPO Plan for 2027. If you want to participate in the Plus PPO Plan in 2027, be sure to enroll during Open Enrollment.
If you don’t currently have a Primary Care Provider under Aetna on file, be sure to designate one to enjoy lower copays when visiting your PCP in 2027.

Questions about enrolling? During the Open Enrollment period of October 12 - 30, 2026, the Eligibility and Enrollment Support Center will have extended hours. Call 855‑859‑0966, Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-10 p.m., ET, and Saturday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m., ET.

You will continue to go here to enroll in/make changes for all benefits except health.
Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs) require re‑enrollment every year, so your benefit election from last year will not roll over for 2027. If you want to participate in either of the FSAs, you must make an election during Open Enrollment. Keep in mind:
- The 2027 Health Care FSA maximum annual contribution limit has increased to $3,400.
- The 2027 Dependent Day Care FSA maximum annual contribution limit remains unchanged at $7,500.
All other elections made through this platform will remain in effect for 2027 unless you make a change during Open Enrollment.

Questions about enrolling? Call the University of North Carolina Benefits Service Center at 833‑862‑1490, Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m., ET.

Contact: Angela Mahoney

Oct. 9, 2026

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