Open Enrollment – Frequently Asked Questions

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Frequently Asked Questions

When is Open Enrollment for 2026?

Open Enrollment runs from October 27 through November 14, 2025. During this time, you can review, update, or make changes to your benefit elections for the 2026 plan year. 

Passive. That means if you don’t make any changes, most of your current benefit elections will automatically carry over into 2026. 

Important Exception: 
You must re-enroll in Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs) each year — they do not carry over automatically. 

All new elections take effect on January 1, 2026 and will be visible in the new Workday system 

Yes. Due to rising healthcare and prescription costs, there will be premium increases for both medical and dental plans. 
 

  • A $40/month premium will now apply to employee-only coverage on the Green medical plan, which was previously funded at 100% by the university.  

Note: The RAM Plan continues to be at no-cost to employees for employee only coverage.  

Visit the State of Your Health Plan Costs page for plan cost information.

Healthcare and prescription costs are rising nationwide, and like many employers, the University is facing increased costs to maintain quality coverage. To keep benefits sustainable and at a high value: 

  • Premiums for medical and dental plans will increase in 2026 
  • A $40/month premium will apply to employee-only coverage on the Green plan  

Despite these changes, the University remains committed to sharing the cost of coverage. In 2026: 

  • The University will continue to pay 100% of the premium for employee-only coverage on the Ram plan and the Dental Basic Plan.
  • It will also cover a significant percentage of dependent coverage for both medical and dental plans based off the core Ram plan and Dental Basic plan dependent cost factors of 78.9%. These are fixed across all medical plans.  

This cost-share model ensures employees have access to comprehensive coverage while keeping out-of-pocket expenses as low as possible. Each benefit plan participant has a choice in which plan they enroll in and how they wish to control financial expenditures tied to the selected plan over the course of a calendar year.  

To learn more, visit the State of Your Health Plan Costs page.

For Medical and Dental, the University pays:


100% of the premium cost of employee only coverage under the Ram medical plan and the Dental Basic plan

78.9% of the premium cost of employee + dependent coverage under the Ram medical plan

78.9% of the premium cost of employee + dependent coverage under the Dental Basic plan

If you upgrade to the Green Plan, Aggie Orange or Colorado Pathways medical plan and/or to the Dental Plus plan, you will bear the difference in cost of the selected plan(s) and the institutional support for the Ram plan or Dental Basic plan at the comparable coverage level (e.g., employee only, employee + child(ren), employee + spouse/partner, family).

The University continues to offer four medical plan options with two provider networks, including: 

  • Colorado Pathways – Utilizes the regional, lower-cost plan provider EPO network. Available only in Colorado. Be sure to check if your provider is in-network on the HR website. 
  • RAM Plan, Green and Aggie Orange – Utilize the nationwide Anthem PPO network 
  • New  telehealth coverage options will be available before the deductible is met, enhancing access to Anthem’s virtual care. 

Yes. Employees who are both benefits eligible (coverage includes the employee, spouse/partner, and eligible children) and wish to use Family Split coverage will now need to decide which one will complete the benefits enrollment for the entire family. 

While the Family Split reduced premium will still apply, deductions will no longer be divided between both employees. Instead, the employee who completes the enrollment will have the full premium amount deducted from their paycheck.

While dental premiums are increasing to cover the plan costs, the University continues to share the cost of both employee and dependent coverage. Coverage is through Delta Dental for both the Basic and Plus plans 

Health Savings Account (HSA) Limits: 

  • $4,400 for individual coverage 
  • $8,750 for family coverage 
    (Remember to subtract the University’s HSA contribution when determining your own.) 

Dependent Care FSA Limit: 

  • Increased to $7,500 annually (up from $5,000) 

No. The vision premiums are not changing with Vision Service Plan in 2026.  

Yes. In 2026, Life and AD&D insurance will move to a new provider, SunLife. 

  • No action is required — current elections will carry over. 
  • One-time opportunity during Open Enrollment to increase coverage: 
  • Up to $250,000 for yourself 
  • Up to $50,000 for a spouse/partner 
    (No medical underwriting required.) 

No changes. The following plans will continue under the current provider, The Hartford, with no premium increases: 

  • Accident Insurance 
  • Critical Illness Insurance 
  • Hospital Indemnity Insurance 

Starting January 2026, these leave programs will be administered by SunLife as part of a Workday system upgrade. 

  • Employees will apply for leave directly through SunLife 
  • You’ll still coordinate absences from work with your department, but the process will be more streamlined and utilize SunLife’s sophisticated claims paying system 
  • SunLife will pay FAMLI claims directly to the employee and provide any year-end tax forms to you.  
  • Employees who apply for FAMLI for their own health condition will receive a W2 from SunLife with Medicare taxation withheld. Federal and state tax cannot be withheld so keep this in mind for tax time.  
  • Employees who apply for FAMLI for a family member will receive a 1099 from SunLife with no taxes withheld. Please keep this in mind your tax liability on your next tax return.  

Yes! Earn a $150 wellness incentive by completing four well-being goals through the University’s wellness platform by December 31, 2025. 


More information is available on the HR website. 

Join us for the Annual Benefits Fair on November 4, from 10 AM to 2 PM. 

  • Meet benefit vendors and providers 
  • Learn about benefits from your HR – Benefits Team 
  • Ask questions about your health, wellness, and retirement plans 
  • Discover additional campus resources 

Virtual help sessions and benefit presentations will also be available throughout Open Enrollment. Check the HR site for the full schedule. 

  • Visit the HR website for plan comparisons and guides