2027 Benefits Open Enrollment Period
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Should I review my benefit elections each year?
Yes. The benefits you have in 2026 might not make sense for you in 2027. Your situation may have changed this year or be changing in 2027. You may be able to add or remove people from your coverage during the year if you have a Qualifying Event, but in most cases, you can't change plans during the year - other than during the Open Enrollment period. Think about any expenses you may have in 2027. Do you have upcoming medical or dental procedures? How will they be covered? Does it make more sense to be in a different plan? There are four medical plans and three dental plans to choose from. Should you contribute to one of the reimbursement accounts (health care, dependent day care, transit commuter and parking) so you can pay for eligible expenses on a pre-tax basis, so it costs you less? If you use eyeglasses or contact lenses, consider whether you should sign up for the vision care plan.
Take the time to review your choices to find the benefit programs that provide the right coverage for you.
2. When can I make changes to my benefit elections?
During the Open Enrollment period you can make changes to your Medical, Dental and Vision Care coverage, Reimbursement Accounts (Health Care, Dependent Day Care, Transit Commuter, and/or Parking), Identity and Fraud Protection, Hospital Insurance, Accident Insurance, Critical Illness Plans, and the Vacation Buy Plan coverages. You must re-elect some of these benefits each year, otherwise they end on December 31. See Q&A #11 for more information.
You may also be eligible to make changes to some of your benefits if you have a Qualifying Event. Information on Qualifying Events
3. When is the Open Enrollment period for benefits for calendar year 2027?
Monday, November 9, 2026, through Friday, November 20, 2026.
4. What benefit elections can I make during the Open Enrollment Period?
For the Medical, Dental and Vision Care plans, Identity and Fraud Protection, Hospital Insurance, Accident Insurance, Critical Illness Plans you can:
- Join the plan(s)
- Drop the plan(s)
- Change from one medical and/or dental plan to another
- Add eligible family members to your plan(s) - you may need to provide supporting documentation (birth, adoption and/or marriage certificate)
- Drop family members from your plan(s)
- Change the amount you contribute to the Health Savings Account if you're enrolled in the Aetna Medical Plan 4.
You can enroll or re-enroll in the Health Care, Dependent Day Care, Transit Commuter, and Parking Reimbursement Accounts, and the Vacation Buy Plan. Your 2026 elections for these programs do not automatically carry over to 2027.
5. When are the elections that I make during the Open Enrollment period effective?
January 1, 2027
6. Will there be a benefits fair this year?
We will not have a benefits fair on site this year. Instead, we will have a virtual benefits fair on our Benefit Programs website with online videos and other materials from our Aetna Medical Plans and the Aetna Health Insurance, Accident Insurance, Critical Illness Plans, Identity and Fraud Protection Plan, the Delta Dental Plans, the EyeMed Vision Care Plan, the Inspira Reimbursement Accounts (health care, dependent day care, transit commuter, and parking), and TIAA, where you can learn about the plans during the Open Enrollment period. Explore the virtual benefits fair.
7. What's new in the benefit programs for 2027?
There are no new benefit programs for 2027.
8. What are the changes in the benefit programs for 2027?
Medical Plan
- Employee contributions for the Aetna medical plans are increasing. See Q&A #10 for more information.
- The deductible for Plan 4 has increased to $1,750 for a single-person and $3,500 for Family-level coverage.
- The maximum amount you can contribute to the Aetna Plan 4 Health Savings Account is increasing to $4,000/individual and $8,000/family.
Reimbursement Accounts
- The IRS increased the FSA maximums for Healthcare , Transit Commuter and Parking for 2027. The maximum for HSA 's has increased for 2027 are listed below.
| Account Type | 2027 Minimum | 2027 Maximum |
|---|---|---|
| Health Care | $300/year | $3,500/year |
| Dependent Day Care | $300/year | $7,500/year if you are married and file a joint tax return or are single. If you are married and file separate income tax returns, the maximum you may contribute is $3,750/year |
| Transit Commuter | $25/month | $4,200/year but no more than $350/month |
| Parking | $25/month | $4,200/year but no more than $350/month |
| Type | 2027 Minimum | 2027 Maximum |
|---|---|---|
| HSA | No minimum | Employee Only: $4,000/year Family: $8,000/year |
9. Where can I find the employee costs for the medical, dental and vision care plans for 2027?
Aetna Medical Plans
The Annual Base salary category for eligible part-time employees is based in their full-time equivalent salary.
Employee Plan Designs and Contributions
Delta Dental Plans
EyeMed Vision Care Plan
10. Where can I get more information on the benefit programs?
Additional information on the benefit programs (including Summary Plan Descriptions) is available on the Benefits Program website.
11. Do all of my benefit elections carry over from calendar year 2026 to 2027?
No. See below for details.
Medical, Dental and Vision Care
Your elections automatically carry over from 2026 to 2027 except for any children who reach age 23 by December 31, 2026. Those children are no longer eligible for Dental coverage on January 1, 2027 and will automatically be removed from the coverage. If you are enrolled in Aetna Plan 4, the amount you contribute to the Health Savings Account will also carry over.
Health Care, Dependent Day Care, Transit Commuter, and Parking Reimbursement Accounts
Your elections do not carry over from 2026 to 2027. If you want to participate in the Reimbursement Accounts in 2027, you must reenroll during the Open Enrollment period. Otherwise, your Reimbursement Accounts will end on December 31, 2026.
Vacation Buy Plan
Your election does not carry over from 2026 to 2027. If you want to participate in the plan in 2027, you must reenroll during the Open Enrollment period. Otherwise, your Vacation Buy plan election will end on December 31, 2026.
Life insurance and Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D) Insurance
Your elections carry over from year to year. The Lab provides basic life and AD&D insurance at no cost to you. Supplemental life insurance is available for you, your spouse and your dependent children (age 15 days to 19 years old or up to 25 if the child is a full-time student). Supplemental AD&D insurance is available for you and your spouse. You may make changes to your supplemental Life and AD&D elections at any time during the year, although certain changes may require approval from the insurance company. You should review your beneficiary designation in Workday from time to time, and update it, if needed.
Identity and Fraud Protection, Aetna Hospital Insurance, Accident Insurance, Critical Illness Plans
Aetna Hospital Insurance, Accident Insurance, Critical Illness Plans elections automatically carry over from 2026 to 2027 except for any children who reach age 26 by December 31, 2026. Those children are no longer eligible for coverage on January 1, 2027.
Identity and Fraud Protection Plan elections will carry over from 2026 to 2027.
Long Term Disability (LTD) Plan
You are automatically enrolled in this plan when you are eligible for the plan. This cannot be changed at any time as it is a required coverage to protect you from a loss of income in the case of a long-term disabling illness or injury.
Retirement Plan
You are automatically enrolled in this plan when you are eligible for the plan. The Lab contributes to this plan on your behalf after each pay period. You do not contribute to this plan. Investment fund elections carry over from year to year, although you can make changes to your investments at any time. Certain restrictions may apply. From time to time you should review your beneficiary designation at www.tiaa.org, and update it, if needed.
401(k) Plan
You may enroll in this plan at any time. Elections carry over from year to year. Changes to the amount you contribute from your paychecks and to your investments can be made at any time, although certain restrictions may apply to investment fund changes. From time to time you should review your beneficiary designation at www.tiaa.org, and update it, if needed.
12. What happens if I don't do anything during the Open Enrollment period?
See Q&A #11 for details on each plan. Not all coverages carry over from 2026 to 2027.
13. How do I enroll for or make changes to my benefits during Open Enrollment?
When Open Enrollment starts:
- Login to Workday using your User ID and password. If you need assistance with your password or with logging in, call the ITD Help Desk at ext. 5522
- You'll see a benefit event task in your Workday inbox
- Open the event and click “Let's Get Started” to review your benefits and make any changes
- Click “Manage” or “Enroll” to change your elections
- Click “Review and Sign”
- Review your elections and scroll to the bottom of the page
- Check the box next to “I Accept”
- Click “Submit” to finish your enrollment
- On the next screen, click “View Benefits Statement”
- Click “Print” and keep a copy. This is confirmation of your 2027 elections
If you do not click “Submit”, your changes will not be accepted.
If you are adding new dependents, you'll need to create new dependent records and attach supporting documentation (marriage or birth certificates, or affidavits of domestic partnership) before you can add them to your benefit plans.
You can reopen and revise your elections until Open Enrollment closes.
No elections will be accepted after Friday, November 20, 2026.
14. If I attain age 65 or become eligible for Medicare in 2027, is there anything I need to do?
Yes. Since each individual's situation is unique and coordination of benefits can be complex, you are encouraged to contact the Benefits Office to discuss your options.
