Are you ready? Benefits open enrollment starts Monday

The enrollment window for 2026 employee benefits opens at 8 a.m. Monday, Nov. 3, and closes at 5 p.m. Friday, Nov. 21. This is employees' time to choose or to change health, dental and life insurance coverage, flexible spending accounts and the eyewear discount plan for the 2026 calendar year. It's also a time to review and update dependents who will be covered on Jan. 1. And this fall, it's also employees' first opportunity to enroll in three new voluntary benefits announced in August: insurance for accidents, critical illnesses and hospital stays.

Enrollment happens in Workday

In the leadup to open enrollment, benefits-eligible employees are receiving several emails from ALEX, the free, benefits comparison-shopping tool. Beginning Nov. 3 on their Workday homepage, a benefits open enrollment prompt will be in their "awaiting action" tile. And on Nov. 5 they will receive an email invitation from university human resources that contains enrollment links.

Employees may change their choices as needed during the three weeks of open enrollment, but the last elections submitted before 5 p.m. on Nov. 21 will be final. A knowledge base article provides step-by-step instructions for submitting benefits choices in Workday.

And remember, medical, dental and Avesis premiums are collected a month in advance, so December paychecks will be the first to reflect premium changes.

No changes to coverage

As shared in early July, ISU Plan participants won't see any changes in coverage to their health or dental care in 2026. Employee premiums for the Wellmark HMO and PPO plans will go up, about 10% on average (see table below). Total monthly premiums for both the basic and comprehensive dental plans aren't changing in 2026. Employee premiums will be $10-$20 less per month, with the exception of no change to the premium for employee-only basic coverage, and the university will pick up the difference.

Premiums and coverage in the optional Avesis eyewear program also aren't changing for the 2026 plan year.

2026 health care premiums (monthly)

Flexible spending accounts can be bigger

The contribution limit for dependent care flexible spending accounts (FSAs) is going up in 2026. Employees may set aside up to $7,500 pre-tax dollars to use on expenses like daycare, after-school care or elder care. Since 1986, the limit to these accounts has been $5,000. The new limit for married individuals filing their taxes separately is $3,750, up from the current $2,500.

The contribution limit on health care FSAs will go up $100, to $3,400, in 2026. The pre-tax dollars in these accounts can be used for out-of-pocket medical, prescription drug, dental and vision expenses. The carryover allowed at the end of 2026 will be $680, an increase of $20.

First chance to enroll in optional insurance

Similar to the voluntary Avesis eyewear plan, employees may select from three voluntary insurance options in 2026 that provide cash payments at the time of: an accident, critical illness or hospital stay. Premiums for these optional coverages are fully employee-paid, and the insurance helps with expenses not covered by health insurance in the ISU Plan. Here's a short summary of each:

• Accident insurance (PDF) provides a payment according to the injury, for example, a concussion, burn, broken bone or damaged ligament, whether it happens at home or at work.
• Critical illness insurance (PDF) pays a lump-sum benefit the insured chooses -- either $10,000 or $20,000 -- to help with recovery during health crises such as cancer, diabetes, stroke, heart attack or other covered illness. There is no total maximum benefit or limit to the number of payments an employee may receive for each covered condition, except for skin cancer.
• Hospital indemnity insurance (PDF) provides payments when an insured person is admitted to the hospital and for each day of the stay, whether it's for childbirth, surgery, illness or injury. It could be used with accident or critical illness insurance.

Iowa State's benefits team is available to answer questions. Contact them at 515-294-4800 or email benefits@iastate.edu. Employees with questions specific to the three voluntary insurance plans should call that support line, 1-855-874-0308 (weekdays 8 a.m.-5 p.m.), and a voluntary benefits counselor will assist.