Open Enrollment 2027: What’s new for next year

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Open Enrollment, the annual period to review and change your benefits, runs from 8 a.m. (PT) on Thursday, Oct. 29, to 5 p.m. (PT) on Friday, Nov. 20, 2026.

You’ll have the same medical, dental and vision plans to choose from, with no changes to carriers or plan administrators. Some premiums and plan costs will change in 2027. Health Net will continue to administer UC Blue & Gold HMO through 2027.

California Casualty will again offer auto, home and renters insurance to UC faculty, staff and retirees, with exclusive rates and flexible payment options, including payroll deduction.

In a message earlier this month, Vice President Dianna Henderson described increases to medical plan premiums and some out-of-pocket costs as well as how UC is working to manage rising healthcare costs. For more information, see the frequently asked questions.

What’s changing for UC’s medical plans

Medical plan premiums

For employees whose medical premium contributions are not set by a bargaining agreement, monthly contributions will increase across plans: for self-only coverage, monthly increases will range from $6.58 to $29.24. Contributions are based on your 2026 salary band, coverage tier (who you’re covering) and plan. If you are represented by a union, your premium contributions are determined by the terms of your bargaining unit agreement. ALEX is the best resource to understand your specific costs.

Here’s what to expect:

• HealthSavings+ PPO, a high-deductible health plan, will once again be UC’s lowest-premium medical plan. Monthly premium contribution increases will range from $6.85 (for self-coverage for an employee earning $75,000 or less) to $58.99 (for family coverage for an employee earning over $223,000). It includes a tax-advantaged Health Savings Account, with a 2027 total contribution limit of $4,500 for individuals and $9,000 for families, including contributions from UC of up to $750 for individuals and $1,500 for families.
• Kaiser HMO monthly premium increases will range from $6.58 (for self-coverage for an employee earning $75,000 or less) to $65.20 (for family coverage for an employee earning over $223,000). UC employees who live and/or work in the Washington, D.C. area can choose the Kaiser Mid-Atlantic States (MAS) HMO plan at the same premium cost as Kaiser California HMO.
• UC Blue & Gold HMO monthly premium increases will range from $8.08 (for self-coverage for an employee earning $75,000 or less) to $80.11 (for family coverage for an employee earning over $223,000).  
• UC Care PPO monthly premium increases will range from $13.63 (for self-coverage for an employee earning $75,000 or less) to $96.22 (for family coverage for an employee earning over $223,000).  

Out-of-pocket costs

Some out-of-pocket medical costs will change in 2027:

• The annual out-of-pocket maximum for UC HMO plans will increase to $3,000 for self-only coverage and $6,000 for two-party and family coverage.
• For HealthSavings+, the out-of-pocket maximum for any one member with family coverage will be $12,000 for in-network care. There are no changes to the overall out-of-pocket maximums for UC’s PPO plans.
• For UC Care and UC Blue & Gold HMO members, and Kaiser members who receive behavioral health services through Optum, the $30 copay will apply to each behavioral health visit, rather than after the first three visits.
• UC Blue & Gold HMO will cap pharmacy copays at $250, which may lower costs for some specialty medications.

Important reminder about medical plan networks

When comparing plans, call your providers and ask if they plan to participate in the network of the plan you are considering next year.

Provider participation is based on separate contracts between health plans and doctors, medical groups and facilities, and those contracts can change over time. If a change affects access to care, UC and the health plan will provide information about available options.

A new name for Accolade

The health care advocate for HealthSavings+ and UC Care has a new name: Transcarent. Members will also have a new app, tools and features to help them understand benefits, find care and get answers to health care questions. Usernames and passwords will carry over to the new app, and the same phone number will remain available for help.

Non-medical plan highlights

Auto, home and renters insurance

In 2027, California Casualty will again offer auto, home and renters insurance to UC employees and retirees, with exclusive rates and flexible payment options, including payroll deduction. Beginning Dec. 1, 2026, call 888-882-7609 or visit CalCas.com/UC to learn more, request a quote and start the enrollment process for coverage in 2027.

Dental and vision

UC will continue to cover the full cost of dental and vision coverage for eligible employees. These benefits are not changing, but Warby Parker will join the VSP provider network, providing another eyewear option.

More voluntary benefits and tax-savings accounts

 During Open Enrollment, you can enroll or re-enroll through UCPath in:

• Accident, critical illness and hospital insurance: Accident insurance will provide increased cash benefits for emergency room, urgent care and doctor’s office visits.
• Legal insurance: There are no changes to benefits or premiums.
• Health and dependent care flexible spending accounts (FSA) — You must re-enroll to continue participating. The 2027 contribution limits are:
  • Health FSA (health expenses for you and your eligible dependents): $3,400
  • Dependent Care FSA: $7,500, or $3,200 if you earned $160,000 or more in 2026

You can enroll in pet, auto, home and renters, and Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D) insurance year-round. Enrollment in AD&D insurance is available through UCPath, but it is not included in your Open Enrollment options. Apply for pet insurance through Nationwide and for auto, home and renter’s insurance through California Casualty.

Explore your options and enroll by Nov. 20

 Use these tools and resources to compare your options and get answers to questions:

• The Open Enrollment website and ALEX, UC’s virtual benefits guide, launch Friday, Oct. 23. ALEX will include updated information — available in English, Spanish and Chinese — to help you compare medical plan costs, providers and coverage options, based on your union representation, provider preferences and answers about your healthcare needs.
• Your Open Enrollment packet and emails from UCPath and your medical plan will provide more information and reminders.
• Events at your location will offer opportunities to ask questions.
• If you are represented by a union, your union representative can provide additional information about how your bargaining unit agreement applies to these benefit changes.

If you want to keep your current medical, dental and vision coverage, you do not need to make a change. You must actively re-enroll in your Health and Dependent Care FSAs, however, and if you participate in HealthSavings+, you should review your HSA contribution.

To enroll or make changes, go to UCPath between 8 a.m. (PT) on Thursday, Oct. 29, and 5 p.m. (PT) on Friday, Nov. 20.