Open Enrollment FAQ

Medical Insurance:

• It is important to review each plan’s Benefit Summary on the 2026 Benefits Webpage for detailed information
  • The Gold Plan enrollment remains frozen. Only employees enrolled continuously in the Gold Plan since 2024 may elect the Gold Plan in 2026
• In-Network Deductibles and Out-of-Pocket maximums will be adjusted as follows:
  • Bronze Plan: $3,500 individual /$7,000 family deductible | $7,000 individual /$14,000 family Out-of-Pocket maximum (Individual in Family Out-of-Pocket maximum $8,000)
  • Silver Plan: $3,000 individual/$6,000 family deductible | $4,500 individual /$9,000 family Out-of-Pocket maximum
  • Gold Plan: $750 individual /$1,500 2-Person/$2,250 family deductible | $3,750 individual/$7,500 2-Person/$11,500 family Out-of-Pocket maximum
• Coinsurance on prescriptions will increase to 20% for generics, 40% for preferred brand name, and 50% for non-preferred brand name prescriptions.

2026 Medical Rate Updates:

The allocation between Employer and Employee costs will remain the same as last year:

• Gold and Silver plans: 75% Employer/25% Employee
• Bronze plan: 80% Employer/20% Employee
• Employee premiums for all Cigna health insurance plans and coverage levels will increase overall by 6.5%. Please refer to the Medical rate page in your Benefit Guidebook for more detailed information
• The vendor that will administer the 2026 Hearing Aid benefit is called Start Hearing. If you or an enrolled family member is getting hearing aids through medical insurance, the provider must go through Start Hearing in 2026.

Dental Insurance:

• There are no changes to the Northeast Delta Dental Plan coverage, the Base and Enhanced Plans will continue to be offered.
• Employee biweekly premiums on the vision plan will not be changing from 2025 into 2026.

Vision Insurance:

• There are no changes to the Vision Service Plan (VSP) coverage, the Base and Enhanced Plans will continue to be offered.
• Employee biweekly premiums on the vision plan will not be changing from 2025 into 2026.

Review each plan’s Benefit Summary on the 2026 Benefits Webpage for detailed information.

Yes, Cigna One Guide is a free, confidential service to help you choose your medical plan. Call 888-806-5042 for this support.

There are no new plan offerings for 2026.

No.

Yes. There will also be changes to these benefits in 2026:

• The Edge Gym Membership: Payroll deduction for this optional benefit will increase to $8.50 per paycheck.

There are no new features for the retirement plans for 2026. However, each year the IRS updates the contribution limit maximums. Those limits for next year have not been released as of the timing of this publication. You may change your retirement contributions in Oracle. Please contact TIAA at 800-842-2252 if you have questions about your account, investments, or beneficiary.

If you would like to decrease your Voluntary Life and/or AD&D Insurance, you may do so through Open Enrollment in Oracle. No additional forms will be required.

If you would like to increase your Voluntary Life and/or AD&D Insurance, you may do so through Open Enrollment in Oracle. In addition, you will be required to complete an Evidence of Insurability (EOI) form after Open Enrollment if you increase your coverage above the Guaranteed Issue amount. The EOI link will be sent to you after Open Enrollment.

If you would like to enroll in Voluntary Life and/or AD&D Insurance for the first time, you may do so through Open Enrollment in Oracle. In addition, regardless of the amount you elect, you will be required to complete an Evidence of Insurability (EOI) form after Open Enrollment. The EOI link will be sent to you after Open Enrollment.

Yes, the College will continue to contribute a percentage of the deductible for those enrolled in the high deductible health plans. The College contribution is prorated and occurs each pay period. The HSA contribution for 2026 is the same as it is for 2025.

• Silver Plan: $1,200 for employee only or $2,400 for a family
• Bronze Plan: $1,500 for employee only or $3,000 for a family

Yes, the HSA is your account. All contributions stay with you.

If you reach your deductible before the year-end, you may request the College to pre-fund what the College would have contributed for the year to your HSA. You will need to substantiate you have met your deductible and there will be paperwork for you to complete. Please email benefits@gmhec.org if this applies to you during the 2026 year.

No, it is not required that you contribute. This is an option for you if you participate in a HDHP. If you do contribute, it will lower your taxable income* and create funds to use for current and/or future medical expenses. This account rolls over each year so you do not forfeit any contributions to the account.

*CA and NJ employees, please note that HSAs are subject to state taxes

No, you may choose to contribute to your HSA at any time. You may also increase or decrease your contribution amount to your HSA at any time. Please contact the benefits team at benefits@gmhec.org to make changes.

Yes, but per IRS regulations, you must be enrolled in a Limited Purpose FSA that can only be used for dental and vision expenses. If you enroll in the HSA for 2026 and have remaining FSA funds in 2025, the rolled over FSA funds will move into a Limited Purpose FSA and will only be eligible for Dental and Vision expense reimbursement.

An HSA can be used to pay for qualified medical, dental, and vision expenses, but you can only contribute to an HSA if you are enrolled in a HDHP (like the Silver or Bronze medical plans). An HSA is a bank account where the money in the account is available for you to spend. The money in an HSA rolls over each year and you do not lose it. You also do not need to substantiate your claims, but you must keep this information for your records should you be audited by the IRS. You can change your contribution amount in the HSA throughout the year.

A medical FSA can be used to pay for qualified medical, dental, and vision expenses when you are not enrolled in an HDHP. With an FSA you can roll over up to $660 at the end of 2025 and any other unspent money will be forfeited. At the end of 2026, participants will be able to roll over up to $680 into 2027. You must also substantiate all your claims to our FSA vendor, otherwise you may be taxed on amounts not substantiated. During Open Enrollment, you must choose your annual election for your FSA and you cannot change that amount throughout the year unless you have an IRS Change in Status. The HSA annual limit is higher than the FSA annual limit.

The 2026 HSA limit for an individual is $4,400 and for a 2-Person/Family it is $8,750. If you are 55 or older during the year you may contribute an additional $1,000. You must include the Colleges contribution in the overall limit.

The 2026 limit is $3,400 with an allowable carryover of $680. The Dependent Care FSA limit has increased to $7,500 for 2026.

Healthcare.gov has this webpage with more info: Healthcare.gov FSA Information.

No, you do not need to re-enroll or update your retirement contributions as part of Open Enrollment. However, Open Enrollment is a good time to consider reviewing your retirement plan contributions.

Changes to your retirement plan contributions go into effect in your next paycheck as long as your change is made at least 7 days before the next pay date, even during the Open Enrollment period. Deferral changes will not be future-dated.

Like with all benefit elections, we recommend you review the employee and employer deduction sections of your payslips to make sure that everything is correct. You can also log into your retirement accounts at TIAA.org to monitor contributions. Normally, plan contributions post to accounts on pay date Fridays, after the market closes

There are several ways to be prepared:

1. Attend a 2026 Open Enrollment Informational Session via Zoom, in-person, or view pre recorded. Refer to your email from GMHEC Benefits Services for links to attend sessions.
2. Download and review the 2026 Benefit Guidebook. This is posted on your college benefits page.
3. Review the various videos and resources available on the college benefits page.
4. Enroll in Oracle via Employee Self Service Benefits between November 3 and November 14, 2025!
5. Visit vendor websites, listed on the back of your 2026 Benefit Guidebook to learn more and create an account (after January 1st).
6. Contact your Benefits Team at 802-443-5485 or benefits@gmhec.org with questions – Monday through Friday 8:15am – 5:00pm EST.