open enrollment checklist
Open Enrollment ends May 22 (at 11:59 p.m.).
EVERYONE must enroll this year. If you miss this deadline, you may not have the benefits you need for an entire year. In most cases, your current benefits are not automatically continuing for the next year.
Get Ready to Enroll
- Review your current coverage and enrolled dependents
- Compare plans and estimate expenses – see What’s New for more details
- Use ALEX to help you choose your benefits
- Calculate HSA and FSA contributions
- Sign up for a one-on-one meeting with a Benefits Team member
- Watch the Open Enrollment video for a summary of your choices and more details
- Check out your benefit decisions in the list to the left
- Check out your benefit decisions in the top right menu
- Visit How to Enroll to take action
If You Don’t Enroll by May 22
- You must actively elect your medical, dental, vision, Health Care FSA or Limited Purpose FSA, Dependent Care FSA, HSA, and commuter benefits if you want coverage for fiscal year 2027 (starting July 1, 2026). These benefits will not roll over.
- Any current life and AD&D insurance and disability insurance elections will continue
- You won’t be able to enroll in or make changes to medical, dental, vision, or FSAs until next year’s Open Enrollment unless you experience a qualifying life event (like a birth, marriage, divorce, death, or your spouse/domestic partner losing coverage)
- Any Health Care or Limited Purpose FSA dollars must be used by June 30, 2026 or they will be forfeited
- If you enroll in the Health Care or Limited Purpose FSA, you can roll over up to $660 into fiscal year 2027 (anything over the allowable amount is forfeited)
- Any unused Dependent Care FSA dollars must be used by June 30, 2026 or they will be forfeited
- You can access any unused HSA dollars, but you can’t make or receive HSA contributions
- If you do enroll in the Aetna PPO + HSA and open an HSA, you can change your HSA contributions throughout the plan year (IRS limits apply)
After You Enroll
- Review your confirmation statement right after you enroll
- Check your first paycheck of both July and September to be sure the deductions are correct
- Watch for your combined medical/prescription drug ID card in the mail and begin using it July 1, 2026. Dental ID cards are available digitally
- Enrolling in the HSA or FSA for the first time?
- Watch for your welcome packet in the mail from Voya (if you enroll in the Aetna PPO + HSA and/or an FSA). If you enroll in the Aetna PPO + HSA, you must open an HSA with Voya to receive the Art Institute contributions and have access to your Voya HSA
- Watch for your HSA/FSA debit card in the mail before July 1; also download the Voya mobile app via your phone’s app store for convenient account access
Sign up for a one-on-one meeting with a Benefits Team member.
Have a conversation with ALEX, our interactive benefits tool, to help you choose your medical, dental, and vision plans.