To:

From:

Faculty and Staff

Ann-Marie Musto, Associate Vice Chancellor and Chief Human Resources Officer

Open Enrollment 2026

Open Enrollment for 2026 begins on Thursday, October 30th at 8am (PT) and ends on Friday, November 21st, at 5pm (PT). 

On October 8th, the Systemwide HR Vice President Cheryl Lloyd sent a letter to the community regarding the ongoing national trends of increased medical costs and UC’s commitment in providing strong and sustainable benefits with strategic plans to manage costs for employees. 

UC is overhauling its medical plan offerings in 2026 to improve affordability, ensure equitable access, stabilize employee contributions, and maintain competitiveness amid rising healthcare costs. The 2026 Benefits Fact Sheet has more information about what’s changing, but you need to know three things: UC has a new medical plan, premiums are changing and we’re staying true to our commitment to strong benefits for our employees. 

UC provides a full range of tools and resources to help you review your benefits and understand your options.
  • ALEX, your virtual benefits counselor, will be available starting 10/29 to help identify the plan that fits best for you. A Spanish option is available within the tool.
  • Employee Medical Plan Costs (2026) - the chart of premium costs per pay band will be available on 10/27/25 on the UC Open Enrollment website.
  • UC's Open Enrollment website, which includes all open enrollment materials, information on what is new or changing, tools, medical rates and resources will be ready by 10/27. These resources will also be available in Spanish on the website.
  • UCSB’s Open Enrollment website, which includes the Event Flyer with dates and links to our Open Enrollment webinars and other important resources is available now

As a reminder, there is a new plan called HealthSavings+ which will replace CORE and the UC Health Savings Plan, therefore if you’re enrolled in either of these plans and you do not make a choice during Open Enrollment, you will automatically be enrolled in the new HealthSavings+ plan.  Also, you must enroll or re-enroll in your Health and/or Dependent Care FSA (flexible spending account) each year.

Questions regarding Open Enrollment can be directed to HR ServiceNow Employee Services >Benefits>Open Enrollment. 

The Open Enrollment portal will be available by accessing UCPath beginning Thursday, Oct. 30, at 8 a.m. to make your benefits elections. To finalize your choices, please ensure to submit your choices by Friday, Nov. 21st, at 5 pm (PT). Please log in to UCPath for questions regarding the enrollment process or you can call the UCPath Center at 855-982-7284 for assistance.