This year’s open enrollment — employees’ chance to sign up for or make changes to their benefits — will begin at 8 a.m. on Thursday, Oct. 30 and will run through 5 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 21.
The UC’s open enrollment website provides tools and resources to help faculty and staff and retirees navigate the changes in UC health benefits. More information is available here:
- Open enrollment changes and FAQs
- Open enrollment fact sheet (PDF) and checklist (PDF)
- Staff booklet (PDF)
In 2026, UC will invest an additional $260 million in medical benefits — a 9.5% increase and the largest boost in the past 15 years. This brings UC’s total investment to $3 billion, covering 83% of medical premium costs while continuing to pay 100% of dental and vision premiums. While these decisions will help keep the average employee premium increases low, the impact to you will depend on the plan you choose.
No action is required for those who plan to maintain their current benefits — except for health or dependent care flexible spending accounts, which require re-enrollment.
2026 changes
- New health plan option. HealthSavings+ is replacing CORE and UC Health Savings Plan, with new benefits and costs. HealthSavings+ will be UC’s lowest premium medical plan, and it includes a Health Savings Account (HSA) that lets you set aside money for health expenses while lowering your taxable income. Explore the new plan.
- Balanced premiums. Employee premiums will be more equitable and predictable. Premiums for represented employees will be implemented consistent with applicable collective bargaining agreements and the law. For instance, in the past, UC has paid more of the total premium for Kaiser HMO. Starting next year, employees will pay the same percentage of total premium costs for Kaiser HMO as they do for UC Blue & Gold HMO. Read more about premiums.
- Health partnership changes. Blue Shield of California will be the plan administrator for UC Care and HealthSavings+. Anthem Blue Cross will remain the UC High Option Supplement and UC Medicare PPO administrator. View details about the Blue Shield of California transition.
Learn more
UC employees and retirees are encouraged to use Alex, a virtual benefits counselor, to for a customized comparison of medical plan premiums, out-of-pocket costs and in-network providers.
