Open Enrollment

Open Enrollment
MSU Human Resources
>>
Open-enrollment
>>
Open Enrollment
Benefits Open Enrollment
Open Enrollment is closed for the 2026 plan year.
You may only make changes to your benefit options mid-year if you experience a qualifying life event, such as birth, adoption, marriage, or retirement.
Review all qualifying life events
Open Enrollment for the 2027 plan year will occur October 1-31, 2026.
Informational Resources
The following information may assist you as you make decisions this Open Enrollment season:
Open Enrollment Guides
Please review the appropriate Open Enrollment guide for your employment group:
2026 MSU Faculty and Academic Staff Open Enrollment Benefits Guide
2026 MSU Support Staff Open Enrollment Benefits Guide
2026 MSU Retiree
Open Enrollment Benefits Guide
2026 MSU Open Enrollment Benefits Guide for individuals in the following groups
: Cash-for-Life, COBRA, Long-term Disability, One Year Paid Medical, Postdoctoral Fellows, Unpaid Leave of Absence (including Layoff), and Workers’ Compensation.
What's New: 2026 Plan Year Benefits Coverage Updates and Reminders
Important Highlights
Increase to premium threshold for spouse/other eligible individual (OEI) health coverage:
To enroll your spouse/other eligible individual (OEI) in MSU coverage,
your spouse/OEI must enroll in coverage through their own current or former employer (e.g., a retiree health plan), if applicable, if the annual employee/retiree premium cost for single-person coverage is $1,850 or less.
You may still cover your spouse/OEI on your MSU health coverage as a secondary plan. Please review the
Open Enrollment FAQs
for more information.
If you and your spouse/OEI both work at MSU, the premium threshold does not apply.
Spouse/OEI affidavit no longer required:
You no longer need to complete the spouse/other eligible individual (OEI) affidavit in the EBS Portal to continue coverage for your spouse/OEI. If you currently cover a spouse/OEI on your health care plan, their coverage will automatically continue in 2026 without any action. However, the spouse/OEI premium threshold requirement still applies. Please read the previous requirement (Increase to Premium Threshold for Spouse/OEI Health Coverage).
Review
page 6
in the appropriate Open Enrollment guide to see all new updates or important reminders for your 2026 plan year benefits coverage.
2026 MSU Faculty and Academic Staff Open Enrollment Benefits Guide
2026 MSU Support Staff Open Enrollment Benefits Guide
2026 MSU Retiree
Open Enrollment Benefits Guide
2026 MSU Open Enrollment Benefits Guide for individuals in the following groups
: Cash-for-Life, COBRA, Long-term Disability, One Year Paid Medical, Postdoctoral Fellows, Unpaid Leave of Absence (including Layoff), and Workers’ Compensation.
Open Enrollment FAQs
Visit the
Open Enrollment FAQ page
to find answers to the most frequently asked questions about Open Enrollment.
Visit the
Voluntary Benefits FAQ page
to find answers to the most frequently asked questions about voluntary benefits, such as accident, critical illness, legal, and vision insurance.
Summary of Benefits and Coverage
The Affordable Care Act (ACA) requires health plans and employers that provide self-insured plans to provide consumers with comparative information on health plan options. To help consumers compare various plans, Summary of Benefits and Coverage (SBC) documents, such as those provided at the link below, are laid out in a specific format and include specific groupings of information determined by the ACA. The following SBC documents are available for the health plan options MSU makes available to benefits-eligible employees. Not all individuals are eligible for all plans.
Find SBC documents here.
MSU Health and Welfare Benefits Notices
MSU Human Resources is pleased to provide you with this resource to help you learn about or re-familiarize yourself with various regulations intended to safeguard your health care rights. Included in this publication, you will find health care notices regarding:
Disclosure about the Benefit Enrollment Communications
Mid-year election changes to pre-tax benefits
HIPAA Special Enrollment Rights Notice
Women's Health and Cancer Rights Act (WHCRA) Notice
Newborns' and Mothers' Health Protection Act (
NMHPA
) Notice
Notice of Patient Protections
HIPAA Notice of Availability of Notice of Privacy Practices
Contact Information for MSU Health and Dental Plans
Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP)
Your Prescription Drug Coverage and Medicare
Click here to read the Health and Welfare Benefits Notices
Open Enrollment Email Communications
The following emails regarding the 2026 plan year Open Enrollment period were sent between September 16 and October 31, 2025. Please note that some emails were sent to target audiences.
September 18 to retirees -
MSU Benefits Open Enrollment Starts October 1
September 25 to ACA-mandated employees -
What you need to know about MSU Benefits Open Enrollment
September 30 to benefit-eligible employees who have an overage dependent enrolled in
dental
care -
Overage Dependent Enrolled in Dental Care
September 30 to benefit-eligible employees who have an overage dependent enrolled in
health
care -
Overage Dependent Enrolled in Health Care
October 1 to benefits-eligible support staff -
October 1-31: MSU Benefits Open Enrollment
October 1 to benefits-eligible faculty and academic staff -
October 1-31: MSU Benefits Open Enrollment
October 2 to benefits-eligible employees with a spouse/OEI on record -
Health Care Coverage for Your Spouse/OEI
October 7 to all benefits-eligible employees -
Do you Know About MSU's Voluntary Benefits?
October 9 to all benefits-eligible employees -
Considering a Flexible Spending Account for 2026?
October 17 to all benefits-eligible employees -
Visit the Benefits Open Enrollment Fair
October 17 to retirees -
Visit the Benefits Open Enrollment Fair
October 22 to benefit-eligible employees that enrolled in a 2025 FSA but had not yet enrolled in a 2026 FSA -
Notice of Potential Lapse in Your FSA Enrollment
October 31 to benefit-eligible employees and retirees -
MSU Benefits Open Enrollment Period Ends Today
Enrollment Instructions and Assistance Opportunities
How to Enroll
Please enroll in your benefits options for the 2026 plan year between
October 1 and 31, 2025
The
Enrollment Instructions and Video
webpage provides detailed instructions to enroll in health, dental, life, accident, and flexible spending account plans.
Please note:
you may only enroll in, change, or cancel voluntary accident, critical illness, legal, and vision insurance during the Open Enrollment period in October.
View enrollment instructions for voluntary benefits
How to Add a Family Member or Dependent Tutorial
Please review the
Add a Family Member or Dependent Tutorial
webpage.
MSU Benefits Fair (In-Person) with Flu Shot Appointment Details
We're offering an in-person Benefits Fair on
October 21
from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
at the Breslin Student Events Center. Find more details on the
MSU Benefits Fair webpage
, including information on how to make a flu shot appointment with the MSU Health Care Pharmacy.
HR Site Labs (In-person/Virtual)
Consider participating in an HR Site Lab to ask questions or receive assistance with enrollment from HR staff. In-person and virtual site lab options are available. Find more details on the
HR Site Labs webpage.
October 8
| 9 a.m. to Noon |Virtual
October 10
| 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. | In-person
MSU Union, 49 Abbot Road, Room UB55 (Ground Floor), East Lansing, MI 48824
October 13
| 2 to 5 p.m. |Virtual
October 17
| 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. | In-person
International Center, 427 N. Shaw Lane, Spartan Rooms B and C, East Lansing, MI 48824
October 23
| 7 to 10 p.m. |Virtual
October 31
| 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. | In-person
HR Building, 1407 S. Harrison Rd, Room 125, East Lansing, MI 48823
Online Benefit Provider Resources
The
Online Benefit Provider Resources webpage
offers a variety of resources from our MSU benefit providers that you can review online at any time. Resources include brochures, videos, contact information for further questions, and more. This is a great resource, especially if you're unable to attend the in-person Benefits Fair.
Frequently Asked Questions
The following are the most common questions we receive during the Open Enrollment period. Find additional answers on the
Open Enrollment FAQ webpage
What's new or important for my 2026 plan year benefits coverage?
Important Highlights
Increase to premium threshold for spouse/other eligible individual (OEI) health coverage:
To enroll your spouse/other eligible individual (OEI) in MSU coverage,
your spouse/OEI must enroll in coverage through their own current or former employer (e.g., a retiree health plan), if applicable, if the annual employee/retiree premium cost for single-person coverage is $1,850 or less.
You may still cover your spouse/OEI on your MSU health coverage as a secondary plan. Please review the
Open Enrollment FAQs
for more information.
If you and your spouse/OEI both work at MSU, the premium threshold does not apply.
Spouse/OEI affidavit no longer required:
You no longer need to complete the spouse/other eligible individual (OEI) affidavit in the EBS Portal to continue coverage for your spouse/OEI. If you currently cover a spouse/OEI on your health care plan, their coverage will automatically continue in 2026 without any action. However, the spouse/OEI premium threshold requirement still applies. Please read the previous requirement (Increase to Premium Threshold for Spouse/OEI Health Coverage).
Review
page 6
in the appropriate Open Enrollment guide to see all new updates or important reminders for your 2026 plan year benefits coverage.
2026 MSU Faculty and Academic Staff Open Enrollment Benefits Guide
2026 MSU Support Staff Open Enrollment Benefits Guide
2026 MSU Retiree
Open Enrollment Benefits Guide
2026 MSU Open Enrollment Benefits Guide for individuals in the following groups
: Cash-for-Life, COBRA, Long-term Disability, One Year Paid Medical, Postdoctoral Fellows, Unpaid Leave of Absence (including Layoff), and Workers’ Compensation.
Do I need to do anything during Open Enrollment?
Review
page
in the appropriate Open Enrollment guide to determine if you need to do anything during the Open Enrollment period:
2026 MSU Faculty and Academic Staff Open Enrollment Benefits Guide
2026 MSU Support Staff Open Enrollment Benefits Guide
2026 MSU Retiree
Open Enrollment Benefits Guide
2026 MSU Open Enrollment Benefits Guide for individuals in the following groups
: Cash-for-Life, COBRA, Long-term Disability, One Year Paid Medical, Postdoctoral Fellows, Unpaid Leave of Absence (including Layoff), and Workers’ Compensation.
How do I complete Open Enrollment?
Please review the
instructions to complete Open Enrollment
How do I enroll in voluntary benefits (accident, critical illness, legal, vision insurance, etc.)?
Voluntary benefits
such as accident, critical illness, legal, and vision insurance, among others
are offered through MSU Benefits Plus and are not administered by MSU.
If you are already enrolled in voluntary benefits and wish to continue your coverage, no action is needed. If you want to enroll in, change, or cancel existing coverage, please take action.
View enrollment instructions for voluntary benefits
Please note:
you may only enroll in, change, or cancel voluntary accident, critical illness, legal, and vision insurance during the Open Enrollment period in October.
Contact MSU Benefits Plus at 888-758-7575 with any questions.
Why is my VSP vision insurance not on my email confirmation statement from MSU?
Voluntary benefits (including VSP vision insurance) are administered directly through MSU Benefits Plus (not MSU) and do not appear on your
emailed MSU benefits confirmation statement
when you participate in Open Enrollment through the EBS portal.
When you enroll in a voluntary benefits plan through MSU Benefits Plus, you will receive an email confirmation statement directly from MSU Benefits Plus.
View enrollment instructions for voluntary benefits
After you log in to MSU Benefits Plus, click
Benefits,
then
Enrollments
to view a summary of your enrollment elections. Click on
Benefits,
then
Deductions
to view an itemized list of your voluntary benefit deductions.
Do I need to complete the spouse/OEI affidavit?
Please note:
While the premium threshold for a spouse/other eligible individual (OEI) to be enrolled in MSU coverage still applies, the affidavit that most employees are used to submitting via the EBS portal each year is no longer required.
Please review the following for more details:
Increase to premium threshold for spouse/other eligible individual (OEI) health coverage:
To enroll your spouse/other eligible individual (OEI) in MSU coverage,
your spouse/OEI must enroll in coverage through their own current or former employer (e.g., a retiree health plan), if applicable, if the annual employee/retiree premium cost for single-person coverage is $1,850 or less.
You may still cover your spouse/OEI on your MSU health coverage as a secondary plan. Please review the
Open Enrollment FAQs
for more information.
If you and your spouse/OEI both work at MSU, the premium threshold does not apply.
Spouse/OEI affidavit no longer required:
You no longer need to complete the spouse/other eligible individual (OEI) affidavit in the EBS Portal to continue coverage for your spouse/OEI. If you currently cover a spouse/OEI on your health care plan, their coverage will automatically continue in 2026 without any action. However, the spouse/OEI premium threshold requirement still applies. Please read the previous requirement (Increase to Premium Threshold for Spouse/OEI Health Coverage).
Questions
: Please get in touch with MSU Human Resources at
SolutionsCenter@hr.msu.edu
or 517-353-4434 (toll-free 800-353-4434).
Do I need to elect all my benefits (health, dental, etc.) again?
Most elections continue each year without the need to re-enroll. Exceptions include flexible spending accounts.
Review
page
in the appropriate Open Enrollment Guide to determine if you need to do anything during the Open Enrollment period:
2026 MSU Faculty and Academic Staff Open Enrollment Benefits Guide
2026 MSU Support Staff Open Enrollment Benefits Guide
2026 MSU Retiree
Open Enrollment Benefits Guide
2026 MSU Open Enrollment Benefits Guide for individuals in the following groups
: Cash-for-Life, COBRA, Long-term Disability, One Year Paid Medical, Postdoctoral Fellows, Unpaid Leave of Absence (including Layoff), and Workers’ Compensation.
Did I complete Open Enrollment correctly?
Completing Open Enrollment Online:
After completing enrollment through the
EBS portal
, you will receive an email confirmation statement. Review the confirmation statement to validate that your plan elections are correct. If your elections look correct, you have completed Open Enrollment. If you would like to make any changes, you can go back through the Open Enrollment application in the EBS portal through
October 31
and review the confirmation statement received after making the desired changes.
Completing Open Enrollment via Email/Mail:
If you were mailed an Open Enrollment guide and you submitted an enrollment/change form via email or mail, you can log in to the
EBS portal
, select
My Benefits
from the top navigation, click on
Current Benefits Participation
, and preview your benefit confirmation statement to validate your plan elections. If your elections look correct, you have completed Open Enrollment. If you would like to make changes, you can submit a new enrollment form through
October 31
and review the benefits confirmation statement received after making the desired changes.
Note:
Please allow 3–5 days for delivery via U.S. mail.
Once received by our HR Solutions Center, your enrollment elections will be completed within 7–10 business days. If you do not see your updated elections at that time, please contact MSU Human Resources at
SolutionsCenter@hr.msu.edu
or 517-353-4434 (toll-free 800-353-4434) to verify receipt.
MSU Retiree Open Enrollment Information
The following resources may assist retirees and their covered dependents during Open Enrollment:
Retiree Open Enrollment Guide
Please review the
2026 MSU Retiree Open Enrollment Benefits Guide
for the 2026 plan year.
Humana and Personify Health Presentation Information
Humana and Personify Health will be presenting during the MSU Benefits Fair at the following times (no need to RSVP):
MSU Benefits Fair (In-person) on October 21 at the
Breslin Student Events Center
MSU Medicare Advantage Plan
: 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. | 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
MSU Non-Medicare Plan
: 2 to 3 p.m.
For more details, visit the
MSU Benefits Fair webpage
, which includes parking information and a list of participating vendors.
Humana and Personify Health Website Information
Please use the following links to learn more about the MSU retiree health care plans.
MSU Non-Medicare Health Plan with Prescription Drug Coverage
Humana Health Care Plan with Prescription Drug Coverage
Humana Website for Medicare Eligible Enrollees
: Visit this page to learn more about your health and prescription coverage in the MSU Medicare Advantage plan.
Health Care and Dental Premium Rates for Retirees (including part-time)
Please find monthly premium rates for the 2026 plan year health and dental plans, including rates for MSU retirees who worked part-time while employed, on the
Retiree Monthly Premiums for Health and Dental (including part-time retirees) webpage.
Last Year's Open Enrollment Materials
Below are links to the Open Enrollment materials released last year for the 2025 plan year. These resources are available as a reference to the current benefits year only. They do not include information about options for 2026.
2025 Plan Year Open Enrollment Guides
2025 Faculty and Academic Staff Open Enrollment Benefits Guide
2025 Support Staff Open Enrollment Benefits Guide
2025 MSU Retiree
Open Enrollment Benefits Guide
2025 Open Enrollment Benefits Guide
for individuals in the following groups
: Cash-for-Life, COBRA, Long-term Disability, One Year Paid Medical, Postdoctoral Fellows, Unpaid Leave of Absence, and Workers’ Compensation.
2025 Plan Year Summary of Benefits and Coverage
The Affordable Care Act (ACA) requires health plans and employers that provide self-insured plans to provide consumers with comparative information on health plan options. To help consumers compare various plans, Summary of Benefits and Coverage (SBC) documents, such as those provided at the link below, are laid out in a specific format and include specific groupings of information determined by the ACA. The following SBC documents are available for the health plan options MSU makes available to benefits-eligible employees. Not all individuals are eligible for all plans.
Find 2025 SBC documents here.
Quicklinks
Open Enrollment
Overview
2026 Faculty/Academic Staff Open Enrollment Benefits Guide
2026 Support Staff Open Enrollment Benefits Guide
2026 Retiree Open Enrollment Benefits Guide
Open Enrollment FAQs
Enrollment Instructions
MSU Benefits Fair
HR Site Labs
Add a Family Member or Dependent Tutorial
Benefit Provider Resources
Consumer Driven Health Plan
Example
Example
Example
Example
Example
Example
Employee Health Care FAQs
Retiree Humana Plan
Flexible Spending Account
Prescription Drug
Voluntary Benefits
MSU Benefits Homepage
Quick Links
Retirees
Students
EBS Help
Union Contracts
Employee Toolkits
Source Newsletter
Development Courses
Healthcare Reform
Employment Verifications
Security & Fire Safety Report
Social Media and Feeds
WordPress Blog
Contacts
1407 S. Harrison Road
East Lansing, MI 48823
Toll Free: 800-353-4434
Email HR
Contact HR
EBS Login
About HR
Call Us:
(517) 353-4434
Contact Information
Privacy Statement
Call MSU:
(517) 355-1855
Visit:
msu.edu
MSU is an equal-opportunity employer.
Notice of Nondiscrimination
Spartans Will.
© Michigan State University