Open Enrollment is almost here! Open Enrollment is your annual opportunity to review, evaluate, and make changes to your UC health and welfare benefits for the upcoming 2027 plan year. Choosing the right coverage for you and your family is an essential decision, and Central Human Resources is here to support you in every step.
Before enrollment opens, please take a moment to read an important message from Dianna Henderson, Vice President of Systemwide Human Resources, detailing systemwide health benefit updates, rising healthcare trends, and how the University of California is working to manage employee costs for 2027.
To help you navigate your options, Central Human Resources and our plan partners are hosting informational webinars, virtual help desks, and our signature on-campus fair. Below is the complete chronological schedule of all events from the earliest pre-enrollment overview to the close of Open Enrollment:
WEX - Flexible Spending Accounts & Adoption Assistance Plan Overview
Tuesday, October 20, 2026
10:00 am to 11:00 am
___________
ARAG Legal Plan Overview
Tuesday, October 20, 2026
11:00 am to 12:00 pm
___________
Prudential - Life, AD&D and UC Plus Plans Overview
Wednesday, October 21, 2026
11:00 am to 12:00 pm
___________
Kaiser Permanente
Thursday, October 29, 2026
9:30am to 10:30am
Faculty & Staff Virtual Help Desk
Tuesday, November 3, 2026
8:00 am to 5:00 pm
Email: benefits@ucr.edu • Telephone: (951) 827-2636 or (951) 827-5086
___________
Blue Shield Accolade/ Transcarent
Nov 4 | Nov 13 | Nov 18
12:30 pm to 2:00 pm
___________
UCR Health Overview
Tuesday, November 10, 2026
11:00am to 12:00pm
___________
UC Riverside's Annual Benefits, Health & Wellness Fair
Thursday, November 12, 2026
10:00am to 2:00pm
Kaiser Mobile Van In-Person Event
Tuesday, November 17, 2026
9:00am to 2:00pm
Location: Olmstead Plaza
Free biometric screenings & flu shots (biometric screening must be completed for flu shot).
Register and secure your health screening appointment.
___________
California Casualty
Tuesday, November 17, 2026
10:00am to 11:00am
___________
Health Net HMO
Wednesday, November 18, 2026
11:00am to 12:00pm
What to Know About Your 2027 Benefits & Costs
As healthcare costs continue to rise nationwide, the University of California remains committed to preserving comprehensive coverage and strong plan choices:
- Continued Strong University Contribution: UC will continue to cover, on average, over 85% of total medical premiums across pay bands and coverage tiers, contributing an additional $294 million toward employee health benefits this year.
- Expiration of the UCR Campus Premium Subsidy for Non Represented Employees: Please note that the temporary UCR employee medical premium subsidy provided for 2026 to help offset rising healthcare costs will conclude on December 31, 2026, as communicated when it was introduced. As a result, higher monthly premium contributions will apply for the monthly premium contributions for the 2027 plan year.
- Medical Premium Adjustments: For employees whose medical premiums are not governed by collective bargaining, the 2027 standard monthly premium adjustments for individual coverage will range between $6.58 and $29.24, depending on salary tier and plan election. However, due to the expiration of the 2026 UCR Campus Premium Subsidy, higher increases will apply to the Kaiser and UC Blue & Gold HMO plans for Pay Band 1 and Pay Band 2.
- Stable Carrier Options: UC will continue to offer its full suite of medical plans with no carrier changes for 2027. Health Net will continue to administer the UC Blue & Gold HMO through the end of 2027.
- Out-of-Pocket Maximums: Annual out-of-pocket maximums for Kaiser Permanente and UC Blue & Gold HMO will adjust to $3,000 for individual coverage and $6,000 for two-party and family coverage.
- UC Health Network Partnership: UC Health continues to help mitigate healthcare costs by limiting rate increases for care delivered across UC medical centers and clinics.
- For full details, plan summaries, and cost comparison matrices, please visit the UCNet 2027 Open Enrollment Website and the UCR HR Benefits Open Enrollment Website.
Will Your Current Benefits Automatically Roll Over?
- Yes, for most plans: If you are satisfied with your existing medical, dental, vision, life, and disability selections, no action is required. Your current elections will roll over into 2027 automatically.
- Critical Exception — Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs): Enrollment in the Health FSA and/or Dependent Care FSA (DepCare) does NOT roll over automatically. To participate for plan year 2027, you must actively re-enroll during Open Enrollment.
Action Checklist: 5 Steps to Take Before October 29
Take these five proactive steps in UCPath right now so you are fully prepared when Open Enrollment begins:
Verify Your Personal & Contact Information
- Log in to UCPath and navigate to the Personal Information Page.
- Verify your home and mailing address to ensure paper Open Enrollment packets reach you. Also confirm your phone numbers and preferred email address so you receive critical benefit notifications.
Review Your Current Benefits & Open Life Events
- Review your current Benefit Summary by going to Benefits & Retirement > View My Benefit Summary.
- If you have had a recent qualifying life event (such as marriage, birth, or divorce), make sure all pending life event submissions under Update My Benefits or Select My Benefits are fully resolved prior to October 29.
Verify Your Dependent Information
- Confirm that all enrolled dependents are accurately listed with correct dates of birth and Social Security Numbers.
- If updates are needed, submit an Update Dependent Info eForm under Benefits & Retirement > Forms.
Complete Dependent Eligibility Verification (UnifyHR)
- If you received a Family Member Eligibility Verification notice from UnifyHR, ensure you upload all requested supporting documents immediately. Important: Unverified dependents will lose coverage effective December 31, 2026, and cannot be re-enrolled during Open Enrollment.
Sign up for the CUCSA Town Hall on the 2027 Open Enrollment
- Have questions about what to expect for 2027 Open Enrollment? Join the Council of UC Staff Assemblies (CUCSA) on Oct. 26 at 11:30 a.m. (PT), for a systemwide town hall - Register for the Benefits Town Hall
Support & Contact Information
Virtual Counselor: Use ALEX — your virtual benefits guide to get confidential, tailored benefit recommendations based on your health usage.
Central Human Resources Benefits Office: Contact UCR Benefits by email at benefits@ucr.edu or call 951-827-2636 / 951-827-5086.