HUMAN RESOURCES

Open Enrollment will run from Monday, October 26 through Friday, November 13 for benefits effective January 1, 2027.

There are no changes to healthcare administrators, plan options, or to deductibles, co-pays or out-of-pocket maximum amounts in 2027. Premiums will increases approximately 4.3% for the PPO, HSA Plus, and HSA Essential plans, and 7.7% for the HMO. The premium increases are well below the national averages of 11% for PPO, HSA Plus, and HSA Essential plans and 16% for HMO. 

Updated annual Health Care and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account and Health Savings Account limits will be posted on the Open Enrollment website once they are released by the IRS. 

We encourage you to review your current coverage options and your life insurance beneficiaries to ensure they meet your needs and those of your family. Except for FSA and HSA elections, your benefit elections will automatically carry over to 2027 unless you make a change during Open Enrollment.

• YES: If you want to change plans, add or drop a dependent, waive current coverage, or participate in an FSA or HSA, you must make these selections during Open Enrollment.
• NO: If you do not want to make changes to your benefit plans and you do not want to participate in an FSA or HSA for 2027, no action is required.

Benefit changes made during Open Enrollment will be effective January 1, 2027.

During Open Enrollment you can make changes to your medical, dental, vision, life insurance, Flexible Spending Accounts, Health Savings Account, disability coverage, and the legal benefits. Outside of Open Enrollment, changes can only be made if you experience a qualifying event. Benefits, such as 403(b) retirement plans, commuter benefits, pet insurance, PerkSpot discounts, and tuition benefits can be updated at any time.

Employee support is available through United Healthcare, CVS Caremark, and the askHR Service Center:

• UHC: For questions about medical coverage, contact UHC at 833-314-1787 for PPO and HSA plans or 855-828-7715 for HMO plan. You may also email UHC directly at northwestern@uhc.com.
• CVS: For questions about prescription drug coverage or to verify how your medication is covered, contact CVS at 833-844-5348.
• askHR: For general questions contact the askHR Service Center at 847-491-4700 or askHR@northwestern.edu.

You can use the online UnitedHealthcare Find a Doctor tool to search for an in-network provider.

For questions about medical coverage, contact UHC at 833-314-1787 for PPO and HSA plans and 855-828-7715 for the HMO plan or email northwestern@uhc.com.

For questions about prescription drug coverage or to verify your medication is covered, contact CVS at 833-844-5348.

For general questions can be sent to the askHR Service Center at askHR@northwestern.edu or 847-491-4700. 

If you are currently enrolled in a Northwestern medical plan and do not make any changes during Open Enrollment, you will not receive a new ID card. You will continue to use the ID card you have now.

If you enroll for the first time, add or drop a dependent, or change medical plans during Open Enrollment, your new UHC ID cards will be delivered to your home address before January 1, 2027.

• Both are High Deductible Health Plans (HDHPs) eligible for Northwestern’s HSA with same matching contributions.
• They use the same UHC Choice Plus PPO network and cover the same services.
• If you cover dependents: Each family member has an individual out-of-pocket maximum (OOPM). Once met, the plan pays 100% for that member, regardless of whether the full family OOPM is reached. The remaining OOPM must be met by other members before their coverage reaches 100%.

• Deductibles and OOPMs vary between plans.
• If you cover dependents: HSA Plus requires the full family deductible to be met before coinsurance begins for any member. HSA Essential allows coinsurance to begin for a member once their individual deductible is met, regardless of the overall family deductible. Remaining family members must meet the rest of the family deductible before their coinsurance begins.

Anyone who enrolls in a PPO or the HMO with UHC will be automatically enrolled in prescription drug coverage with CVS. You do not need to take separate action to enroll in drug coverage.

• Costco Pharmacies
• CVS
• Health Mart Atlas
• Jewel-Osco / Albertsons / Safeway
• Kroger
• Meijer Pharmacy
• Rite Aid
• Sam's Club
• Walgreens
• Walmart

For the most up‑to‑date information on your prescriptions, use the online formulary tool in the CVS online portal or the mobile app to verify how your prescriptions are covered and alternatives. You can also review the specialty formulary here and non-specialty formulary here in addition please review the list of medications that are excluded from the plan.

Faculty and staff can verify that their dentists are in-network with Delta Dental by doing one of the following: 

• Use Delta’s online provider finder.
• Contact your dentist’s office and ask if they are in-network for Delta Dental's PPO network. 
• Call Delta Dental at 800-323-1743 and ask if your dental provider(s) are in-network for Delta's PPO network.

The decision support tool utilizes your salary tier for medical and life insurance, as well as your appointment type, to help you make a more informed decision on benefits elections.  For a more tailored recommendation, you may complete an optional survey that explores your health, wellness, finances and future plans. Keep in mind the survey is optional.

Personal information is stored in secure operating environments unavailable to the public. The vendor has technical, administrative, and physical security measures in place designed to protect users’ personal information from unauthorized access and improper use.

Each user’s answers are used to personalize their recommendations to facilitate enhanced decision-making. The vendor will not sell, rent, license, or lease personally identifiable user data to any outside third parties.

The use of this tool is of course optional.

Only you can see your Upwise Decision Support Tool.

Upwise Decision Support Tool is available only to Northwestern faculty and staff who are full-time or part-time benefits-eligible. Due to the complicated appointment structures and unique benefit packages, there are a few groups of employees who cannot utilize the decision support tool.  These include Postdoctoral Fellows and employees on the Qatar campus. It was never the intention to purposely exclude these groups, but the nature of these appointments and employment types could not be incorporated into the tool.