Follow-up to Benefits Update
June 24, 2025
We want to address some of the most pressing questions we have received over the last few days and clear up some misinformation about the changes.
Open Enrollment
Welcome to the Open Enrollment Information webpage. This is your go-to source for announcements and updates related to your benefits enrollment. We encourage you to bookmark this page and check back periodically for updates.
Open Enrollment for plans starting January 1, 2025 has ended. The next Open Enrollment period for plans starting January 1, 2026, will begin October 27, 2025 and end November 14, 2025. More communications on the enrollment period will be provided in late summer.
Please note, faculty and staff may make changes to benefits outside of Open Enrollment if they experience a qualifying life event, such as marriage or birth. Please see the Benefits Changes website for more information.
Have questions?
Be sure to check out the FAQs section for quick answers to questions. For additional questions not found in the FAQ section, email askHR@northwestern.edu or call 847-491-4700.
There’s more to come!
We’ll be sharing additional news and updates in the coming weeks and months, so stay tuned.
Updates & Announcements: Benefits Changes for 2026
UnitedHealthcare Provider Finder
June 18, 2025
Tools to help you find in-network providers with UnitedHealthcare
Northwestern Benefits Update
June 12, 2025
To better contain costs for the University and its employees, Northwestern will transition to new medical, dental and drug prescription insurance providers for benefits-eligible employees beginning Jan. 1, 2026.
Insurance Changes
June 12, 2025
Effective January 1, 2026, the medical plans will be administered by United Healthcare (UHC), the PPO dental plan will be administered by Delta Dental of Illinois (Delta), and the prescription drug plan will be administered by CVS Caremark (CVS).
Tuition Benefits Changes
June 12, 2025
As the University manages its overall costs, we also must adjust certain terms of our tuition benefits, with no changes to the Dependent Reduced, Dependent Portable or Employee Portable plans for current faculty and staff. Changes to the tuition plans will become effective January 1, 2026.
Retiree Benefits
June 12, 2025
The current Legacy medical, dental and vision plans for Retirees aged 65 or older will end on January 1, 2026. Retirees under age 65 currently covered under the Legacy Plans will automatically continue coverage in 2026 under Northwestern’s new medical and dental insurance providers and a new prescription plan provider.