Open Enrollment Has Begun - Faculty and Staff
Dear Faculty and Staff,
Northwestern's annual Benefits Open Enrollment period starts today and runs through Friday, November 13, 2026.
Open Enrollment occurs once a year and allows you to enroll in, waive current coverage, or make changes to your medical, dental, vision, life insurance, flexible spending accounts (FSA), health savings account (HSA), disability coverage, and legal plan elections. Changes are effective January 1, 2027.
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 benefits elections, including your tobacco surcharge certification, will automatically carry over to 2027 unless you make changes during Open Enrollment.
Outside of the Open Enrollment period, changes can only be made if you experience a qualifying event.
How to Access the Open Enrollment Portal
Review your options and make any changes by Friday, November 13, 2026.
- Log in to the myHR Self Service Portal using your NetID and password, or log in via your cell phone using the Benefitplace app. Problems Logging In?
- Select the Benefits tile and click My Health Benefits Elections on the left side of the screen. If nothing happens, you will need to turn off your pop-up blocker. Pop-Up Blocker Guide.
- Click the Get Started button on the right side of screen to complete your enrollment.
Please note that other benefits, including 403(b) retirement plans, commuter benefits, pet insurance, PerkSpot discounts, tuition benefits, and Health Savings Account elections can be updated throughout year.
Prepare for Open Enrollment
As mentioned in the leadership message, there are no changes to plan administrators, plan options (PPO, HSA Plus, HSA Essential, or HMO), costs of deductibles, co-pays, or out-of-pocket maximum amounts for 2027.
- Learn about the premiums by reviewing the Medical and Prescription Drug Plans at a Glance PDF.
- Visit the Open Enrollment website to view benefit announcements and learn what actions, if any, you need to take.
- Visit the plan websites to learn about the medical, prescription, dental, vision, life, health care and dependent care flexible savings accounts, health savings account, disability, and legal plans.
- Learn about who is eligible for coverage and proof of dependency required documentation.
- For answers to questions about benefits and plans explore the FAQs.
Register for a Live Open Enrollment Info Session
Join the Benefits team for a one-hour overview of benefit updates, benefit plans, and the Open Enrollment process for 2027. Register for one of the sessions via Microsoft Teams:
- Wednesday, October 28, noon Register for the session
- Thursday, October 29, 10 a.m. Register for the session
Get Answers to Your Questions
Support is available through UnitedHealthcare, CVS Caremark, and the askHR Service Center:
- UHC: For questions about medical coverage:
- For PPO and HSA plans, call UHC at 833-314-1787.
- For the HMO plan, call UHC at 855-828-7715.
- You may also email UHC at northwestern@uhc.com.
- CVS Caremark: 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.
Required Notices
- Patient Protection Disclosure
- Medicare Part D Notice
- Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP)
- Newborns' and Mothers' Health Protection Act Notice
- HIPAA Special Enrollment Notice
- HIPAA Privacy Notice
- Women's Health and Cancer Rights Act Notice
- No Surprise Act
- Summary Plan Description
- Summary of Benefits Coverage: PPO, HSA Plus, HSA Essential, HMO
We will send a reminder email a few days before Open Enrollment closes on November 13, 2026.
Thank you,
Benefits
Office of Human Resources
Northwestern University