Open Enrollment is Here!
September 15 - October 10, 2025
Open Enrollment is an opportunity for you to review your current benefit plan elections to ensure they continue to meet your needs and those of your family. Learn more by visiting the CSU Benefits Open Enrollment webpage.
Benefits Fair
Please join us for the 2025 In-person Benefits Fair. Employees will be able to speak with the benefits team and benefit providers.
Date: Thursday, Sept. 18, 2026
Time: 9 - 11 a.m.
Location: FDC (Faculty Development Center)
Virtual Open Enrollment
All CSU employees are invited to virtually meet with their campus benefit team and providers during the event. This is a great opportunity to address any questions about available health, dental, vision, and voluntary benefits for you and your dependents.
Date: Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2025
Time: 11 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Location: Zoom
Retirees
Are you a retiree? This is the time of year to re-evaluate your existing benefits elections, discover the benefit plans that are best for you and your family, and make changes that best fit your needs. Plan changes will be effective as of January 1, 2026.
Important Dates:
- September 15 - Open Enrollment Starts: the first day you can submit changes/enrollments.
- September 18 - In-person Benefit Fair, FDC (Faculty Development Center), 9 am - 11 am.
- September 24 - Stockton Benefit Fair, Stockton Campus, 4 pm - 6 pm.
- September 30 - CSU Virtual Benefit Fair, Zoom, 11 am - 2 pm.
- October 11 - Open Enrollment Closes: the last day you can submit changes/enrollments.
- October 12 - Human Resources will no longer accept Open Enrollment changes/enrollments.
- January 1, 2026 - All changes/enrollments made during the Annual Open Enrollment Period will be effective.
Enroll or Make a Change:
- Open Enrollment Change Form
- HCRA/DCRA Enrollment Form - If applicable
- VSP - Enroll or change your vision plan
- 2026 Open Enrollment FAQs
Submit Your Open Enrollment Changes/Enrollments
If you have been recently hired and are benefits-eligible, recently had a qualifying event, or are new faculty please reach out to the Employee Services Team directly to submit your enrollment form.
Please note: If you do not want to make any changes to your current medical or dental plans, the health enrollment change form does not need to be submitted.
What's New for 2026?
Health Plan Rate Changes
Effective January 1, 2026, rates for most health plans will change.
Health Plan Changes
Effective January 1, 2026, CVS Caremark (CVS) will replace OptumRx as the new pharmacy benefits manager (PBM) for the following CalPERS health plans: Anthem Blue Cross Traditional HMO, Anthem Blue Cross Select HMO, Health Net Salud y Más, PERS Gold PPO, PERS Platinum PPO, Sharp Health Plan Performance Plus, UnitedHealthcare Alliance, UnitedHealthcare Harmony and Western Health Advantage HMO.
Members will receive a welcome kit from CVS that includes ID cards as well as information to access Caremark.com and the CVS Health app prior to January 1, 2026. This will be used for all prescription services starting January 1, 2026.
Health Plan Expansions and Exits
Blue Shield Access+ will expand to Monterey County. Blue Shield Trio plan will no longer be offered in Monterey County. Members that do not elect a health plan change will be automatically enrolled in Blue Shield Access+, effective January 1, 2026.
Health Benefit Design Changes
PERS Gold will continue with deductible in-patient credits of up to $500 for completing preventive care activities, while adding the following activities: participation in the Diabetes Prevention Program, if eligible, as well as depression or anxiety screening.
Legal Insurance Enhancements and Rate Change
We’re enhancing the legal insurance plan with new services to address legal and caregiving needs for your parents and grandparents. The cost is $17.70 per month via payroll deduction.
Critical Illness—Health Maintenance Screening Benefit Design Change
Currently, eligible participants receive $100 per health maintenance benefit screening, with a maximum of two screenings per calendar year. Beginning in 2026, this benefit will be updated to provide $200 for a single eligible screening per year. While the number of reimbursable screenings will be limited to one annually, the total dollar benefit will be doubled, allowing you to receive the maximum reimbursement with just one screening.
Health Care and Dependent Care Reimbursement Accounts (HCRA/DCRA)—Annual Maximums Increased
For the plan year 2026, the IRS has increased the annual maximum contribution amount to $3,300 for HCRA and $7,500 for DCRA.
Updated: September 08, 2025