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Welcome to Open Enrollment for 2026!

Open enrollment runs Oct 13 – Oct. 30, with changes effective Jan. 1, 2026.

Open enrollment is the time of year to ensure current elections best meet the needs of you and your family. In addition to reviewing your benefits, consider other items such as verifying your beneficiaries or increasing your contributions to your retirement savings.

We have many important updates to our benefit offerings that you’ll want to be sure to consider for the coming plan year. In addition to open enrollment information provided to you by your institution, open enrollment materials will be mailed to employees’ homes from the State Health Plan and NCFlex.

Learn more about 2026 benefit changes and how you can make changes in your coverage(s) below.

Important 2026 Open Enrollment Information

All NCFlex and UNC supplemental plan enrollment will be on the UNC Empyrean benefits enrollment platform for all benefits-eligible university employees. This means employees will use two enrollment platforms to complete their desired open enrollment actions.
NEW for 2026: Beginning January 1, 2026, the State Health Plan will be implementing salary-based premiums for all employees with a full-time employment status. The Plan will also transition to a Preferred Provider network, ending the Clear Pricing Project (CPP) on December 31, 2025. As a result, employees must log in to eBenefits (BenefitFocus) during Open Enrollment to designate their preferred provider to enjoy a lower copay.
NO EOI: You now have a limited-time opportunity to enroll in the Voluntary Employee Life or Supplemental Disability Plans during this year’s annual enrollment—without medical underwriting (evidence of insurability)—even if you were previously denied coverage!.
NEW UNC Legal Plan: The UNC Legal Plan provides affordable coverage to assist with a wide range of legal needs, offering unlimited access to network attorneys for covered issues, along with online digital estate planning tools.

State Health Plan

The State Health Plan will be increasing premiums and implementing salary-based premiums for all employees with a full-time employment status for the 2026 plan year. As in prior years, all permanent employees must enroll in the Plus PPO (80/20) plan if you do not want to remain in the Standard PPO (70/30) plan for the 2026 plan year.

Click the links below to learn more about the plan changes and to register for online enrollment meetings, where you can get helpful information to make informed decisions during Open Enrollment.

State Health Plan Updates and Reminders

In addition to new plan names, Standard PPO Plan (70/30) and the Plus PPO Plan (80/20, there are changes to the deductibles, out-of-pocket maximums, and some copays.
Premiums are increasing for the first time in seven years, and your monthly premium will be based on your annual salary.
Employees will no longer be required to complete a tobacco attestation to earn a wellness premium credit; you’ll receive the credit automatically.
The Clear Pricing Project will be evolving into Preferred Providers. Members who select and visit Preferred Providers will enjoy a lower copay.

NCFlex Plans

NCFlex will maintain its current benefit offerings for the 2026 plan year; however, some plans may have experienced rate changes. If you do not enroll for the first time or make a plan change, your current benefits will roll over, except for the Flexible Spending Accounts (health care and dependent day care), which require re-enrollment. For the 2026 plan year, the Healthcare Flexible Spending Account (FSA) annual limit is $3,300 with a $660 rollover balance, and Dependent Day Care FSA annual limit is $7500 per household.

For benefit plan information, click on the 2026 University NCFlex Guide or visit the NCFlex website.

NCFlex will send enrollment communications to employees’ homes throughout open enrollment. Several online webinars for employees to learn more about the plans and changes for 2026 will also be available.

NCFlex Updates and Reminders

MetLife Dental rates for all coverage options will increase for 2026. There are no waiting periods to change dental plans.
2026 Health Care Flexible Spending Account (FSA) annual limit is $3,300, with a rollover balance of $660. Dependent Day Care FSA 2026 annual limit will increase to $7,500 per household. To view your current FSA balance, log into the NCFlex P&A Admin site.
Neither the Cancer nor Critical Illness plans require evidence of insurability to enroll.
Review the NCFlex guide for rate and plan information.

UNC System Supplemental Plans

The University offers programs to protect your income in case of disability or death, along with a legal plan to support you and your family through life’s events.

UNC Legal Plans

The UNC System has partnered with MetLife to provide a new Legal Plan, offering you and your eligible dependents coverage to assist with a wide range of legal needs. The new plan provides access to a nationwide network of 18,000 attorneys—with over 1,100 right here in North Carolina—who can assist you and your family with many of life’s big and small moments—the ones you planned for and some you may not have seen coming.

UNC System Group Term Life Insurance and Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D)

The UNC System has partnered with Securian Financial to provide a consolidated life insurance plan that offers coverage for employees, spouses or domestic partners, and dependent children.

UNC Supplemental Disability Plans

In addition to the health and welfare plans that are offered, the University also extends disability plan benefits through Lincoln for employees enrolled in the Teacher and State Employees’ Retirement System (TSERS) and The Standard for employees in the Optional Retirement Plan. Take this opportunity to consider enrollment in these significant benefits. Each benefit will pay up to 66 2/3%. The benefit also supplements disability benefits available to you through TSERS for employees with at least one year of service.

Visit the Income Protection Benefits page on the UNC System HR website for important information about these available income protection plan options, special plan features and services, and costs for coverage. You can also use the provided flyers and online calculator tools to calculate your estimated monthly premium payment, which will be conveniently deducted from your paycheck.

UNC System Plan updates and reminders

Voluntary Life Insurance: Special enrollment opportunity – You can enroll in employee-only coverage at 1X salary without having to submit Evidence of Insurability (EOI) during 2026 Open Enrollment. You can even enroll if you were previously denied coverage after submitting EOI.
Supplemental Disability: Special enrollment opportunity – If not previously enrolled or were previously denied coverage after submitting EOI, you can enroll without EOI during 2026 Open Enrollment.
Review the UNC Income Protection Benefits site for more rate and plan information.

As a reminder, the benefits listed represent the core plans offered by the State of North Carolina and the University of North Carolina System. Contact your institution’s benefits representative for other supplemental benefits that may be available on your campus.

How to Enroll:

Enrollment in these plans is easy. Log into the Single Sign-On for your institution and follow the online instructions to complete your State Health Plan, NCFlex plans, and UNC plans enrollment.

eBenefits (BenefitFocus) Enrollment Platform:

To enroll in the NC State Health Plan, log in to the eBenefits (BenefitFocus) platform.
Update your State Health Plan enrollment from Standard PPO (70/30) to Plus PPO (80/20) if you do not want to stay in the Standard PPO (70/30) Plan.
Re-select your preferred provider to keep enjoying lower copays when visiting your provider.
Verify your dependents. If you are enrolling dependents for the first time, make sure you have their Social Security numbers, and approved documentation. For a complete list of approved documents go to List of Required Documentation for Dependent Eligibility.

UNC Empyrean Enrollment Platform:

Review and update your beneficiaries if applicable for the UNC voluntary life and AD&D plans as well as the NCFlex Cancer and Critical Illness plans.
To enroll in any NCFlex plans (dental, vision, FSA [health care and/or dependent day care], accident, cancer, critical illness, or TRICARE supplement) log in to the UNC Empyrean platform.
Enroll or re-enroll in the Flexible Spending Account for health care and/or dependent day care.
To enroll in any UNC Income Protection plans (UNC voluntary life, UNC voluntary AD&D, UNC supplemental disability plans) log in to the UNC Empyrean platform.
To enroll in the *NEW* UNC Legal Plan, log in to the UNC Empyrean platform.

Save your enrollment changes and print your annual enrollment confirmation statements from both platforms to confirm that you have taken an enrollment action.

Are You On Target to Reach Your Retirement Goals?

During enrollment, you’ll be thinking about the health benefits you need for the coming year. It’s also a good time to think about your retirement benefits.

The month of October is designated as National Retirement Security Month. This is a great time to make sure your retirement savings and investments are still on track to meet your future goals. Learning more about specific financial needs in retirement is a good place to start and can help you make more effective decisions. Grow your financial knowledge by registering for one or more live webinars offered by TIAA and/or CAPTRUST to learn more about ways to save and retire securely. A full list of upcoming webinars is provided here.

This is the perfect time to consider your participation in the UNC retirement program and whether you are on target to reach your financial goals. In addition, take advantage of these UNC resources:

TIAA/UNC System 403(b) and 457(b): Watch the supplemental plan video.
CAPTRUST: All UNC System retirement program participants have access to CAPTRUST’s independent financial advisers. These advisors can help you plan for retirement and help you choose the right investment options offered under the UNC System retirement program. Visit CAPTRUST At Work or call 800-967-9948.
UNC’s Supplemental Retirement Plans offer another way for you to boost your savings even more. Learn more about the UNC Supplemental Retirement Plans and how they can help you reach your personal retirement savings goals.