Open Enrollment

Open Enrollment starts September 14, 2026 and ends October 9, 2026

The CSU annual Open Enrollment period is from September 14, 2026, through October 9, 2026. The effective date of all Open Enrollment transactions will be January 1, 2027. Open Enrollment is your annual opportunity to review and update your current benefits for the upcoming year. You can enroll, change or cancel CalPERS health, dental, vision, Flexcash, Dependent Care Reimbursement (DCRA), Health Care Reimbursement (HCRA) or voluntary benefits plans.

If you do not want to make any changes to your benefits, you do not need to do anything. Your current elections will automatically continue.

However, if you want to enroll or continue participating in the Health Care or Dependent Care Reimbursement Accounts, you must enroll/re-enroll every year.

Important Information

Premier VSP Enrollment: if you need to make a change, such as updating dependents on your Premier Plan, enrolling in the Premier Plan, or terminating your Premier Plan coverage, you must do so directly on the VSP website. If an employee chooses to enroll in the Premier plan, any dependents that are either enrolled in the plan or will be added as an eligible dependent to the plan must also be upgraded to the Premier plan coverage or they will not be enrolled in or eligible for VSP coverage. Employees cannot choose to enroll in both the Basic and Premier coverage at the same time.

VSP website: csuactives.vspforme.com

National ID: is the Social Security Number. This must be entered for enrolled dependents.

Supporting documentation: can be submitted electronically via MOVEit to Cathalina Chin, Benefits Coordinator, at cathalina.chin@csus.edu or via Sacramento State Secure Mail (GoAnywhere Secure File Transfer) to the Benefits Office at benefits@csus.edu.

No Enrollment Available At This Time" in Employee Self Service, contact the Benefits Office at benefits@csus.edu.

Dependent Care Reimbursement Account (DCRA) and Health Care Reimbursement Account (HCRA): Must re-enroll to participate in 2027.

The HCRA annual maximum contribution will increase to $3,400 for the 2027 plan year.

The DCRA annual maximum contribution is:

$7,500 for employees earning less than $160,000 annually (maximum contribution for married couples filing separate tax returns is $3,750)
$5,000 for employees earning $160,000 or more annually (maximum contribution for married couples filing separate tax returns is $2,500)

Enrollment Information

If your employment status is not changing and you do not want to make changes to your current health, dental, and vision benefits, you do not need to participate in Open Enrollment to renew your existing benefits for the next year.

Flex Spending Health Care (HCRA) and Dependent Care (DCRA) Reimbursement Accounts must be renewed every year.

Open Enrollment Job Aid

Virtual Benefits Fair

A virtual Benefits Fair is being offered for all CSU employees. This event is designed to give you the opportunity to connect directly with health plans, CSU vendors, and your campus benefits office to ask any Open Enrollment–related questions. Please note that there will be no formal presentations from vendors during the fair.

The virtual fair will be held on October 1, 2026 from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Click to register.

Financial Wellness Treasure Hunt

A Treasure Hunt That Could Save You Money—and Unlock Financial Wellness Life Hacks

Think your CSU benefits are just health insurance and retirement? Think again! Discover hidden resources that can help you save money, build financial confidence, and make life a little easier—starting today.

Your mission: Hunt for benefits that can help you:

Keep more of your paycheck with pre-tax savings programs

Use free financial wellness tools to reach your goals

Start building wealth—no finance degree required

Take advantage of benefits you'll use now, not just in retirement

Unlock employee perks and life hacks you probably didn't know you had.

Complete the challenges, record your discoveries, then join the interactive reveal session to compare answers and uncover a few "Why didn't anyone tell me about this?" benefits.

No financial expertise required. Just bring your curiosity. Spoiler: You'll almost certainly discover at least one benefit you didn't know you could be using.

Thursday, September 17, 2026, 10 – 10:45am

Click here to register

What's new for 2027?

Health Plan Rate Changes

Effective January 1, 2027, rates for most health plans will change.

Health Plan Expansions and Exits

UnitedHealthcare SignatureValue Alliance HMO will exit all counties; no longer part of CalPERS health plan offerings. Visit CalPERS for additional information.
UnitedHealthcare SignatureValue Harmony HMO will exit all counties; no longer part of CalPERS health plan offerings. Visit CalPERS for additional information.
Anthem Blue Cross Select HMO will exit Monterey County.
Sutter Health Plan HMO: New Basic health plan, offering Sutter Medical Group, available in Placer, Sacramento, San Joaquin, Solano, Stanislaus, and Yolo counties.
Blue Shield of California EPO will be expanded into the following counties: Alpine, Amador, El Dorado, Nevada, Placer, San Bernardino, Sutter, and Yuba counties.
Kaiser Permanente HMO will be expanded the following counties in northwestern Nevada: Carson City, Douglas, Lyon, Storey, and Washoe Counties.

Health Benefit Design Changes

Beginning July 1, 2027, all Basic health plans will offer coverage for the diagnosis and treatment of infertility as required by Senate Bill 729 for CalPERS Basic HMO plans. The CalPERS Board also approved these benefits for the Basic PPO plans effective July 1, 2027.

The Standard - Guaranteed Issue Life Insurance

New for 2027, The Standard Insurance will allow eligible active members the opportunity to enroll in Voluntary Life insurance (up to $100,000 for self and/or a spouse/registered domestic partner for up to $50,000) without providing Evidence of Insurability. If you currently have less than $100,000 of coverage or you are not currently enrolled, you can apply for this enhanced benefit.