Benefits-eligible faculty, staff, retirees and graduate students may change their benefit selections during once-a-year Open Enrollment scheduled Monday, Oct. 21, through 5 p.m. Friday, Nov. 1.
You can change your health, dental, vision and legal plan enrollments during this time. You also may add eligible dependents and enroll in a Flexible Spending Account.
Benefit changes and new rates take effect Jan. 1, 2025.
What's New in 2025
Open Enrollment 2025 features:
- Enhancements to the Legal Services Plan and the Vision Plan
- One-time opportunity to enroll in or increase coverage in the Optional Life Insurance Plan without submitting a health statement
- Increased Health Care Flexible Spending Account limit to $3,200
- Increased contribution maximums for Health Savings Accounts
Legal Services Plan Updates
The following services will be added to the Legal Plan at no additional cost in 2025:
- Divorce, dissolution and annulment (contested and uncontested)
- Custody order
- Enforcement or modification of support order
Vision Plan Updates
The Vision Plan covered allowances for eyeglass frames and contact lenses will increase from $130 to $200. Monthly plan premiums also will decrease by about 10%.
Optional Life Insurance Plan Changes
The following changes will be made to the Optional Life Insurance Plan as of Jan. 1, 2025:
- A higher coverage level of $10,000 will be available.
- Eligible faculty and staff can increase their coverage from $5,000 to $10,000 during Open Enrollment without submitting a health statement.
- The $5,000 rate will be discontinued. Those who choose not to increase their coverage to $10,000 will be grandfathered at the lower level.
- The optional life insurance amount maximum will increase to $1.7 million.
CDHP and HSA Changes
The CDHP and HSA plan annual limits set by the IRS will change in 2025.
The CDHP individual deductible will be $1,650, with the family deductible set at $3,300.
The annual out-of-pocket maximum (in network) will be $5,500 for an individual and $9,200 for a family.
The HSA annual contribution maximum (university + employee) has been set at $4,300 for an individual and $8,550 for a family. U-M’s maximum HSA contribution will be $825 for an individual and $1,650 for a family.
Sign Up For Spending Accounts
You must re-enroll each year to participate in a flexible spending account (FSA). The IRS does not allow FSA enrollments to carry over from one year to the next.
Evaluate Your Benefit Needs
The Benefits Office encourages U-M community members to carefully evaluate health plans based on cost, provider network and anticipated use of health care services.
Total annual health care spending for all dependents covered under an individual’s benefits plan should be considered. This includes monthly premiums, copays, coinsurance and deductibles.
Rates for 2025 benefits will be listed online in Wolverine Access next week. To view them, go to wolverineaccess.umich.edu and select Employee Self-Service, Benefits and Display Benefit Plan Rates.
Open Enrollment Deadline is November 1
Benefits changes can be made online from Oct. 21 through 5 p.m. Nov. 1 in Wolverine Access.
Open Enrollment books will be mailed to retirees in late September. Retirees may make changes online or complete and return the enrollment form included in the book.
Pamphlets also will be mailed in September to COBRA and long-term disability participants, as well as those on a leave of absence or reduction in force.
Forms must be returned by fax or mail, and be received or postmarked by Nov. 1. Note that Wolverine Tower is not open to the general public, so no walk-in service is available.
