Open Enrollment for 2026 benefits begins Monday, Oct. 13. This is the time each year when you can change your U-M benefits, including health, dental, vision and legal plans.
Open Enrollment continues through Friday, Oct. 24. All changes must be made by 5 p.m. Eastern Time.
Enrollment changes and new rates take effect Jan. 1, 2026.
What’s New in 2026
Open Enrollment 2026 features the following enhancements:
- Addition of chiropractic coverage to the U-M Premier Care health plan
- Increase in the annual maximum benefit for U-M Dental Plans
- Increased Health Care and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account limits
- Increased contribution maximums for Health Savings Accounts for individuals enrolled in the Consumer-Directed Health Plan
Michigan Care Discontinuation
As announced last year, the Michigan Care health plan will be discontinued after Dec. 31, 2025. If you’re currently enrolled in the Michigan Care health plan, you must select a different health plan for 2026 during Open Enrollment. If you don’t enroll in a new health plan during Open Enrollment, you and any eligible dependents will automatically be enrolled in the U-M Premier Care health plan.
Learn more about available health plans.
Enroll in FSAs
If you’re planning to use a Health Care or Dependent Care FSA next year, you must re-enroll even if you enrolled last year. Federal regulations do not allow FSA enrollments to continue from one year to the next.
Tools You Can Use
Several resources are available to help you choose the health plan that meets your needs, and then to use these benefits wisely. Tools include:
- Benefits Mentor, an interactive health-plan decision-support tool
- Health plan coverage comparison chart
- Open Enrollment 2026 books
Faculty, staff and benefits-eligible graduate students can make benefits changes online through Wolverine Access self-service. Go to wolverineaccess.umich.edu and search for “benefits self-service,” then select Benefits Enrollment.
Retirees may make changes online or complete and return the enrollment form mailed in September. Forms must be returned by fax or mail, and be received or postmarked by Friday, Oct. 24.
For Help or More Info…
If you have questions, call the Shared Services Center – HR Customer Care at (734) 615-2000 or (866) 647-7657 (toll-free) off campus, from 8 a.m.-1 p.m. and 2-5 p.m. Monday-Friday.
