New Employee Benefits Information

New Hires and Open Enrollment 2025

Newly-hired employees can participate in Open Enrollment to change their benefits for the upcoming year. Eligible new hires who are in the HR records database after Friday, Oct. 11, 2024, however, cannot participate in Open Enrollment 2025. The first chance for those hired after Oct. 11, 2024, to change their benefit elections will be during 2026 Open Enrollment, with benefits selections available Jan. 1, 2026. 

Wolverine Access

If you are a new hire or are newly eligible for benefits, your specific benefits options will be shown on Benefits Self-Service on Wolverine Access after 8 p.m. on your date of hire or your appointment is processed by your department and entered online; whichever is later.

The Wolverine Access website is a secure gateway to U-M’s administration systems for personal and university information, and is used by members of the university community to view paychecks, update home addresses and phone numbers, enter emergency contact information, view and update benefits, and other tasks. Visit Browser and Operating System Support on the U-M Information and Technology Services website for information on supported browsers.

You will receive an email notifying you when to attend benefits orientation and when you may make your benefits elections. For all plans except Flexible Spending Accounts, you will enroll online. 

Generally, you have 30 days from your service date or the date you become newly eligible to make your elections. If you are a member of a collective bargaining group, your deadline may differ. Refer to the deadlines and defaults chart to verify your enrollment deadline. 

U-M Benefits Orientation

Download and view the U-M Benefits Orientation presentation (effective January 1 - December 31, 2024) for an overview of benefits plans that are available to eligible faculty and staff. This is the same presentation that is shown during new employee orientation.

Resources

How to Enroll

Enroll online before your deadline using Benefits Self-Service on Wolverine Access:

  1. Go to wolverineaccess.umich.edu.
  2. Enter 'Benefits' in the search bar then select Benefits Self-Service.
  3. Complete DUO two-factor authentication to continue the log in process.
  4. Click the UM New Benefits Eligibility tile
  5. Follow the prompts to make your elections.

For more information, view Benefits Enrollment and Eligibility.

NOTE: If you have not had a confirmation statement produced in Benefits Self-Service yet, you may receive the following error message when you click the 'Done' button on the Benefits Alerts pop-up page: 'An error has occurred that has stopped this transaction from continuing' along with a pop-up that reads 'Benefits Statement is not setup. Please contact your Benefits Administrator'. To get around this error, return to the Benefits Enrollment page and select the Submit button again, then select the 'View' button on the Benefits Alerts pop-up page. This will create the submitted elections confirmation statement. You will receive a confirmation email the following day once your elections are submitted.

Make your benefits elections carefully. Once you submit your elections all selections are final and no further changes can be made. After making an online election, you can view or print your submitted confirmation statement immediately after your elections are submitted. You may not make any changes to your elections until the next Open Enrollment period, if eligible, usually in October with changes effective January 1; or your next period of eligibility under the Affordable Care Act, if applicable. Certain qualified status changes may allow you to make changes to your benefits. 

Enrollment Information by Job Group

View the enrollment information packet for your job group. Your eligibility for U-M benefits is based on your career or job family, your appointment percentage, the duration of your appointment, and other factors. Your dependents may be eligible for coverage. 

Failure to Enroll and Default Elections

You must enroll for most benefits (particularly those health-related) within 30 days of your date of hire, the date you became newly eligible, the date you received notification of eligibility, or whichever is later or as specified by your collective bargaining agreement if you are a union member.

Faculty and Staff

Faculty and staff have 30 days to submit benefit elections (or as specified by your collective bargaining agreement). Failure to submit elections within the 30-day deadline will result in no health plan or prescription drug coverage.

Graduate Students

Graduate Students are automatically enrolled in GradCare and Dental Plan Option 1 for you only. You have 30 days to waive coverage, add any eligible dependents, or choose a different Dental Plan option for which you are eligible.

Research Fellows

Research Fellows have 30 days to submit benefit elections.  If benefit elections are not received within 30 days, Research Fellows will be enrolled in Comprehensive Major Medical and Dental Plan Option 1 for you only.

Rates and Paying for Coverage

Your individualized benefits plan rates can be viewed in Wolverine Access under Benefis Self-Service > Display Benefits Plan Rates. Additional information is available on the individual plan pages.  

Stay Informed About Benefits, Events, and Services

Learn how to get the most out of your benefits and stay informed about programs, events and services that are available to you as a U-M faculty or staff member. Sign up to receive regular updates by email. See UHR News to view recent articles.