Benefits-eligible faculty, staff, retirees and graduate students may change their benefit selections during the university’s annual Open Enrollment, scheduled Monday, Oct. 13, through 5 p.m. Friday, Oct. 24.

During this time, you can change your health, dental, vision and legal plan enrollments. You may also add eligible dependents and enroll in a Flexible Spending Account.

Benefit changes and new rates take effect on Jan. 1, 2026.

What’s New in 2026

Open Enrollment 2026 features:

• Discontinuation of Michigan Care/Michigan Care Advantage as of Dec. 31, 2025; if you do not change your health plan from Michigan Care/Michigan Care Advantage, the default enrollment is the U-M Premier Care/U-M Premier Care Advantage plan

• Chiropractic coverage added to the U-M Premier Care plan

• Annual limit changes to the Consumer-Directed Health Plan and Health Savings Account

• Annual maximum benefit increase for Dental Plan

• Increase to Healthcare Flexible Spending Account limit

• Increased limit for Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account

Health Plan Updates

The Michigan Care and Michigan Care Advantage Health Plans will be discontinued starting Dec. 31, 2025. If you are currently enrolled in Michigan Care/Michigan Care Advantage and do not change your election during Open Enrollment, you will be automatically enrolled in the U-M Premier Care/U-M Premier Care Advantage Plan for 2026. 

Beginning Jan. 1, 2026, the U-M Premier Care Plan will cover chiropractic care. If you enroll in this plan, you will receive 24 visits per year with $25 copays. 

CDHP and HSA Changes

The Consumer-Directed Health Plan (CDHP) and Health Savings Account (HSA) annual limits set by the IRS will change in 2026.

The CDHP individual deductible will be $1,700, with the family deductible set at $3,400. 

The annual out-of-pocket maximum (in-network) will be $5,500 for an individual and $10,600 for a family. 

The HSA annual contribution maximum (university + employee) has been set at $4,400 for an individual and $8,750 for a family. U-M’s maximum HSA contribution will be $850 for an individual and $1,700 for a family. 

Dental Plan Updates

The Dental Plan annual maximum benefit will increase to $1,500.

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. 

For 2026, the Health Care FSA limit will increase to $3,300. The Health Care FSA can be used to pay for eligible medical care expenses for you and your eligible dependents.

The Dependent Care FSA limit for 2026 will increase to $7,500. The Dependent Care FSA can be used to pay for eligible dependent care expenses (like child daycare).

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 2026 benefits will be available online in Wolverine Access the week of Aug. 18. To view them, go to wolverineaccess.umich.edu, search for Benefits Self-Service and select the tile, then select the Display Benefit Plan Rates tile.  

Open Enrollment Deadline is October 24

Benefits changes can be made online from Oct. 13 through 5 p.m. Oct. 24 in Wolverine Access.

Retirees will receive Open Enrollment books in the mail in late September. Retirees may make changes online or complete and return the enrollment form included in the book.

COBRA, long-term disability participants, and those on a leave of absence or reduction in force will also receive pamphlets in the mail in September.

You must return forms by fax or mail, and be postmarked no later than Oct. 24. Please note that Wolverine Tower is not open to the general public and walk-in service is not available.