Open Enrollment
Oct 19 - Nov 13 at 5:00pm
This is your annual opportunity to make changes, enroll, or add/remove dependents to your State of Maryland health benefits.
October 19 - November 13
Open Enrollment for the State Employee and Retiree Health Benefits will take place from October 19 through 5:00 PM EST on November 13, 2026 for the new plan year that begins on January 1, 2027. This is your annual opportunity to make changes, enroll, or add/remove dependents to your State of Maryland health benefits.
Important Dates
- October 19: Open Enrollment begins
- October 21 10:00 am - 2:00 pm: Annual Benefits Fair
- November 5 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm: Open Enrollment Webinar
- November 13 at 5:00 pm: The deadline to submit all enrollment changes and required documentation. Changes will take effect on January 1, 2027.
All faculty, staff, and benefits-eligible graduate assistants should review their options during the open enrollment period.
Step by Step Instructions
A quick reference guide (PDF) for completing your open enrollment.
2027 Health Benefits
Read about what's new for 2027 and more information on your health benefits.
What's New For 2027
The maximum contribution for a Health Care FSA in 2027 increases to $3,400.
- Pre-Tax Benefit Deductions: Benefit premiums will be deducted from your paycheck on a pre-tax basis.
- Flexible Spending Account (FSA) Eligibility: Contractual employees working at least 30 hours per week (75% FTE) are eligible to elect a Flexible Spending Account (FSA).
All employees: If you owe retroactive benefit deductions, a maximum of $100 per pay period, per benefit line, will be collected toward your outstanding balance. These payments will be in addition to your regular per-pay-period benefit premiums. Benefit lines include medical, dental, prescription drug, and life insurance.
Example of retroactive benefit deductions:
If a regular employee enrolled in the 2027 CareFirst PPO medical plan and the prescription drug plan for Family misses six pay periods of benefit deductions, the employee will have the following outstanding balances:
- Medical: $164.81 per pay period × 6 pay periods = $988.86 in arrears.
- Prescription drug: $67.16 per pay period × 6 pay periods = $402.96 in arrears.
When benefit deductions resume, the employee's paycheck would include the regular premium deduction plus an additional $100 toward the outstanding balance for each benefit line.
For example:
- The medical deduction would include the regular $164.81 premium plus $100 toward the arrears, for a total deduction of $264.81. The remaining medical arrears balance would be $888.86.
- The prescription drug deduction would include the regular $67.16 premium plus $100 toward the arrears, for a total deduction of $167.16. The remaining prescription drug arrears balance would be $302.96.
With the new CPB merger with SPS, paychecks are being redesigned. The updated paycheck will display the employee's outstanding arrears balance, which should make it easier for employees to understand what they owe.
Wellness incentives reset for the 2027 plan year. Employees will need to complete the required wellness activities again to qualify for the new plan year.
Employees who complete the wellness activities may receive a $0 copay for primary care visits and up to $10 off their specialist copay. These incentives will remain available through December 31, 2028.
Please note: The Specialist copay reduction does not apply to the Kaiser Permanente IHM.
MedImpact's formulary is a list of drugs that are covered and updated for 2027.
Your Employee Health Benefits: What's New for 2027
November 5, 2026 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm
Join us for an informative Zoom session where we’ll explore what's new for your health benefits for 2027 and answer important questions, including:
- What is new for 2027?
- How do I add dependents?
- Where is my W#?
- Questions submitted during registration.
Don’t miss this opportunity to learn what's new for 2027.
RegisterWho needs to take action?
If you want a Flexible Spending Account (FSA) in 2027
If you want a Flexible Spending Account (FSA) for healthcare and/or dependent care in 2027, you must re-enroll. This is not an automatic process, and your FSA from 2026 will not carry over.
- The maximum contribution for a Health Care FSA in 2027 is $3,400.
- The maximum contribution for a Dependent Care FSA in 2027 is $7,500.
If you want to change your State of Maryland Health Benefits
You need to take action if you want to make any changes to your current State of Maryland health benefits, including:
- Medical
- Dental
- Accidental death & dismemberment
- Life insurance
- Pharmacy plans
If you are adding dependents
If you are adding a spouse or child to your coverage, you must provide the required documentation (like a birth or marriage certificate). This documentation must be submitted with your enrollment through the SPS Benefit Event by 5:00 PM EST on November 13, 2026. If you miss this deadline, your dependent will not be covered.
2027 Dependent Documentation Requirements
You currently have life insurance
Log into SPS and review your life insurance premiums. Life insurance premiums adjust based on age groups. Current rates are included with the Health benefit rate sheets.
You have added dependents
Monitor your SPS account during Open Enrollment for follow-up requests from the State regarding dependent documentation. If the State has additional questions or requests corrections, you must respond or resubmit your documentation within the required timeframe.
Who does not need to take action?
You do not need to do anything if you are keeping your current health benefits (excluding FSAs) and are not adding or removing any dependents. Your current coverage will automatically continue into the new year.