[Ucrfacultyandstaff] Benefits Open Enrollment Ends Today, November 21, 2025 at 5:00 P.M.

[Puja Pannu]

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*November 21, 2025*



To:

Faculty and Staff

From:

Central HR Benefits Office

Re:

Benefits Open Enrollment Ends Today, November 21, 2025 at 5:00 P.M.





*BENEFITS OPEN ENROLLMENT ENDS TODAY, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2025, AT 5:00
P.M.*



*It is essential for all Faculty and Staff to review New Medical Plan
Design and Rate changes, including increased out of pocket expenses and
copays to consider your options and costs.*



After reviewing the medical plan changes, if you are satisfied with your
current benefit elections and not making any changes, no action is required
for Open Enrollment, and all existing benefits will roll over to the new
plan year effective January 1, 2026.



*If you are enrolled in the Flexible Spending Account Plans (DepCare FSA
and Health FSA), you MUST renew your contribution amounts during Open
Enrollment.*



*New this year*



   - Significant rate increases impact the HMO medical plans and Pay Bands
   1 and 2 for 2026!
   - New Medical plan, Non-Medicare Blue Shield PPO, plan design and rate
   changes, including increased out of pocket expenses and copays to consider
   your options and costs.
   - The new Blue Shield Health Savings+ is replacing CORE and UC Health
   Savings plan effective January 1, 2026.
   - UC ends the CORE PPO plan option for 2026.
   - UCR extends a one-time, 2026, non-represented employee premium subsidy
   for highly impacted members. See the communication from Chancellor Hu -  UCR
   Chancellor helps offset some of the increases
   <https://hr.ucr.edu/hrannouncements/2025/10/28/ucr-support-offset-some-health-plan-increases>
   - Review the UCOP Medical Plan Changes Communication – Vice President
   Cheryl Lloyd Systemwide letter about medical plan changes for 2026.
   <https://ucnet.universityofcalifornia.edu/employee-news/letter-from-systemwide-hr-vp-cheryl-lloyd/>|
    2026 Benefits Changes Fact Sheet
   <https://ucnet.universityofcalifornia.edu/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/2026-Benefits-Changes-Fact-Sheet.pdf>
    and Frequently Asked Questions
   <https://ucnet.universityofcalifornia.edu/employee-news/big-changes-new-choices-oe-2026/#faq>
   .
   - ALEX Benefits Counseling Tool offers enhanced features to assist in
   selecting the best benefit plan options and costs for you and your family.
   - *Re-Enroll in the FSA for 2026!*
      - Remember to select new contribution amount to participate in FSA
      for 2026
      - *If enrolling in the Blue Shield plan, *the* existing *Health
      Flexible Spending Account balance will roll over into the Limited Purpose
      Flexible Spending Account
   - *Open Enrollment deadline:* *Make your elections by Friday, November
   21, 2025, at 5:00 p.m.*



*UCR Open Enrollment Benefits Website – Tools and Resources*



Five things you need to know before Open Enrollment | UCnet
<https://ucnet.universityofcalifornia.edu/employee-news/big-changes-new-choices-oe-2026/>



The UC Riverside 2026 Benefits Open Enrollment website
<https://hr.ucr.edu/benefits/open-enrollment>  for faculty and staff is
available to access valuable information about this year’s benefit plans,
and highlights important, need to know changes and information regarding
benefit costs and options for the coming year.



Please view the UCR Faculty and Staff Pre-Recorded Open Enrollment
presentation <https://youtu.be/GCQl8p1zdno> to review our highlights on the
new medical plans, plan design changes, and enhancements and benefits
premiums.



*Links to Additional Resources:*

·         Which medical plan is right for you?
<https://ucnet.universityofcalifornia.edu/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Which-medical-plan-is-right-for-you.pdf>

·         Blue Shield Non-Medicare Find a Provider Webpage
<https://www.blueshieldca.com/fad/index.html?deeplinkID=UCCareTier1>

·         UC PPO plans side-by-side comparison
<https://documents.ucr.edu/HR-Benefits/2026%20Open%20Enrollment/oe2026-ucppo-how-the-ppo-plans-compare.pdf>

·         UCnet 2026 Benefits Open Enrollment website
<https://ucnet.universityofcalifornia.edu/oe/emp-start/>

·         How to enroll in Benefits via the UCPath Portal *- *OE
<https://ucnet.universityofcalifornia.edu/oe/emp-start/how-to-enroll/>


*Contact us*


For questions regarding Open Enrollment, please contact the Benefits Office
via email at benefits at ucr.edu.
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