Open Enrollment - September 14th thru October 9th 2026
October 9th will be the last day to enroll or make changes to your benefits.
The health and wellbeing of our employees is important, and as such, the CSU is committed to offering benefits and plan options to cover your individual and family health needs.
We encourage you to make sure your benefits work for you by reviewing your current plans and participating in the Annual Benefits Open Enrollment period accordingly.
During the Open Enrollment period, employees may enroll-in, change, or cancel Health, Dental, Vision, FlexCash, Dependent Care Account (DCRA), Health Care Reimbursement (HCRA) or Voluntary Benefit Plans.
If you are satisfied with your current benefits, and your employment status is not changing, you do not need to participate in Open Enrollment. Your existing benefits will be renewed for the next year except for HCRA and DCRA (healthcare and dependent care reimbursement accounts) which must be re-enrolled each year.
Any changes made during the Open Enrollment period will be effective January 1, 2027.
For general questions about Open Enrollment or benefits, please contact benefits@csub.edu.
2027 Health Plan Rates
Open Enrollment is now in CHRS!
To view your current benefits, click on the CSU Benefits Summary tile on the CHRS homepage in the Employee Self Service section.
HOW-TO GUIDES FOR OPEN ENROLLMENT
- Start Open Enrollment
- Add Dependents - Open Enrollment
- Required documentation for Dependents must be uploaded using our secure document upload page.
- Medical, Dental, Vision: Open Enrollment
- Flex Cash Benefits (Medical/Dental): Open Enrollment
- Health Care Reimbursement Account (HCRA): Open Enrollment
- Dependent Care Reimbursement Account (DCRA): Open Enrollment
- Submit, Authorize, and Complete your Open Enrollment Options
- Print Benefits Enrollment Preview and Confirmation
Note: Do not click the Open Enrollment tile in CHRS unless you intend to change your existing benefits or enroll in new benefits. Clicking the Open Enrollment tile will start a new benefits transaction that could impact your existing benefits.
OTHER LINKS
Update Your Beneficiary Information
Visit the CSU Benefits Open Enrollment website for detailed information on 2027 benefits changes, access to the employee user guide, and to participate in the CSU Virtual Benefit Fairs.
In-Person CSUB Benefits Fair
Register to Attend the CSU Employee Virtual Benefits Fair
In addition to the benefits information available through the CSU Benefits Open Enrollment website, a virtual platform will also host a LIVE benefits fair, which is scheduled for:
Thursday, October 1, 2026 | 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
At the LIVE event, you'll be able to video or text chat with providers and the CSUB campus benefits team. This is a great opportunity to address any questions about available health, dental, vision, and voluntary benefits for you and your dependents.
You must register to attend the event, so don't delay - registration is open now!
CSU Virtual Open Enrollment Fair - Registration Link
To register, you must be logged into Zoom using your campus-assigned email address. Once registered, you will receive a confirmation email with a link and instructions on how to join.
Important Dates
September 14, 2026 - Open Enrollment begins: the first day you can submit changes/enrollments
October 1, 2026 - CSU Virtual Benefits Fair from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
October 9, 2026 - Open Enrollment ends: the last day you can submit changes/enrollments
January 1, 2027 - All changes/enrollments made during the Open Enrollment Period will be effective
What's New for 2027
Health Plan Rate Changes
Effective January 1, 2027, rates for most health plans will change.
Health Plan Expansions and Exits
- UnitedHealthcare SignatureValue Alliance HMO will exit all counties; no longer part of CalPERS health plan offerings.
- UnitedHealthcare SignatureValue Harmony HMO will exit all counties; no longer part of CalPERS health plan offerings.
- Sutter Health Plan HMO: New Basic health plan, offering Sutter Medical Group, available in Placer, Sacramento, San Joaquin, Solano, Stanislaus, and Yolo counties.
- Blue Shield of California EPO will be expanded into the following counties: Alpine, Amador, El Dorado, Nevada, Placer, San Bernardino, Sutter, and Yuba counties.
- Kaiser Permanente HMO will be expanded the following counties in northwestern Nevada:
Carson City, Douglas, Lyon, Storey, and Washoe Counties.
Health Benefit Design Changes
Beginning July 1, 2027, all Basic health plans will offer coverage for the diagnosis and treatment of infertility as required by Senate Bill 729 for CalPERS Basic HMO plans. The CalPERS Board also approved these benefits for the Basic PPO plans effective July 1, 2027.
- Anthem Blue Cross Select
- Anthem Blue Cross Traditional
- Blue Shield Access+
- Blue Shield Trio
- Health Net Salud y Más
- Kaiser Permanente
- PERS Gold
- PERS Platinum
- Sharp Performance Plus
- Sutter Health
- Western Health Advantage
The Standard - Guaranteed Issue Life Insurance
New for 2027, The Standard Insurance will allow eligible active members the opportunity
to enroll in Voluntary Life insurance (up to $100,000 for self and/or a spouse/registered
domestic partner for up to $50,000) without providing Evidence of Insurability. If
you currently have less than $100,000 of coverage or you are not currently enrolled,
you can apply for this enhanced benefit.
Health Care and Dependent Care Reimbursement Accounts (HCRA/DCRA)—Annual Maximums Increased
REMINDER: Must re-enroll each year
For the plan year 2027, the IRS has set the annual maximum contribution amount at $3,400 for HCRA and $7,500 for DCRA. Please note that Highly Compensated Employees (HCEs), defined by the IRS as those earning $160,000 or more, may contribute no more than $5,000 annually to DCRA due to federal nondiscrimination requirements.
Benefits Guides/Brochures
Open Enrollment Benefits Guide
Voluntary Benefits
The CSU offers a variety of voluntary benefits designed to provide additional financial protection and support for you and your family. During Open Enrollment, you can review the available options and enroll in plans that meet your needs.
Voluntary benefit options include:
- Health Care Reimbursement Account (HCRA)
- Dependent Care Reimbursement Account (DCRA)
- Critical Illness Insurance
- Accident Insurance
- Voluntary Life Insurance
- Voluntary Long-Term Disability Insurance
- Voluntary Accidental Death and Dismemberment (AD&D) Insurance
- Legal Insurance
- 403(b) Supplemental Retirement Plan
- Auto, Home, and Renters Insurance
- Pet Insurance
For more information on these benefit options, please visit the systemwide Open Enrollment page for Voluntary Benefits.
Eligibility
To qualify for most benefits, you must initially have employment exceeding six months,
with a time base of at least .50 (half time).
Academic-year lecturers and coaches are eligible for benefits if appointed for a minimum
of one semester or two consecutive quarters with a time base of .40 or greater.
Affordable Care Act (ACA)—Employees who do not meet eligibility requirements listed
above may qualify for health care under ACA.
If you do not meet any of the eligibility criteria above, you may still be eligible
to enroll in many of the voluntary plans. Learn more here.