Open Enrollment Information
The Summit system will be available for employees to enter open enrollment benefit elections beginning at 7 a.m. on Monday, October 20, 2025. To enroll in, change or decline coverage, employees must make their elections by 11:59 p.m. on Monday, November 3, 2025.
Although there are minimal changes for 2026 insurance benefits, Human Resources encourages employees to attend a virtual Open Enrollment information session to listen to presentations and ask our insurance vendors individual questions.
The BCBS medical plan premiums will increase in 2026 by 8.9% and MetLife dental premiums will increase by 7%. The rates listed in the 2026 employee insurance benefit plan reference guide are the final rates reflecting the employee and county premium split.
Please thoroughly read the Employee Insurance Benefit Plan Reference Guide and other resources provided on this page to determine which 2026 Benefit options best meet your financial and dependent needs. Questions can be emailed to [email protected] or to your department Personnel, Benefits and Transactions Assistant (PBTA).
Employee benefits information sessions
Three virtual employee benefits information sessions were held on Oct. 15-16. You can watch a recording of one of those sessions below for detailed information, updates, tools and more.
Watch 2026 employee benefits open enrollment session recording
Required - Pre-tax program re-enrollment
Pre-tax Health (FSA) and/or Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts require new elections annually. Participation will be waived if a new election amount for 2026 isn’t entered by 11:59 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 3, 2025. The 2026 maximum contribution amounts are:
- Health Care $3,300 - annually.
- Dependent Care $7,500 - annually.
- Health Savings Account $3,680 for single; $7,250 for other enrollment tiers – annually.
- Transportation Expense Reimbursement Account $325 - monthly.
Employees can carryover up to $660 in health care FSA funds from 2025 to 2026 if participation is continued in the new year.
Auto-enrollment if currently enrolled in Medical, Dental and Vision pre-tax premium deductions
Pre-tax elections for medical, dental and vision premiums will continue automatically unless waived during open enrollment. To avoid disruption, if no other plan is selected in Summit by 11:59 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 3, 2025, employees, and any dependents currently enrolled, will be auto-enrolled in the same Blue Cross and Blue Shield medical, MetLife dental and VSP vision plan in which they were enrolled for 2025.
New in 2026
- BCBS High Deductible Health Plan per IRS rules, deductibles will go from $1,650 (individual) to $1,700 and from $3,300 (family) to $3,400.
Plan documents notice
Federal guidelines require certain benefit plan documents be provided during open enrollment. To request mailed paper copies at no charge, email your department PBTA.
- Premium assistance under the State’s Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP).
- Summary of Benefits Coverage for Preferred, Broad and High Deductible medical plans.
- Employee Insurance Benefits Reference Guide.
- Online Enrollment quick guide and benefits worksheet.
Please note, benefit plan documents are not required to be available on this website for more than one year and may be replaced with an updated version of the document once it is uploaded to the website.
Related Resources
All documents are in PDF format.
- Employee Open Enrollment Letter
- 2026 Employee Benefit Plan Reference Guide
- Summary of Benefits Coverage -BCBS Preferred Plan-High Value Network
- Summary of Benefits Coverage -BCBS Broad Plan-Aware Network
- Summary of Benefits Coverage -BCBS High Deductible Health Plan-Aware Network
- Open Enrollment quick guide
- Open Enrollment Worksheet
- Personnel, Benefits and Transactions Assistants (PBTAs)
- Dependent drop/add form
- Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP)
- 2026 Flexible Benefits Summary Plan Description