Open Enrollment
Compare Medical Plans & Costs
Active employees and official retirees can use this tool to compare medical benefits, as well as plan costs.
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Open Enrollment for 2023 is now closed. Your next opportunity to change plans, and add or drop dependents from coverage is when you experience a Qualifying Life Event or during the next Open Enrollment in the fall.
Enrolling in Stanford benefits as a new hire
- When to enroll: New hires through the end of 2022 will have two enrollment events to complete. You have 31 days from your hire date to enroll in or waive your 2022 benefits as a new hire through the My Benefits portal. Once you complete your new hire event you can then make elections for 2023 as part of Open Enrollment. Coverage begins on your date of hire for most benefits, including medical, dental and vision insurance. Please note that you cannot elect a flexible spending account or health savings account for the remainder of 2022 as part of your new hire event. You can elect them for 2023 through your Open Enrollment event.
- Default coverage: If you do not elect or waive benefits, you will be enrolled in default coverage for yourself, at a cost to you. Default coverage for full-time employees is the Healthcare + Savings HDHP medical plan, Delta Dental Basic PPO plan, basic life insurance, short-term and long-term disability, and Business Travel Accident insurance.
- Adding dependents to coverage: You have 31 days from your hire date to enroll dependents in coverage. Read more about how to certify dependents
Follow these steps to make your medical plan choice for 2023
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Step 1: NEW! Use Nayya to help guide your benefits decisionsOur new online decision tool asks you questions about who you cover, how much you expect to use the plan, and your budget. You receive personalized recommendations based on your answers. NOTE: To log in, click on the link below, and enter your Stanford email address (SUNetID@stanford.edu or SUNetID@slac.stanford.edu). From there, it will take you to the Stanford SUNetID login page. Once you are authenticated, you will be directed to your Nayya account to get started. |
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Step 2: Compare your plan options with the Cardinal at Work Comparison ToolCompare costs and a high-level overview of the covered services under each plan. |
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Step 3: Get answers from the experts: Included HealthNew hires, get free, unbiased support and answers to your questions about the plans. Experts can also help you find in-network doctors and hospitals. |
What’s staying the same in 2023?
- You have access to the same medical, dental, and vision plans in 2023.
- Kaiser remains the lowest-cost plan, and employee-only coverage in Kaiser remains free for all full-time employees.
- Healthcare + Savings HDHP and ACA Basic HDHP will continue to have year-round concierge support through Included Health.
- The Delta Dental Basic Plan is still free for full-time employees and their dependents.
- There is no change in costs for the VSP vision plan.
Health care costs for 2023
As we emerge from the pandemic, Stanford and other employer health plans across the nation are experiencing higher demand for medical services—and this demand is driving the cost of health care. The costs for Kaiser HMO (all levels except employee-only coverage), Trio and Stanford Health Care Alliance (SHCA) will increase in 2023. There is also a slight increase to the Enhanced Dental plan.
The Kaiser HMO will continue to be free to full-time employees for employee-only coverage. Employee contributions for the Healthcare + Savings HDHP are decreasing, and contributions for ACA Basic HDHP and Out of Area Healthcare + Savings HDHP will remain the same.
Learn more about your costs for medical coverage and find help choosing the right medical plan for your family:
Open Enrollment eGuidebookView the 2023 Employee Contribution Rates
Choosing benefits for 2023
Enhancements to Stanford benefits
An annual audit, along with employee feedback, helped us refine our benefits offerings to better meet the needs of our diverse community. Here are some of the new options you'll have in 2023, plus an update on HSA and FSA contribution limits.
Dental plan enhancement
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Basic Plan
Annual benefit maximum increased from $1,200 to $1,500.
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Enhanced Plan
Increase diagnostic and preventive care benefit from 80% to 100% and increase the annual benefit maximum from $1,500 to $2,000 per individual for Premier network and non-network dentists. There is a slight increase to employee contributions in 2023.
Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for Employees Outside of California
Employees living outside of California will have access to mental health resources and support through CuraLinc EAP. This program will be available Jan. 2023.
Support and guidance to address: |
Knowledgeable specialists can also help resolve a wide range of issues through referrals to: |
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Reproductive services
- IVF Coverage
Stanford’s medical plans will now include IVF coverage, which includes three cycles of IVF treatment, egg, sperm, and embryo freezing, as well as infertility prescription benefits in 2023. - FertilityIQ
All benefits-eligible employees may access FertilityIQ, a free service that provides reliable and unbiased resources to help you on your fertility journey. Learn more about FertilityIQ by visiting the Reproductive Services page on Cardinal at Work.
Transgender services
We are enhancing coverage for transgender services for participants in the Healthcare + Savings HDHP, Trio, and SHCA plans. In addition to gender-affirming surgeries, you also have coverage for additional services previously excluded as “cosmetic,” such as hair removal.
Vision enhancement
VSP frame allowance is increasing from $150 to $200.
Women's health
Midi Health
To better support women’s health, Stanford is adding a new program, Midi Health, for those enrolled in a Blue Shield medical plan (Healthcare + Savings HDHP, Trio, ACA Basic HDHP) or SHCA. Midi Health focuses on menopause and women’s health issues to help women 40+ receive the right treatments for hormone-related symptoms. Visit Cardinal at Work to learn about how Midi works and what it treats.
Health Savings Account (HSA) contribution increase
Stanford is increasing its Health Savings Account (HSA) Contribution
For Healthcare + Savings HDHP participants, Stanford’s contribution to the HSA in 2023 will increase to $960 for employee-only coverage and $1,968 for family coverage. Stanford’s contribution is deposited into your account each pay period in the amount of $40 for employee-only coverage and $82 for all other tiers. The IRS has also increased the annual contribution limits to $3,850 for employee-only coverage and $7,750 for family coverage.
Flexible Spending Account (FSA) increased limit increase
Increased limit to health care Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
You can now contribute up to $2,850 in the health care FSA to pay for eligible medical, dental, and vision expenses for you and your eligible dependents, and you may carry over $570 of your unused funds from 2022, in addition to the new limit. Dependent day care FSA limits will remain the same at $5,000 per household.
Reminders
- Active elections: Every year, you must re-elect the health savings account (HSA) and flexible spending accounts (FSA) and re-apply Medical Contribution Assistance Program (MCAP). These benefits do not automatically roll over.
- Confirming your elections: Remember that your elections are not saved until you see the confirmation page appear. Please print out this page for your records.
- Waive coverage: Employees who don’t need medical coverage through Stanford next year may waive coverage during Open Enrollment.
- Only during Open Enrollment: Outside of your new hire window, you can only enroll in critical illness insurance and pre-paid legal services during Open Enrollment.
- Make your well-being a priority: Stanford offers a variety of plans and programs to help you be healthy and well in all areas. Register for Stanford’s the BeWell Program, which offers evidence-based support and services, including incentives to help you achieve optimal well-being. Learn about the mental and emotional health benefits you and your family can access.