Open Enrollment

Stanford's benefits and employee programs support your overall well-being all year long. Benefits Open Enrollment is the perfect opportunity to explore your options and make changes for the year ahead. Here’s what you need to know and do to get ready for this once-a-year event.

Things to know

During Open Enrollment, you can enroll in or make changes to your benefits for 2027, such as: 

• Re-elect or elect a Health Care Flexible Spending Account (FSA) or Dependent Care FSA
• Re-elect or elect a Health Savings Account and set contributions
• Add or remove dependents from coverage
• Increase your Supplemental Life Insurance coverage
• Enroll in Pre-Paid Legal Services or Critical Illness Insurance
• Apply for the Medical Contribution Assistance Program (MCAP)

Things to do

Make sure your personal information is up to date

Don’t miss important news. Log in to Sequoia, and select “Contact Info” under Quick Actions. Here you can update your phone number, email address, and home mailing address. Note: Kaiser medical plan eligibility is determined by the ZIP Code on file for your home address.

Get started on Sequoia

Gather dependent information

If you are adding a dependent to coverage for the first time, you will need to provide their legal name, date of birth, and Social Security number, and upload documentation, such as a birth certificate or marriage certificate, to the My Benefits portal. Be sure to complete all enrollment steps through to the confirmation page. 

Learn more about certifying dependents

Browse 2027 rates and compare plans

Health care and prescription drug costs continue to rise, particularly in the Bay Area. Stanford reviews its benefits each year to balance comprehensive coverage with affordability for employees and the university. Stanford will absorb most of the 2027 cost increase; however, employees will also see higher medical plan contributions.  

View 2027 contribution rates      Compare plans  

 Attend a virtual information session

Learn about your 2027 benefits and get your questions answered by the Stanford Benefits team. 

Crossover Health held a session on Oct. 13 to help you learn about the expanded care options available if you enroll in an Aetna plan. View the Crossover presentation.