Get ready for Benefits Open Enrollment

At Stanford, you matter as much as the work. Open Enrollment is the perfect time to explore our benefits and employee programs, so you can care for yourself and your family in the year ahead.

Whether you need to update your coverage or add or remove dependents, Open Enrollment is your chance to ensure you — and your family — have the coverage you need in 2027.

Give your benefits a checkup

Just like annual preventive exams are essential to your health, checking up on your benefits coverage each year is equally important. While your current coverage will automatically carry over, you’ll need to re-enroll in a Flexible Spending Account (FSA), Health Savings Account (HSA), and Medical Contribution Assistance Program (MCAP). Take time during Open Enrollment to explore all the options available to you, and consider your needs for the upcoming year.

What’s new for 2027?

You will continue to have access to the same medical, dental, and vision plans this year. Read on to see what’s changing.

Medical plan costs

Health care and prescription costs continue to rise significantly every year, particularly in the Bay Area. While Stanford will absorb the majority of the increases, your contribution will also rise slightly in 2027. Remember, Kaiser remains free for full-time employees who elect employee-only coverage. These adjustments help us continue offering comprehensive health care options while managing rising costs. 

To view the new rates, visit the Cardinal at Work employee contributions page. Remember, you can use a Health Care FSA, HSA, or MCAP (if qualified), plus your BeWell incentive, to offset these cost increases.  

New! Mental health resource for children and adolescents

Bend Health offers comprehensive child and adolescent therapy and psychiatry services for children up to age 25 who are enrolled in a Stanford medical plan. Bend works with your whole family to provide a personalized care plan that helps get ahead of issues like stress, anxiety, sleep challenges, or depression before they escalate. Learn more on Bend Health.com.

Dental coverage update

The Enhanced Plan will begin covering bone graft services, covered under major services at 50%. Certain periodontal bone replacement grafts, guided tissue regeneration, and related regenerative procedures for natural teeth may also be covered, subject to plan limitations.

Updates to Critical Illness Insurance

During Open Enrollment, you may choose to enroll in Critical Illness Insurance. This optional insurance provides a lump-sum benefit payment upon verified diagnosis of a covered condition, such as cancer, heart attack, or stroke. In 2027, there are several enhancements being made to the plan: 

• Increase Skin Cancer benefit from 5% to 10%
• Increase Cardiac Arrest benefit from 50% to 100%
• Increase Total Benefit Amount from 500% to Unlimited
• Provide access to recovery support services if you or your covered dependents are diagnosed with and paid a claim for Invasive Cancer
• Reduce the Recurrence Benefit Separation Period (number of days that must elapse between occurrences) and the Treatment-Free Period from 180 to 90 days
   

HSA contribution limits increased

The IRS has increased the amount you can contribute to your HSA. You can now set aside up to $4,500 for employee-only coverage or $9,000 for family coverage. If you are age 55 or older, you can continue to contribute an additional $1,000 as a catch-up contribution. 

Stanford will also contribute to your HSA

If you enroll in the Stanford Choice High-Deductible Health Plan (HDHP), elect an HSA, and make an election of at least $0, Stanford will contribute:

• $1,316 for employee-only coverage
• $2,648 for employee + children coverage
• $2,697 for employee + spouse coverage
• $2,828 for employee + family coverage

Health Care Flexible Spending Account (HCFSA) contribution limits increased

For 2027, you can contribute up to $3,500 to your HCFSA to pay for eligible medical, dental, and vision expenses for you and your eligible dependents. You may also carry over $700 of your unused 2026 HCFSA funds to 2027.

Annual deductible changes

There are some changes to the deductible amounts for the ACA Basic HDHP:

• The annual deductible will increase to $3,500 individual/$7,000 family in-network; and $7,000 individual/$14,000 family out-of-network.
• The out-of-pocket maximum will increase to $7,000 individual/$14,000 family in-network and $14,000 individual/$28,000 family out-of-network.

Have questions? 

On the Stanford Services & Support portal, you’ll find articles and how-to guides that provide quick answers for Open Enrollment items. If you need additional support, you can submit a help ticket, which gets reviewed, tracked, and routed to the appropriate expert behind the scenes. Rest assured, someone will get back to you shortly. 

Of course, you can always call the HR Service Center at 877-905-2985. Hours are Monday - Friday, 5 a.m. to 5 p.m. PT, during Open Enrollment.