Benefits-eligible faculty, staff, retirees and graduate students may change their benefit selections during the university’s annual Open Enrollment, scheduled for Monday, Oct. 13, through 5 p.m. Friday, Oct. 24.

During this time, participants can change their health, dental, vision and legal plan enrollments. Faculty and staff may also add eligible dependents and enroll in a flexible spending account.

Benefit changes and new rates take effect Jan. 1, 2026.

Open Enrollment 2026 features:

• Discontinuation of Michigan Care and Michigan Care Advantage plans as of Dec. 31, 2025; those who do not change their health plan from Michigan Care/Michigan Care Advantage will automatically be enrolled in the U-M Premier Care/U-M Premier Care Advantage plan.
• Addition of chiropractic coverage to U-M Premier Care plan.
• Increased limit for to the Consumer-Directed Health Plan and Health Savings Account.
• Annual maximum benefit increase for Dental Plan.
• Increased limit for Health Care and Dependent Care FSA.

The Michigan Care and Michigan Care Advantage health plans will be discontinued Dec. 31. Individuals and families currently enrolled in Michigan Care or Michigan Care Advantage must select another health plan offered through the university. Those who do not change their election during Open Enrollment will be automatically enrolled in U-M Premier Care or U-M Premier Care Advantage for the 2026 plan year. 

Beginning Jan. 1, U-M Premier Care will cover chiropractic care. Enrollees will receive 24 visits per year with $25 copays. 

The Consumer-Directed Health Plan and Health Savings Account annual limits set by the IRS will change in 2026.

• The CDHP deductible will be $1,700 for an individual and $3,400 for a family.
• The annual out-of-pocket maximum (in-network) will be $5,500 for an individual and $10,600 for a family.
• U-M’s maximum HSA contribution will be $850 for an individual and $1,700 for a family. 
• The HSA annual contribution maximum (university plus employee) will be $4,400 for an individual and $8,750 for a family.

The Dental Plan annual maximum benefit will increase to $1,500. 

Employees must re-enroll each year to participate in a flexible spending account. The IRS does not allow FSA enrollments to carry over from one year to the next.

For 2026, the Health Care FSA limit will increase to $3,300. The Health Care FSA can be used to pay for eligible medical care expenses for you and your eligible dependents.

The Dependent Care FSA limit for 2026 will increase to $7,500. The Dependent Care FSA can be used to pay for eligible dependent care expenses, such as daycare.

The Benefits Office encourages U-M community members to carefully evaluate health plans based on cost, provider network and anticipated use of health care services.

Total annual health care spending for all dependents covered under an individual’s benefits plan should be considered, including monthly premiums, copays, coinsurance and deductibles.

Rates for 2026 benefits will be available online in Wolverine Access the week of Aug. 18. To view them, go to wolverineaccess.umich.edu, search for Benefits Self-Service and select the tile, then select the Display Benefit Plan Rates tile.  

To make benefits changes online, log in to Wolverine Access from Oct. 13 through 5 p.m. ET Oct. 24.

Retirees will receive Open Enrollment books in the mail in late September. Retirees may make changes online or complete and return the enrollment form included in the book.

COBRA, long-term disability participants, and those on a leave of absence or reduction in force will also receive pamphlets in the mail in September.

To ensure enrollment, participants must return forms by fax or mail, and be postmarked no later than Oct. 24. Wolverine Tower is not open to the general public and walk-in service is not available.