2026 Open Enrollment

• For 2026 employee contributions, please refer to pages 13-14 of the 2026 Benefits Guide.
• Anthem Blue Cross PPO: Employee contribution rates will increase by 14.6%.
• Kaiser Permanente HMO: Employee contribution rates will increase by 18%.
• The salary bands used to determine employee medical plan contribution rates are changing. You can find your salary band and rate on page 14 of the 2026 Benefits Guide.

As required by CA Health and Safety Code Sec. 1374.55, effective Jan. 1, 2026, the Kaiser medical plan will expand infertility coverage to include services such as in-vitro fertilization and related medications. Standard medical cost sharing will apply, and clinical eligibility criteria must be met for coverage.

Healthcare FSA

• For 2026, the IRS has increased the maximum permitted Healthcare FSA annual contribution to $3,400.
• Healthcare FSA requires annual re-enrollment.

Dependent Care FSA

• Effective Jan. 1, 2026, the maximum annual contribution to a Dependent Care FSA is increasing to $7,500 ($3,750 if married and filing separately).
• The 2026 Childcare Subsidy maximum amount remains $5,000. If applicable, the Childcare Subsidy amount you are eligible for is determined by salary and number of children up to $5,000. 
• Both the Childcare Subsidy and Dependent Care FSA require annual re-enrollment.
   

Commuter Benefits

• For 2026, the maximum pre-tax Commuter Benefits monthly order amount is $340. If you receive the Commuter Subsidy, it is not a pre-tax deduction, but it counts towards the $340 maximum monthly order amount.
• Please note: the Clipper card maximum balance remains $300.

Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)

• Require annual enrollment should you wish to enroll or re-enroll for 2026. 
• The 2026 maximum annual election amounts are $3,400 per employee for the Healthcare FSA and $7,500 per household for the Dependent Care FSA ($3,750 if married and filing separately).
• For more information, please review the FSA page. 

Childcare Subsidy

• A new Childcare Subsidy application form must be submitted online for each year that the benefit is requested.
• Ensure that you select ‘Next Year’ for the question ‘Are you applying for this year, or next year?’.
• Once your application form has been processed, you will receive a confirmation email indicating your Childcare Subsidy amount.
• For further information, please review the Childcare Subsidy page.

• For information on  Medical Waiver Plan enrollment, review the Medical Waiver Plan web page.
• The Medical Waiver Plan (University of San Francisco Waiver) requires annual re-enrollment.
• A Medical Waiver Attestation task will appear in your USFWorks Inbox once you have submitted your elections.
• If your coverage is through an “individual market” plan, you are not eligible to enroll in the Medical Waiver Plan and should leave all three medical options as waived on your Open Enrollment task. If this is the case, please also inform the Benefits Team at benefits@usfca.edu.

• You are required to recertify (i.e. reconfirm) whether the Medical Spousal Surcharge applies to you each year.
• If you are covering a spouse or registered domestic partner on your USF medical plan, please verify your selected option for the Medical Spousal Surcharge on your Open Enrollment task to ensure it is correct.
• For more information on the surcharge, see the Medical Spousal Surcharge page.

• If you are enrolling a new Dependent, you must upload the supporting documentation on the ‘Review and Sign’ page on your Open Enrollment task. 
• For example, if adding a spouse or registered domestic partner, you must upload your marriage or RDP certificate. For eligible children, you must upload a birth/adoption certificate. 
• Failure to provide documentation can delay your enrollment.
• Please ensure your Dependents' legal names and Social Security Number information are correct.
• If you are currently enrolled in Voluntary AD&D – Family, please note that your spouse/RDP will not be covered after age 70, and your unmarried children will not be covered after age 26. Please review this coverage to ensure your Dependents are eligible. If you no longer have any eligible Dependents for this plan, please disenroll from the plan on your 2025 Open Enrollment task in USFWorks. You still have the option to enroll in Voluntary AD&D – Employee Only.

• Designating a Beneficiary on your life insurance plan(s) is a required step in completing your Open Enrollment task, if you have not done so already.
• For further information, including coverage amounts, please review the Life and AD&D Insurance page.
• Note: You must also designate a beneficiary for your TIAA retirement account(s).

Note: A life insurance Beneficiary is not the same thing as a healthcare Dependent. A Beneficiary is the individual(s) who will receive your life insurance benefits should something happen to you.

• You can update your 403(b) contribution at any time during the year.
• The 403(b) Voluntary Retirement Plan will not appear on your Open Enrollment task.
• To view or update your 403(b) Voluntary Retirement Plan contribution election, please review the "Change your 403(b) contribution guide" available on the Retirement and Financial Planning page.

• New Rules for Age Based Catch-up Contributions beginning 2026:  Congress passed SECURE 2.0 to help Americans better plan and save for their financial future. As part of SECURE 2.0, starting in 2026, changes are being made to the age-based catch-up contributions.  For more information to these changes, please read the new rules for age based catch-up contributions and how this may impact you.

• Important: On your Open Enrollment task in USFWorks, you will see a 'TIAA Retirement Healthcare Savings Plan - Employee' benefit card, if you are eligible to enroll in this benefit. The TIAA Retirement Healthcare Savings Plan is not the 403(b) Voluntary Retirement Plan. Refer to the Retirement and Financial Planning page to view the plan flyer.
• Guide to designate a Beneficiary on your TIAA retirement account(s).

• It’s easy and it helps the environment! Log in to USFWorks and click ‘Benefits and Pay’. From there, click the ‘Benefits’ drop-down, select ‘ACA Forms’ and then go to ‘Change 1095-C Printing Election’. On the next page, update to "Receive an electronic copy of 1095-C" and click ‘OK’.
• Your 2025 Form 1095-C will be available by March 2, 2026. Actual delivery date will be confirmed in February 2026.