Open Enrollment

Open Enrollment is the annual opportunity to review your benefits and make changes for the upcoming plan year. Any elections made during Open Enrollment will become effective January 1, 2027.

Open Enrollment runs from Thursday, October 1 through Saturday, October 31, 2026.

All benefit elections must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. on Saturday, October 31, 2026.

Not necessarily.

Before starting Open Enrollment, employees are encouraged to review their current benefit elections in their Workday profile to determine whether any changes are needed.

If you are satisfied with your current elections and do not wish to make any changes, no further action is required (unless you are currently enrolled in an FSA - see information below). You do not need to complete the Open Enrollment task. The task will automatically close once the Open Enrollment period ends.

If you are currently enrolled in a Flexible Spending Account (FSA), it must be re-elected to continue through the next plan year. All other coverage active on December 31, 2026, will carry forward at the same coverage level for the 2027 plan year.

1. Log in to Workday.
2. Navigate to your Workday Profile.
3. Select Benefits.
4. Review your current coverage elections before starting Open Enrollment.

1. Log in to Workday.
2. Select the Open Enrollment task from your Workday Inbox or Announcements.
3. Review each benefit plan.
4. Make any desired changes.
5. Submit your elections before Open Enrollment ends.

You may:

• Enroll in coverage
• Change plans
• Add eligible dependents
• Remove dependents
• Enroll in, change, or cancel voluntary benefit coverage

Generally, no.

Benefit elections remain in effect for the entire plan year unless you experience a Qualifying Life Event (QLE) such as:

• Marriage
• Divorce
• Birth, adoption, or foster placement
• Loss of other coverage
• Other qualifying status changes permitted by plan rules

Documentation may be required.

A Qualifying Life Event is a change in your personal circumstances that allows you to make benefit changes outside of Open Enrollment.

Benefit changes must be requested within the timeframe permitted by the applicable benefit plan, generally within 60 days of the event.

If you add a dependent during Open Enrollment, supporting documentation may be required.

Examples include:

• Marriage certificate
• Birth certificate
• Adoption documentation
• Social Security card

Workday will provide instructions if documentation is needed.

Certain supplemental life insurance elections may require Evidence of Insurability (EOI). If your election requires EOI, the insurance vendor or Benefits Team will email you with additional instructions after Open Enrollment closes on October 31. You will not receive these instructions during Open Enrollment; they may arrive in early November.

Coverage requiring EOI is subject to the insurance vendor’s approval and is not guaranteed until approved.

Most current benefit elections will continue into the new plan year unless you make a change during Open Enrollment.

Please note that Flexible Spending Account (FSA) elections do not carry over from year to year. If you wish to participate in an FSA for 2027, you must make a new election during Open Enrollment.

Be sure to review all Open Enrollment materials for any plan updates, premium changes, or enrollment requirements.

During Open Enrollment, Workday will display your payroll deductions as you make your benefit selections.

Review your elections carefully before submitting.

The Mississippi State and School Employees’ Life and Health Insurance office has announced a 6.5% premium rate increase for all health coverage options, effective January 1, 2027. Health insurance premium rates are established by the state plan; the university does not determine these rates.

We recognize that changes to health insurance costs can have a meaningful impact on employees and their families, and that having advance notice is important for planning. The university was notified of the 2027 premium increase on September 22, 2026, shortly before Open Enrollment began. Because we did not receive information about the increase until that time, we were unable to provide employees with earlier notice.

After submitting your elections:

• A confirmation screen will appear in Workday.
• You will receive a benefits confirmation statement.
• You can review your submitted elections in Workday and print a copy of your benefits confirmation statement for your records.

Changes are not processed until you complete and submit the Open Enrollment event.

Be sure to submit your elections before the Open Enrollment closes on Saturday, October 31 at 11:59 p.m.

If you do not submit changes before Open Enrollment closes, your current benefit elections will remain in place for the new plan year. If you are currently enrolled in an FSA, your election will end on December 31, 2026. To continue participation in 2027, you must make a new FSA election during Open Enrollment.

If you have questions about your benefits or Open Enrollment, the HR Benefits Team is here to help.

To submit a case through Workday's Help Case:

1. Log in to Workday.
2. Search “create case” in the global Workday search bar.
3. Choose Benefits (Open Enrollment) category.
4. Provide details regarding your question or request.
5. Attach supporting documentation, if needed.
6. Submit your case.