Benefit Reminders for 2026

December 7, 2025
Categories: General News

A new year brings fresh opportunities to make the most of your benefits. To help you stay prepared, we’ve gathered important reminders and updates about health plans, flexible spending accounts, retirement contributions and more. Take a moment to review the details below so you can make the most of your benefits.

State Health Plan

  • Benefit elections made during open enrollment for the State Health Plan take effect on Jan. 1, 2026. Review your most recent paycheck to confirm that the plan you elected is accurately reflected, including the correct deductions. Deductions for health care are withheld one month in advance of the coverage effective date.
  • Beginning Jan. 1, 2026, deductions will be salary based. You were assigned a salary band based on your total base pay as of Sept. 1. If your salary changes during the first quarter of 2026, it may impact your premium rate.
  • If you are enrolled in the State Health Plan for 2026, you will receive a new State Health Plan ID card along with a Lantern Health card, even if you didn’t make changes for 2026.

NCFlex and University Benefits

  • If you are enrolled in UNC Voluntary Life Insurance through Securian, you may see a change in your deduction beginning with your January paycheck. Adjustments to your premium are made based on your age and base salary as of Jan. 1, 2026.

Critical Illness and Accident Plans (Voya)

  • If you are enrolled in the Critical Illness Plan through Voya, you may see a change in your deduction beginning with your January paycheck. Adjustments to your premium are made based on your age as of Jan. 1, 2026.
  • If you are enrolled in the Critical Illness and/or Accident Plan through Voya, don’t forget to earn your wellness benefit payment by completing an eligible health screening test. Each covered member can file for a wellness benefit payment once per calendar year.

Cancer and Specified Disease Plan (Allstate Benefits)

  • If you are enrolled in the Cancer and Specified Disease Plan through Allstate Benefits, don’t forget to earn your wellness benefit payment by completing an eligible health screening test. Each covered member can file for a wellness benefit payment once per calendar year.

Health Care Flexible Spending Account (FSA)

  • If you were enrolled in the Health Care FSA for 2025, eligible health care expenses must have been incurred by Dec. 31. You have until March 31, 2026, to submit 2025 claims for reimbursement. You can rollover up to $640 of your unused account balance into 2026, as long as you have a minimum balance of at least $25. Any funds exceeding this amount will be forfeited. The rollover will not count toward the 2026 maximum election amount (currently $3,300 for 2026). This rollover feature only applies to the Health Care FSA.
  • If you enrolled in the Health Care FSA for 2026, eligible health care expenses must be incurred Jan. 1, through Dec. 31, 2026, to be eligible for reimbursement. You have until March 31, 2027, to submit claims for reimbursement.

Dependent Day Care Flexible Spending Account (FSA)

  • If you were enrolled in the Dependent Day Care FSA for 2025, eligible dependent day care expenses must be incurred by March 15, 2026, provided you remain actively employed through Dec. 31. You have until March 31, 2026, to submit 2025 claims for reimbursement. Any unused funds will be forfeited.
  • If you enrolled in the Dependent Day Care FSA for 2026, eligible dependent day care expenses must be incurred Jan. 1, 2026 through March 15, 2027, to be eligible for reimbursement. You have until March 31, 2027, to submit claims for reimbursement.

Retirement Program: 2026 Contribution Limits

  • The limit on contributions to the UNC 403(b) and 457(b) plans for 2026 is $24,500. If you are over the age of 50, or will turn 50 by Dec. 31, 2026, you are eligible for an additional $8,000 catch-up contribution.
  • The limit on contributions to the State’s 401(k) and 457(b) plans for 2026 is $24,500. If you are over the age of 50, or will turn 50 by Dec. 31, 2026, you are eligible for an additional $8,000 catch-up contribution. A higher catch-up limit applies for employees aged 60, 61, 62 and 63 who participate in the State’s plans. For 2026, this higher catch-up contribution limit is $11,250.
  • Effective Jan. 1, 2026, 401(k), 403(b) and 457(b) catch-up contributions for participants age 50 and older whose FICA wages from their current UNC constituent institution for the prior year (2025) met or exceeded $150,000 (Box 3 of the 2025 W-2) must be made on a Roth (after-tax) basis.
  • Due to different contribution limits, University employees are not permitted to split their contributions between plans that would normally be aggregated; the UNC 403(b) and State’s 401(k) plans or the UNC 457(b) and State’s 457 Deferred Compensation plans.

Questions

Please contact the Benefits Office at Benefits@charlotte.edu or 704-687-8134.