Open Enrollment

The 2026 Plan Year includes increases to copays and out-of-pocket costs.

The Plan will implement salary-based premiums for 2026. Rates will be based on your Sept. 1, 2025 salary and will only apply to the subscriber-only rate. If your salary changes during the first quarter of 2026, it may impact your premium rate. You can learn more about the salary-based premiums in this announcement.

Reminder: The new health insurance premium will be deducted in your first Dec. 2025 paycheck.

Note: Your subscriber-only rate will remain the same for 2026 regardless of salary adjustments unless a salary change occurs in the 1st quarter of 2026. If a change occurs during that time, your premium may change. Completing a tobacco attestation is no longer required to lower your monthly premium.

The Clear Pricing Project is ending Dec. 31, 2025. In 2026, the Plan is introducing Preferred Providers. These providers have been identified by the Plan as providers who are committed to improved access to high-quality, affordable health care. When you select and see one of these providers in 2026, you will pay the lowest copay for an office visit.

If you would like to change your selected Primary Care Provider (PCP) to a Preferred Provider, you will need to wait until after Jan. 1, 2026, to make that change. If your selected PCP is already noted as a Preferred Provider, you do not need to take any action.

Learn more about selecting a PCP on the State’s HR website.

As a reminder, PCPs can be changed anytime, and ID cards typically arrive 7-10 days after the change is made.

The State Health Plan continues to offer two Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) plans.

• The Standard PPO Plan (formerly known as the Base PPO 70/30 Plan)
• The Plus PPO Plan (formerly known as the Enhanced PPO 80/20 Plan)

All members will be automatically enrolled into the Standard PPO Plan. If you would like to enroll in the Plus PPO Plan or if you would like to make a change to your dependents, you will need to take action during Open Enrollment.

Completing a tobacco attestation is no longer required to lower your monthly premium.

After Dec. 31, 2025, Teladoc Health will no longer be offered by the State Health Plan.

• Any Teladoc Health claims after Dec. 31, 2025 will be considered out-of-network.
• Virtual care options may still be available:
  • Some providers offer telehealth or virtual services as part of their practice. If you receive care in this manner, the same copay applies as an in-person office visit.
  • Visit the Aetna app or website, choose “find care” under “additional care options” to see a complete list of virtual care options.
• Questions about virtual care options should be directed to the Aetna Concierge Team at 833-690-1037.

The formulary (drug list), which determines what medications are covered and what tier they fall under, changes on a quarterly basis, so there is a possibility that you will have changes in your prescription coverage in 2026.

For more information, visit this webpage and scroll down to the Pharmacy Resources section.

The Plan is partnering with Lantern, a trusted provider that helps connect Plan members to a high-quality, carefully selected surgeon when you need a planned, non-emergency procedure. There will be no cost ($0) for the surgery for members who use a Lantern provider — no deductibles and no copays. Members will be getting more information directly from Lantern on this benefit.

MetLife Dental rates for all coverage options will increase in 2026. Review the 2026 employee cost and coverage details.

• The Health Care FSA maximum annual contribution is increasing to $3,300. The rollover balance is $660.
• The Dependent Care FSA annual limit will increase to $7,500.
• Reminder: FSAs require re-enrollment each year.

Starting in 2026, eligible employees will have access to legal assistance services via MetLife, offered as an optional benefit. This benefit will be offered via the Empyrean platform.

The monthly premium is $13.66 and includes coverage for you, your spouse and dependents. The plan offers unlimited access to network attorneys for covered issues along with online digital estate planning tools.

• Voluntary Life Insurance: You can enroll in employee only coverage at 1X salary without having to submit Evidence of Insurability (EOI) during 2026 Open Enrollment. You can even enroll if you were previously denied coverage after submitting EOI.
• Supplemental Disability: If not previously enrolled, you can enroll without Evidence of Insurability during 2026 Open Enrollment.

During Open Enrollment, you will need to take action in two systems:

• eBenefits: You will only use eBenefits (Benefitfocus) to make your 2026 elections for health coverage through the State Health Plan.
• UNC System Benefits (Empyrean): You will use the UNC System Benefits (Empyrean) platform to make all other 2026 benefit elections, including all NCFlex and UNC System benefits.

More information about these two systems can be found in the section below.

• Preferred and non-preferred insulin continues to have a $0 copay for a 30-day supply.
• Preventive services remain covered at 100% — no copay or deductible — on either plan.

• Employees can complete their enrollment over the phone.
• Call the eBenefits Eligibility and Enrollment Support Center at 855‐859‐0966.
• Open Enrollment extended hours are Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-10 p.m. EST, and Saturday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. EST.

• Employees can also complete their enrollment over the phone.
• Call the Empyrean University Benefits Service Center at 833-862-1490. The hours are Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.- 5 p.m. (EST).

• Call the Aetna Health Concierge (Customer Service) at 833-690-1037. The hours are Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. – 6 p.m.

• Contact the UNC Charlotte Benefits Office: Benefits@charlotte.edu or 704-687-8134.