May 04, 2023

Benefit Choice open enrollment deadline is May 31

The deadline for the State Employees Group Insurance Program Benefit Choice open enrollment for all eligible employees is May 31. For the upcoming year, there are no premium increases. Employees are encouraged to review the Benefits Choice Booklet and select the best coverage for themselves and/or their families. An on-campus Benefits Choice Fair will be held May 16.

Changes made during this period will become effective July 1, the start of the new fiscal year. With the exception of the medical flexible spending account, dependent care flexible spending account and health savings account, your current coverage will carry over into the next fiscal year. Faculty and staff who are considering changes should go to MyBenefits.illinois.gov to review benefit options, compare health plans and make elections. It’s the one-stop shop for Benefits Choice. 

Benefits Choice allows you to: 

  • Change health plans.
  • Add or drop dental coverage.
  • Add or drop dependent coverage.
  • Add, drop, increase or decrease member optional life insurance coverage.
  • Add or drop child life, spouse life and/or accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D) insurance coverage.
  • Enroll in the Medical Care Assistance Plan (MCAP) and/or Dependent Care Assistance Plan (DCAP) flexible spending accounts. Employees must enroll in this program each year. Previous enrollment in the program does not continue into the new plan year.
  • Enroll in the health savings account (HSA) if you are enrolled in the consumer driven health plan. Employees must enroll in this program each year. Previous enrollment in the program does not continue into the new plan year.
  • Update your personal information. 

If you need help navigating the MyBenefits website or with your enrollments, contact the

MyBenefits Service Center toll free at 844-251-1777 or 844-251-1778 (TDD/TTY). Representatives are available from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday.   

Have you registered and logged on to MyBenefits? If not, follow these simple instructions. This video also contains detailed instructions. 

The SIU Carbondale Human Resources website also has information and direct links to your benefit needs. Contact HR staff at 618-453-6668 with questions. 

Benefits Choice Fair on May 16 

CMS staff, benefits vendors, employee benefits staff and health screenings will be at the Student Center from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. May 16. CMS staff will be in Ballroom B, benefits vendors and benefits staff will be in Corker Lounge, and the health screenings will be in the Mississippi Room. Presentations will be given by CMS representatives at 10 a.m., noon and 3 p.m. 

The event is open to all active and retired members not enrolled in a Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug (MAPD) Plan. CMS representatives, benefit vendors and benefits staff will be present to answer questions. Learn more about additional biometric registration instructions (using Google Chrome) or make an appointment for a health screening. 

Quick Links 

Easy links to various pages are available.