May 01, 2025

Benefit Choice open enrollment underway until June 2

The deadline for the State Employees Group Insurance Program Benefit Choice open enrollment for all eligible employees is June 2.

Employees are encouraged to review the Benefits Choice Booklet for details on all changes, benefit enhancements and premium costs. An on-campus Benefits Choice Fair will be held May 20 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Student Center John W. Corker Lounge and Ballroom B.

With the exception of those enrolled in Health Alliance, if you do not want to change health, dental, life or dependent coverage, your current elections will continue. Note: You must enroll or re-enroll in flexible spending accounts (MCAP & DCAP) and health savings accounts each year. Changes made during this period will become effective July 1, the start of the new fiscal year (FY2026). Faculty and staff who are considering changes should go to MyBenefits.illinois.gov to review benefit options, compare health plans and make elections.

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 or re-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 automatically continue into the new plan year.
  • Enroll or re-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 automatically continue into the new plan year.
  • Update your personal information. 

Employees should have received a Benefits Choice Booklet in the mail at their home address. 

Highlights of benefit changes for fiscal year 2026 include: 

Health Alliance enrollees: ACTION REQUIRED 

Health Alliance will no longer be an available option effective July 1. If you are currently enrolled in Health Alliance and you do not select a new plan, you will be defaulted to the Quality Care Health Plan. 

Employee and dependent premiums – for all plans are increasing and are based on an employee’s salary as of March 1, 2025. Some medical deductibles and copayments are increasing. 

Medical plans (see page 3 of the booklet)

  • Employee premiums increasing $8 per month.
  • Dependent premiums increasing $4 per month. 

Dental plan (see page 11 of the booklet)

  • Employee premiums increasing $1 per month.
  • Dependent premiums increasing $2 per month. 

Admission Co-payments 

Admission co-payments in most plans have increased.  

Quality Care Health Plan (QCHP) & Consumer Driven Health Plan (CDHP) 

Plan year deductibles have increased. 

Flexible Spending (medical and dependent care assistance plans) 

  • Enrollment is not automatic. Employees must re-enroll each year. 

Medical Care Assistance Plan (MCAP) 

  • Maximum contribution limit for FY2026 increased to $3,300; the rollover limit for FY2026 to FY2027 increased to $660.
  • The rollover of any unused FY2025 funds into the FY2026 plan year is limited to $630.
  • Employees who do not re-enroll in the FY2026 plan year forfeit any amount eligible for rollover. 

Dependent Care Assistance Plan (DCAP) 

  • The maximum contribution limit for FY2026 remains $5,000. 

Health Savings Account (HSA) for employees enrolled in the Consumer Driven Health Plan. 

  • The employee and employer contribution limits will increase for FY2026, depending on age and individual or family enrollment (see page 9 of the booklet). 

The availability of health plans in an employee’s home or work county may have changed. Refer to the health plan map to verify your chosen plan is available in your home or work county. Note: If your current plan is no longer available, you must change health plans during the Benefits Choice period to avoid being defaulted to the Quality Health Care Plan. 

How to make changes/elections 

Log on to MyBenefits at MyBenefits.illinois.gov or 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.   

  • View the registration video for instructions on how to access the website or you can view step-by-step instructions or other resources on the HR Benefits webpage.
  • If you registered a while ago, you may need to reset your password. To reset or to recover your password, choose “Forgot My Password” on the MyBenefits login page .
  • Documentation required for adding dependents must be uploaded by June 12, 2025. 

Benefits Choice Fair on May 20 

CMS staff, benefits vendors and SIU Carbondale Human Resources staff will be at the Benefits Choice Fair and available to answer questions from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Student Center Corker Lounge and Ballroom B. Benefits Choice presentations will be given by CMS representatives at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. in Ballroom B. The event is open to all active and retired members enrolled in the State Employee Group Insurance Plan. If you are unable to attend on May 20, a list of other Benefits Choice fairs throughout the state in May is available. 

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. 

Quick Links 

Easy links to various pages are available.