April 30, 2026

Benefits Choice open enrollment begins Friday and closes June 1

The deadline for the State Employees Group Insurance Program Benefit Choice open enrollment for all eligible employees is June 1. 

Open enrollment begins Friday, May 1. 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 26 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Student Center John W. Corker Lounge and Ballroom B.

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 (FY 2027). 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 (can be changed at any time throughout the year).
  • Add or drop child life, spouse life and/or accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D) insurance coverage (can be changed at any time throughout the year).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 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 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 2027 include: 

Employee and dependent premiums – for all plans are increasing and are based on an employee’s salary as of March 1, 2026. Salary band ranges for employee premiums have changed. 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.  

Plan Year Pharmacy Deductibles 

Plan year pharmacy deductibles in most plans have increased. 

Consumer Driven Health Plan (CDHP) 

Plan year deductibles have increased. 

New Benefit - Health Advocate (Effective May 1, 2026) 

Health Advocate is here to help you and your covered dependents with any health or well-being issues.

  • Finding the right in-network providers.
  • Clarifying tests and treatments.
  • Resolving claims and billing issues.
  • Answering benefit questions.
  • Scheduling appointments and transfer medical records.
  • Exploring treatments and get second options. 

For more information on this service contact 844-251-1777 or visit MyBenefits.illinois.gov 

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 FY2027 increased to $3,400; the rollover limit for FY 2027 to FY2028 increased to $680.
  • The rollover of any unused FY2026 funds into the FY2027 plan year is limited to $660.
  • Employees who do not re-enroll in the FY2027 plan year forfeit any amount eligible for rollover. 

Dependent Care Assistance Plan (DCAP) 

  • The maximum contribution limit for FY2027 increased to $7,500. 

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

  • The employee and employer contribution limits will increase for FY2027, 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.
  • Documentation required for adding dependents must be uploaded by June 11, 2026. 

Benefits Choice Fair on May 26 

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 10 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 26, 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.