Open Enrollment

Open Enrollment for the 2026 Plan Year IS OCT. 27 -  nov. 14, 2025

More Passive Enrollment This Year

If you are NOT making any benefits changes AND you are not enrolling in Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) for the 2026 plan year, you do not need to do anything during open enrollment. 

Open Enrollment is the time to make benefit elections and enroll in Flexible Spending for 2026. Add or update your beneficiaries; is everything correct? If not, let the Benefits team know ASAP!

CHANGES TO EMPLOYEE MONTHLY HEALTH INSURANCE COST SHARE

• The same cost will be $100 ($95 for medical + $5 for dental) for Employee Only and $121 ($116 for medical + $5 for dental) for Employee with Dependents for 2026

What can I do during Open Enrollment?

NOW -- Log into Employee Self Services (ESS) now to make sure your login credentials are up to date so you don’t have issues during Open Enrollment.  Stuck in Employee Self Services (ESS)? Check out the step by step guide HERE.

October 27 – November 14

Open Enrollment for Deschutes County Employee Health Plan begins on October 27^th and closes November 14^th.  All changes and elections need to be submitted to HR no later than 5 PM on Tuesday, November 14^th.

• Deschutes County Employee Open Enrollment Instructions
• ESS Open Enrollment Instructions

During Open Enrollment (OE) all benefit-eligible employees must make choices regarding their benefits.

Beginning October 27th, if you need to make changes or enroll in Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA), you will have to go to Employee Self Service (ESS) and review your benefits and select:

• Decline benefit
• No change
• Make New Election

You only need to submit your elections if you are making changes. If you are NOT making any benefits changes AND you are not enrolling in Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) for the 2026 plan year, you do not need to do anything during open enrollment. 

Open enrollment informational meeting will be presented via 1 hour Teams meetings.  A recording of the presentation will also be posted on the open enrollment page shortly. Join on your computer, mobile device or room device.
Virtual meeting times:

THIS ELECTION IS FOR THE CALENDAR PLAN YEAR: 1/1/2026 - 12/31/2026

1. Review and select your medical/dental plan enrollments for 2026.

2. Review your dependents.
   • Have you had family changes? Did you get Married? Divorced?
   • Remember only qualifying dependents are listed on your benefit plans: spouse, same sex domestic partner, and children.
3. Enroll in a tax-saving 2026 flexible spending account. You must enroll at Open Enrollment each year to participate!
   • Medical (HRE) & Dependent care (DCE)
   • Per IRS guidelines, you must reenroll in Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) every year.
   • Please review your FSA account balances as soon as possible. All Dependent Care Expense (DCE) and Heath Related Expense (HRE) funds must also be used for expenses incurred in the current plan year with the exception of the IRS HRE rollover amount allowed at the end of the year.
   • The IRS HRE rollover maximum for 2024 is $640.  You must enroll in a Health Related Expense (HRE) account in 2026 to rollover any 2025 funds. 
   • There is no rollover for the Dependent Care Expense (DCE) accounts.  Your balance must be used for expenses incurred in 2025.
4. Enroll or increase your supplemental life and accident insurance.
   • CIGNA is now New York Life (NYL).  You will see updated information brochures when you complete open enrollment.  The rates will not change for the 2026 plan year.
   • The only voluntary life insurance increase that is not subject to medical underwriting during open enrollment is a $20,000 increase to Employee & Spouse Voluntary Life, and only if your current coverage amount is less than $100,000 for employee or $30,000 for spouse.  All other increases or new coverage requests for an employee and/or a spouse will require medical underwriting by NYL to determine insurability.  Medical underwriting will occur after open enrollment is complete.
   • Voluntary life and ADD changes can be made any time throughout the year.  These will also require medical underwriting
5. Deferred Compensation
   • Two of our deferred compensation carriers have changed their names.  Mass Mutual is now Empower and ICMA is now MissionSquare.  Nationwide did not change their name.
   • DEFERRED COMPENSATION CHANGES
   • No special option for making deferred compensation changes during open enrollment.
   • You can make changes through the regular process.
   • Deferred Compensation information, including how to make regular changes through ESS, can be found HERE.
6. AFLAC
   • Enroll/re-enroll in pre-tax voluntary benefits through AFLAC representative Becky Swanson at (541) 531-5759 or by email at rebecca_swanson@us.aflac.com. 
7. LegalShield
   • Enroll/Cancel paid subscription to legal services through LegalShield.  Information on services provided can be found on the LegalShield Plan Overview

For a detailed explanation on Open Enrollment options, and changes this year, click on the links below. Open Enrollment details are emailed to employee's work email addresses and copies provided to those without an email address. If you want to enroll in or continue Flexible Spending for the next plan year, you must enroll at each Open Enrollment.    

Human Resources staff is available for questions; just give us a call  (541) 317-3154, or send us an email at benefits@deschutes.org.