2027 Benefits Open Enrollment for Regular Employees

Enroll or waive in Workday 

Need help? View the Open Enrollment Workday Job Aid

Employees may enroll: 

• A spouse
• A domestic partner
• Eligible child(ren) up to age 26 

When adding a dependent in Workday, you must provide the required family member verification documents.

You must upload a notarized Affidavit of Domestic Partnership when adding your domestic partner as a dependent in Workday.

If your spouse’s or domestic partner’s employer holds open enrollment at a different time, you can enroll in RIT benefits and, if needed: 

• Switch to your spouse’s or domestic partner’s plan, or 
• Drop other coverage and switch to an RIT plan

Submit a Change Benefits request in Workday by Dec. 15, 2026 for Jan. 1, 2027 enrollment changes. Documentation showing the coverage change and its effective date is required.

Open Enrollment is a great time to confirm your life insurance and retirement plan beneficiaries. 

• Life Insurance: prudential.com/mybenefits 
• 403(b) Retirement Plan: Fidelity | TIAA

The amount you pay when you receive medical care, including copays, deductibles, and the maximums you'll pay out of pocket during a plan year, will change for some plans in 2027. 

View 2027 Medical Plans

Health care costs continue to rise nationally, contributing to the cost of RIT’s medical plans for 2027. RIT will absorb most of the increase to help limit the impact on employees.

Medical plan costs will increase for employees in 2027. Your cost will depend on the plan you choose, who you cover, and your salary level.

To further limit the impact on employees, RIT is adjusting how premium costs are shared based on salary:

• Employees earning less than $200,000 will receive additional support toward their medical plan costs.
   
• A new salary level is being added for the highest-paid employees.

2027 Employee Benefit Rates

In 2027, RIT's Health Savings Account (HSA) contributions will increase for employees enrolled in the High-Deductible Health Plan (HDHP).

For full-time employees, RIT will contribute:

• $330 for individual coverage
• $660 for employee-plus-one or family coverage

RIT's contribution will be deposited in two installments: half in March and half in September.

Learn more about HSAs

Wegmans will discontinue their copay reduction in 2027. Employees can still fill prescriptions at Wegmans or use its home delivery service. Prescriptions filled at Wegmans follow the same copays as other participating pharmacies, giving employees the flexibility to choose where they fill their prescriptions.

Beginning in 2027, GLP-1 medications prescribed for weight loss will no longer be covered under RIT's plan. Coverage will continue for GLP-1 medications prescribed for other covered diagnoses.

If you or a covered family member currently uses a GLP-1 medication for weight loss, talk with your health care provider about alternative options and manufacturer-sponsored programs that may be available, including LillyDirect, NovoCare, and TrumpRx.

A new Medicare support benefit is available through Brown & Brown, at no cost to employees. Whether you're navigating Medicare for yourself or helping a spouse, partner, or aging parent, Brown & Brown's licensed Medicare specialists can provide personalized guidance to help you understand your options while making informed coverage decisions. This benefit is available year-round, not just during Open Enrollment. 

Learn more

If you are enrolled in POS A, POS B or POS D, your plan covers routine eye exams with a copay. 

• You can visit any eye doctor, even if they are not a VSP provider, by showing your medical ID card. 
• After the exam, you may take your prescription to a VSP provider to purchase eyeglasses or contact lenses.
• Reminder: In-network providers are the most affordable option and help you get the best value from your plan.

The table below outlines in-network benefits by participating providers.

• You choose an annual contribution amount during open enrollment.
   
• Contributions are deducted from your paycheck before taxes.
   
• Funds can be used to pay for eligible expenses such as:
  • HCFSA: medical, dental, vision, and prescription costs not covered by insurance
  • DCFSA: daycare, preschool, and elder care for a tax dependent adult
     
• You can enroll in one or both accounts, depending on your needs (unless you enroll in the HDHP in which case you cannot contribute to a Health Care FSA).
   
• Use-it-or-lose it rule: Funds must be used within the plan year or they will be forfeited, in accordance with IRS regulations governing flexible spending accounts.

• Helps manage out-of-pocket health care and/or dependent care costs.
• Easy access to funds via reimbursement or direct payments.
• Tax savings by reducing your taxable income.

• Plan carefully: Accurately estimate your expenses. Any unused funds remaining after the grace period will be forfeited.
   
• Re-enrollment Required Each Year Your 2026 elections will not carry over into 2027. If you wish to participate in the HCFSA and/or DCFSA for 2027, you must actively enroll during the open enrollment period.

For 2027, the Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account contribution is $7,500 for individuals and married couples filing jointly, and $3,750 for those married filing separately.

• Enrollment is optional: Elect the HSA in Workday during open enrollment if you want to participate.
   
  • Employees joining the plan will receive a welcome email from Fidelity in November, and reminder emails through December, with instructions for account setup. You’ll receive a debit card to access these funds.
     
  • Fidelity charges a $20 annual account maintenance fee, billed in $5 quarterly installments and deducted from your HSA funds.
     
• Make pre-tax contributions from your paycheck to your HSA in any amount you choose, up to the IRS annual limits.
   
• RIT will contribute to the HSA for all regular full-time employees: 
  • $330 for employees with individual coverage
  • $660 for employees covering one or more dependents
  • Contributions are credited in two installments: half in March, half in September.
  • Part-time employees receive half of the full-time contribution.
     
• You can change your HSA payroll contribution at any time during the year, even after your initial open enrollment election.
   
• Please note: You cannot open an HSA directly with Fidelity. To ensure RIT payroll deductions are deposited correctly, you must elect the HSA through Workday.

Note: If you are age 55 or older, you’re eligible to contribute an additional $1,000 per year.

You must meet specific eligibility requirements to contribute to an HSA. Before enrolling, please review the requirements below to ensure you are eligible:

• Must be enrolled in an HDHP. The IRS requires you to be enrolled in a qualified HDHP to contribute to an HSA. You cannot contribute if you are enrolled in a POS plan.
   
• No Health Care FSA. If you contribute to an HSA, you cannot contribute to a Health Care Flexible Spending Account (FSA), including through your spouse’s employer. You may, however, contribute to both an HSA and a Dependent Care FSA at the same time.
   
• Not eligible with certain coverage. If you are enrolled in any part of Medicare, TRICARE or Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), you are not able to participate in an HSA.
   
• Important: If you or your spouse are enrolled in a health care flexible spending account (FSA) for 2026 and enroll in the HDHP for 2027, you must spend down your FSA balance to $0 by Dec. 31, 2026, to be eligible to contribute to the HSA or receive RIT’s employer contribution.

Please note that a domestic partner who is not a tax dependent is not eligible for you to use your HSA funds on. However, an enrolled domestic partner can have their own FSA to cover their expenses while you maintain an HSA.

Ownership and Portability

• Your HSA funds are yours to keep, even if you change medical plans, leave RIT or retire.
   
• Unlike an FSA, your unspent HSA funds roll over each year, there is no “use it or lose it” rule.
   

Tax Benefits

• When you contribute: Your HSA contributions are made before taxes, which means you’ll pay less in taxes on your overall income.
   
• As your account grows: You earn tax-free interest on your money over time. The interest you earn even earns interest!
   
• When you spend: When you use your HSA funds for qualified health care expenses, you don’t pay taxes on those withdrawals.
   

Using and Investing your HSA

• You decide whether to pay for eligible health care expenses with HSA funds or out-of- pocket.
   
• Saving your HSA dollars now can help you pay for significant or unexpected health care expenses in the future.
   
• You can invest some or all of your balance in a variety of funds through Fidelity. This gives your savings the potential to grow over time, like a retirement plan for health care expenses.
   
• You can pay yourself back for eligible expenses only if your HSA was open when you incurred the cost. To take full advantage, it’s best to open your account as early as possible, ideally by January 1.

Both a Health Savings Account (HSA) and a Health Care Flexible Spending Account (FSA) let you set aside pre-tax dollars to pay for medical, dental, and vision expenses. But there are important differences between the two accounts.

• Supplemental, spouse/partner, child life, and AD&D coverage is optional and can be elected during open enrollment or qualifying life events.
   
• Coverage amounts vary and may require evidence of insurability, a health verification process.
   
• Employees can increase supplemental life coverage by up to one times their base pay without submitting evidence of insurability, as long as total coverage doesn’t exceed three times their base pay.
   
• Coverage increases beyond that or new elections for spouse or partner coverage require evidence of insurability.

Live Open Enrollment presentations have concluded. Learn about your benefit options and upcoming plan changes by watching the recorded Open Enrollment presentation. 
 

Watch the Presentation Recording in Workday

Live presentations were held Thursday, Oct. 22, 10:30 a.m.-11:45 a.m. and Friday, Oct. 23 12 p.m.-1 p.m. on Zoom and, Friday, Oct. 23 2 p.m.-3 p.m. on Zoom. This information was sent to all faculty and staff via email.

View the 2027 Open Enrollment Newsletter, featuring key information about your benefits and the enrollment process.

View the Newsletter > 

View 2027 Benefits Open Enrollment emails sent to all faculty and staff.

Benefits Open Enrollment Starts Today | Sent Oct. 26, 2026

Open Enrollment Presentations Are Today and Tomorrow. Register to Attend | Sent Oct. 22, 2026

Get Ready for Open Enrollment | Sent Oct. 15, 2026

Save the Date: Benefits Open Enrollment Begins Oct. 26 | Sent Oct. 12, 2026

Review Your Medical and Prescription Costs | Sent Nov. 4, 2026

Drop in during any session to ask questions about your benefits, coverage options, and the Open Enrollment process. Interpreting services have been requested for all sessions.

Schedule

Register in Workday
To view all available sessions and register, click Select Offering on the right side. 

Completed Sessions:

Need help enrolling in benefits through Workday?

Open Enrollment computer lab sessions are available for employees who may not regularly work on a computer or who would like in-person assistance completing their benefit elections. Human Resources staff will be available to answer questions and help you navigate Workday.

The computer labs are available on a drop-in basis during the times listed below. No appointment is required. Interpreting services have been requested for all sessions.

Completed Sessions:

Compare your medical plan options, including coverage, costs and plan features. 

Medical Plan Resources

Get personalized help from Bree Health to review RIT’s medical plans and consider options based on individual or family health care needs. This support is provided as part of RIT's benefits at no cost to you.

Visit breehealth.com and use RIT company ID 10924 or call 1-800-327-2255.

Access your member accounts.

Excellus BCBS

Fidelity HSA

Lifetime Benefits Solution

OptumRx

VSP

Submit a ticket through the RIT Service Center and provide a high-level overview of the question. If the question involves a personal situation, you do not need to include sensitive details in the ticket. Once the ticket is routed to the Benefits team, it is confidential. You can also call 585-475-5000.