Choate House on the Pace Pleasantville campus
Human Resources

Open Enrollment

The Annual Benefits Open Enrollment period will take place from November 10, 2025 through November 24, 2025.

Open Enrollment is your annual opportunity to review your current benefit elections, make changes to your medical, dental, and life insurance coverage, as well as enroll (or re-enroll) in a health care or dependent care Flexible Spending Account (FSA) for an effective date of January 1, 2026. You must enroll in the Flexible Spending Accounts during this Open Enrollment period in order to participate (your current FSA election, if applicable, will not automatically roll over into the new plan/calendar year).

Access the 2026 Open Enrollment webinar, which includes information about the benefits available in 2026.

Please read the 2026 Benefits Guide and this entire webpage for important information.

If you are keeping the same plan and coverage level under Aetna (Network Core Plan, Choice Plan, High Deductible Health Plan, Vision Only Plan, Dental DPPO, Dental DMO), there is no need to re-elect the plan or coverage level during Open Enrollment.

If you would like to make changes to your medical, vision, dental and voluntary life insurance coverage, or to enroll in a health care and/or dependent child care Flexible Spending Account (FSA) as of January 1, 2026, your opportunity to make these updates is during the annual Open Enrollment Period. Reminder: You must re-enroll in the FSA plan(s) in order to participate during the January 1, 2026–December 31, 2026 plan year.

If you do not have changes to make and do not wish to participate in the Flexible Spending Accounts, it is not necessary to complete Open Enrollment–your benefits will continue as they are (under Aetna). However, please review the “Updates for January 1, 2026–December 31, 2026” section below (including the General Reminders), as there are changes that will take effect on January 1, 2026.

All changes made during this Open Enrollment period will take effect on January 1, 2026* and will remain in effect through December 31, 2026. You cannot change your benefit selections until the next Open Enrollment period (which will be in fall 2026 for an effective date of January 1, 2027), unless you experience a qualifying change in family status during the new plan year.

*With the exception of voluntary life insurance changes for those currently on short-term disability, Family and Medical Leave, New York Paid Family Leave, Workers Compensation disability, or unpaid personal leave. Such changes will become effective on the first of the month following the employee’s return to work.

To Begin Open Enrollment

Please access your UKG Ready Dashboard (Portal > UKG Ready Employee Dashboard > My Benefits > Enrollment > Open Enrollment), starting on November 10, 2025, to begin the Open Enrollment process for calendar year 2026. In addition to step-by-step instructions (PDF), we are offering a series of live webinars to assist you in navigating the Open Enrollment process:

Pre-Enrollment Information

Aetna Concierge Services Hotline

Aetna Concierge Services representatives are standing by to assist with your questions. Please contact Aetna Concierge Services (PDF) at 1 (833) 691-1359 (available from 8:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m. in all U.S. Time Zones).

Gallagher Advocate Center

Gallagher Advocate Center (PDF) – the Gallagher Advocate Center is available, during this Open Enrollment period, to provide support with Aetna plan-specific inquiries and to offer detailed plan comparison information to help you choose the best plan(s) for you and your family.

Aetna Medical, Dental, and Vision Plan Names

The 3 Aetna medical plan options are: Consumer Core High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP), Network Core Plan, and the Choice Plan. The Side-By-Side Comparison (PDF) enables participants to evaluate one medical plan option in relation to the other two. The 2 Aetna dental plan options are: Dental PPO (PDF) and Dental DMO (PDF).

Aetna ID Cards For Medical/Prescription Coverage, Virtual ID Card Only for Dental Coverage

Prior to January 1, 2026, all new Aetna medical plan enrollees will receive new ID cards from Aetna. The medical ID card is a “family style” card, with the employee and up to 3 dependents (under age 18) included on the same card. If there are more than 3 dependents, a second ID card will be issued. A covered spouse/registered domestic partner will receive a medical ID card as will each dependent over the age of 18. If you are a new enrollee, the vision plan ID card will be mailed to your home by “EyeMed.” The vision plan ID card is in the name of the primary insured, but can be used for all covered family members. ID cards for the dental plans are available in digital format only and will be accessible by logging into your Aetna account or via the Aetna Health Mobile App (PDF).

Aetna Networks

For those who will be enrolled in the High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP) or in the Network Core Plan as of January 1, 2026, the network is the Aetna Open Access/Aetna Select. For those who will be enrolled in the Choice Plan, the network is the Aetna Choice POS II. The same contracted providers are available in both networks (Aetna is required to offer 2 networks due to the out-of-network benefits associated with the Choice Plan).

Aetna Pre-Enrollment Provider Search

Aetna has provided search instructions for both in-network medical and dental providers. Access the medical plan search instructions (PDF); and access the dental plan search instructions (PDF). Once enrolled in the Aetna medical and dental plans, the provider search will be available by logging into the Aetna website. As a reminder, you may also ask your provider if they participate in the Aetna Open Access/Aetna Select (for HDHP and Network Core enrollees) or the Aetna Choice POS II (for Choice Plan enrollees) network.

Updates For January 1, 2026–December 31, 2026

Medical Plan Updates

The in-network out-of-pocket maximum under the Network Core Plan and the Choice Plan will increase to $5,000 (individual)/$10,000 (family) for medical and Rx combined.

Consumer Core High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP)–2026 Deductibles and HSA Limits

The 2026 HSA deductibles will increase to $1,700 (individual) and $3,400 (family).

2026 HSA Contribution Limits

Coverage Type: Individual $4,400
Coverage Type: Family $8,750

2026 Health Care FSA and Dependent Care FSA Limits

  • The limit for the Health Care FSA (January 1, 2026–December 31, 2026) will increase to $3,400 ($141.66 per paycheck).
  • The limit for the Dependent Care FSA (January 1, 2026–December 31, 2026) will increase to $7,500 ($312.50 per paycheck); $3,750 ($156.25 per paycheck) if both spouses contribute via separate employers.

You must enroll, during each Open Enrollment period, in order to participate in an FSA for the new plan year. Your current FSA election will not rollover into 2026.

Per Paycheck Premiums (January 1, 2026–December 31, 2026)

General Reminders

Medical Plan Waiver Reimbursement For Those Newly Waiving Coverage

For those who are currently covered under the Aetna medical plans and will be waiving coverage for the first time as of January 1, 2026, you will receive an annual (12-month) reimbursement of $960.00 ($40.00 per paycheck).

Coverage to End of Calendar Year in Which Dependent Turns Age 26

A dependent is eligible for coverage under the medical/vision and dental plans until the end of the calendar year in which they turn age 26. A dependent who ages off the plans at age 26 will be offered the opportunity to continue medical and dental coverage on COBRA.

Aetna Telemedicine Through Teladoc

Aetna offers telemedicine services through Teladoc (PDF). Create an account via Aetna's Teladoc website or by calling 1 (855) 835-2362. For those enrolled in the Network Core or Choice Plans:

  • General Medical follows the Primary Care Physician copayment - $30
  • Behavioral Health follows the Behavioral Health office visit/outpatient copayment - $30
  • Dermatology follows the Specialist copayment - $50

For those enrolled in the High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP), the amounts listed in the Teladoc brochure (above) will apply.

Urgent Care Facilities

In recent years, many Urgent Care centers have emerged in towns and cities, including within drug stores and medical groups. Urgent Care centers provide individuals with care when the situation isn’t life threating, but requires immediate attention. Urgent Care centers will typically cover conditions such as: earaches and infections, minor cuts, sprains and burns, fever and flu. Pace’s Network Core Plan and Choice Plan require a co-payment of $30 for Urgent Care vs. an Emergency Room co-payment of $100. If a participant is enrolled in the Consumer Core HDHP, the cost of services will be less at an Urgent Care center than at the Emergency Room, so out-of-pocket costs will be less.

It is important to note that while a facility may be advertised as “Urgent Care”, the Urgent Care center or medical offices providing “urgent care services” could very well not be contracted with Aetna as a participating Urgent Care facility. In order to find a contracted Urgent Care center ($30 co-payment), please contact Aetna Concierge Services, at 1 (833) 691-1359, or utilize the Aetna Mobile App (PDF) or provider search tool on Aetna's website to find a contracted provider in your area.

For severe and life-threatening conditions (such as shortness of breath, chest pain, uncontrollable bleeding, etc.), the Emergency Room could be the more appropriate setting and a hospital will be better-equipped to handle these situations.

Aetna Informed Health Line (for Medical Plan Participants)

The Informed Health Line (PDF) is a telephonic service provided to members 24 hours a day, seven days per week. This line provides live access to a Registered Nurse for health education and information. Informed Health nurses can be reached at 1 (800) 556-1555.

Fitness Reimbursement Program (for Medical Plan Participants)

Aetna offers employees covered under the medical plan up to $200 for visiting the gym 50 times in a 6-month period. Covered spouses/registered domestic partners can receive up to $100 for visiting the gym 50 times in a 6-month period. Find out more information about the fitness reimbursement program (PDF).

Coverage for Implants Added to Aetna Dental Plans

Implant coverage was added to the Aetna DPPO and Aetna DMO plans in January 2023. Please review the 2026 plan summaries carefully (Aetna DPPO (PDF), Aetna DMO (PDF)), including the section on “Rules,” as certain restrictions apply.

Coverage for Acupuncture

The coverage is limited to 10 visits per calendar year:

  • High Deductible Health Plan: member pays 10% coinsurance after the deductible has been satisfied.
  • Network Core Plan: $30 copayment per visit.
  • Choice Plan: in-network, $30 copayment per visit; out-of-network, member pays 30% coinsurance after the deductible has been satisfied.

Coverage for Hearing Aids

The coverage is limited to 1 hearing aid per ear every 3 years.

  • High Deductible Health Plan: member pays 10% coinsurance after deductible has been satisfied.
  • Network Core Plan: covered at 100%.
  • Choice Plan: in-network, member pays 15% coinsurance after deductible has been satisfied; out-of-network, member pays 35% coinsurance after deductible has been satisfied.

Deductibles Under the Aetna Choice Plan

Under Aetna, the out-of-network deductibles and out-of-pocket maximums do not accumulate towards the in-network deductibles and in-network out-of-pocket maximums; they are separate accumulators.

Annual Deductibles, Out-Of-Pocket Maximums, Etc.

Annual deductibles, out-of-pocket maximums, etc. are based upon a calendar year.

Benefits to Consider During this Open Enrollment period

Benefits to Consider Throughout the Plan Year (Can Be Changed During the Year)

Need Help?

For assistance with your enrollment selections, please email the University Benefits office or email Open Enrollment.

Benefits Disclaimer

The HR/Benefits website is intended only to provide information for the guidance of Pace University employees. The writers of the content have exercised their best efforts to ensure accuracy of the information, but accuracy is not guaranteed. If there are any discrepancies between the information on the website, verbal representations and the Plan documents, the Plan documents will always govern. The information is subject to change from time to time, and the University reserves the right to change or terminate these Plans at any time. The information contained on the website is not intended to replace the plan documents, nor is the information in any way intended to imply a contract.