Open Enrollment for 2027

Open enrollment

Look here for announcements and updates about Open Enrollment
for employees of The Arc of Washington County for the benefit plan year that starts January 1, 2027.

At The Arc of Washington County, we know that benefit requirements change. That’s why we have an Open Enrollment period each year.

For most employee benefits, Open Enrollment is the only time of year you are allowed to make enrollment changes unless you experience a qualifying life event such as marriage, divorce, birth or placement of a child, losing or gaining eligibility for other coverage, etc. During Open Enrollment, you should consider the benefits you have today and ask yourself if they will serve you and your loved ones well in the coming plan year.

Open Enrollment starts Monday, November 9, and ends Friday, November 13, 2026.

  • Do you need help enrolling? Make an appointment to see a benefits counselor: tinyurl.com/2027Enroll
  • Do you want to self-enroll or decline coverage? These instructions can help.
  • Do you want to decline all coverage? Complete a waiver and return it to HR. (Waiver will be available once Open Enrollment starts.)

Here’s what’s new and improved for 2027: 

  • New Medical Administrator & Network: We are moving medical administration to Loomis and switching to the Cigna PPO network. Loomis will provide stronger case management and lower out-of-pocket costs. 99% of our current doctors and facilities are in the Cigna network, so you should experience minimal disruption.
  • Modest Medical Premium Change: Medical premiums will increase by just $5 to $8 per pay period for full-time employees, depending on your plan.
  • New Dental Administrator: Dental claims administration is also moving to Loomis via the Cigna Shared Administration network. Rates will not change for full-time employees.
  • New Voluntary Benefits Carrier: We are replacing The Hartford with Lincoln Financial for life, disability, and voluntary plans. Rates will stay the same, and we are introducing new guaranteed issue amounts for you and your family.

We are proud to maintain the valuable enhancements we’ve built together over the last seven years, including:

  • Healthy Steps Wellness (Peak Health): Earn up to $30 per pay ($780/year) for meeting health goals.
  • HSA/HRA Employer Contributions: Receive up to $520 annually in your HSA or up to $1,000 in HRA reimbursements.
  • CVS/Caremark Discounts: Continued deep savings on everyday prescriptions.
  • Free Medications via ScriptSourcing: we will continue to offer our voluntary international pharmacy program. You can get eligible prescriptions filled at no cost to you.
  • Financial Protection: Fully employer-paid Short-Term Disability and enhanced 403(b) retirement match tiers.
  • Trustmark Life + Care: Permanent life and long-term care plans remain available during Open Enrollment.

What do you need to do?

  • Active enrollment required: From November 9–13, you must actively choose your benefits for the new plan year; nothing will auto-renew. If you were hired on or before 10/31/2026 and want to have benefits in 2027, you need to enroll during Open Enrollment in order to have any insurance benefits in 2027. The same is true if you want to decline benefits in 2027. Exceptions: Open Enrollment does not affect your 403(b) retirement plan enrollment, or any current Permanent Life + LTC policies with Trustmark.
  • If you are currently enrolled, review your current benefits and consider any changes you may wish to make for 2027. See below for more information on how to review your current benefits.
  • You can also add, change, decline, or drop coverage for yourself and your eligible dependents during Open Enrollment.
  • It is always a good idea to review and name your life insurance beneficiaries.
  • Make an appointment to meet 1-on-1 with a benefits consultant during Open Enrollment by signing up at sign-up at tinyurl.com/2027Enroll.
  • Starting November 9, you will be able to self-enroll on Paycor’s benefits platform. Here are instructions on how to self-enroll.
  • If you had a milestone birthday, be aware that some voluntary benefit rates may change for 2027. If you enroll in a plan that uses your age to determine your rates – such as voluntary term life insurance – and you had a milestone birthday (one ending in a 0 or 5), the cost of your coverage will likely increase next year. Any rate changes won’t be available until Open Enrollment starts on November 9.

If you were hired on or before October 31, 2026, and you work 20 or more hours a week, you are eligible for employee benefits and must make decisions about your coverage for 2027.

If you schedule an enrollment appointment, please be prepared for it: Know the names, dates of birth, Social Security numbers, and addresses of your dependents and beneficiaries. Please help keep us on schedule by sticking to your appointed time.

Information is available. Learn before you enroll! Be on the lookout for informational emails, videos, and plan materials starting in October 2026.

Open Enrollment Frequently Asked Questions

How can I confirm what I’m currently enrolled in? Use Paycor to view your current enrollment elections under My Benefits in the app or in Paycor under People > Benefits on a browser.

Can I self-enroll? Yes! Self-service online enrollment will be available 24/7 from November 9 through 13, 2026. Here are instructions on how to self-enroll.

How do I get an enrollment appointment with a benefits counselor? Visit tinyurl.com/2027Enroll and sign-up for an appointment with a benefits consultant. Appointments are available every 20 minutes from 7:00 am through 5 pm Monday, November 10 through Thursday, November 13. Please note that appointments are not being taken for Friday, November 13. Instead, we will be taking enrollments on a first-come, first-served basis from 7 am until noon – and you may need to wait in line. If you need help getting online to make the appointment, ask the person in your department who handles scheduling to help you make the appointment or contact Janis Williamson in Human Resources.

I’m confused about my options. Where can I get more information? For more information, take a look at the downloadable documents below in PDF format. We will be adding documents as we get them – and we appreciate your patience:

If you have other questions, just let me know. During Open Enrollment, the best way to reach me will be by email.

Posted by Janis Williamson, SHRM-CP

Last updated: October 13, 2026