Open Enrollment 2027
Our annual benefits open enrollment is Tuesday, Nov. 3 – Tuesday, Nov. 17, 2026.
Open enrollment will be in your Workday task box to get started! You have until 11:59 pm on Nov. 17 to make changes. If you miss this deadline, changes can only be made during a qualifying event or next year's open enrollment and most of your 2026 benefits will carry over into 2027. Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) are the only exception; you must enroll or re-enroll in FSAs each year.
A Note About Workday
To better protect your personal information, Workday is only available through the Carilion Clinic network, the Workday mobile app, or apps portal (https://apps.CarilionClinic.org).
- If you use the apps portal to log in to Workday outside of a Carilion Clinic facility, you will need to verify your log-in using the Imprivata ID app (multi-factor authentication).
- If you have not already registered with Imprivata ID, instructions and more information are available on the Multi-Factor Authentication page
Benefits Highlights and Other Important Information
- Medical premiums for 2027 will not change—despite the continuous rise in healthcare costs. Premiums are based on your pay as of Monday, Oct. 4, 2026. *
- There will be some targeted medical and pharmacy plan changes.
- Enhancements, at no additional cost to your premiums, are being made to the Aetna Voluntary benefit plans, which include Accident, Critical Illness, and Hospital Indemnity.
- All other benefit premiums will remain unchanged for 2027, with the exception of Short-Term Disability (STD).
You’ll find details and everything else you need to know to complete open enrollment in the remaining accordion tabs.
*Notes:
- Your premium is the amount you pay for your benefits coverage.
- If you experienced a change in pay during 2026, you may move to a different contribution tier for 2027.
- Contribution tiers are based on your annual salary or hourly rate as of Oct. 4, 2026.
Medical Plan Premiums
Even as healthcare costs continue to increase, medical plan tiers and premium rates are not changing for 2027; however, please remember the following:
- Because medical contributions are based on annual salary/hourly rates, employees who experienced a change in pay during 2026 may move into a different contribution tier in 2027
- Contribution tiers are determined based on your annual salary or hourly rate as of Oct. 4, 2026.
- Please review the 2027 Contribution Summary (located under the Important Documents tab below) to confirm your 2027 medical plan deductions.
Medical and Pharmacy Plan Design Changes
While our medical plan, which includes pharmacy coverage, will continue to provide comprehensive coverage in 2027, some out-of-pocket expenses will change. These select plan design adjustments help manage healthcare inflation while reinforcing the value of using Carilion providers and facilities whenever possible. Some out-of-pocket costs, such as your deductible, copays, coinsurance, or out-of-pocket maximum may differ from 2026.
Review the plan details in the Medical Plan Summary and your personalized enrollment information during open enrollment to determine which option best meets your needs.
Key Medical Plan Updates for 2027
- In-network specialist office visit copay: $60
- Level B deductible: $1,800 individual / $3,600 family
- Level C deductible: $4,000 individual / $8,000 family
- Level C out-of-pocket maximum: $10,000 individual / $20,000 family
- Level A outpatient surgery: $550 copay plus 20% coinsurance
- Level B outpatient surgery: $800 copay plus 40% coinsurance
- Level B retail pharmacy copays:
- Generic: $20
- Preferred brand: $60
- Non-preferred brand: $100
- Maintenance medications: If you are prescribed a maintenance medication, you may receive one fill at a retail pharmacy before transferring the prescription to a Carilion Clinic pharmacy. Reminder: Maintenance medications must be filled through a Carilion Clinic pharmacy to be covered under the medical plan.
- Specialty medications: The copay for specialty medications will remain $100; however, quantity limits are changing: specialty medications are being dispensed up to a 30-day supply, unless the medication is packaged in an unbreakable quantity that exceeds a 30-day supply. This means if you are currently receiving a specialty medication(s) above a 30-day supply (example: 90-day supply) you will likely be required to fill at a 30-day supply in 2027.
If you are currently enrolled in a medical plan, take time to review the 2027 plan summaries carefully. Understanding how benefit levels and out-of-pocket costs work can help you choose the option that best fits your healthcare needs and budget. The following breakdown can help:
Understanding Medical Benefit Levels
Your out-of-pocket costs vary based on where you receive care:
- Level A: Services received from a Carilion Clinic facility or pharmacy
- Level B: Services received from a provider or pharmacy that participates in the Aetna network
- Level C: Services received from an out-of-network provider or pharmacy
In general, using Level A providers offers the lowest out-of-pocket costs, followed by Level B providers. Level C services have the highest member cost responsibility.
Short-Term Disability (STD) Premiums
STD premiums will increase moderately for 2027 to reflect rising program costs and allow us to maintain the current STD plan design and level of coverage. Please review the 2027 Contribution Summary to see how this impacts you.
Aetna Voluntary Benefits Enhancements
We’re improving our Accident, Critical Illness, and Hospital Indemnity plans to offer you and your families greater protection and value, while maintaining the same premiums for 2027.
Below is a brief overview of selected enhancements to the voluntary benefits available in 2027. This summary is intended to highlight key changes only. Please review the applicable plan documents for complete coverage details, limitations, exclusions, and eligibility requirements.
| Critical Illness Plan | 2027 Enhancements |
| Sudden Cardiac Arrest | 50% of elected benefit level |
| Coronary Artery By-Pass Surgery/Disease | 50% of elected benefit level |
| Accident Plan | |
| Ground Ambulance | $450 High Plan/$400 Low Plan |
| Emergency Room | $185 High Plan/$125 Low plan |
| Urgent Care | $125 High Plan/$100 Low Plan |
| X-Ray | $200 High Plan/$100 Low Plan |
| Hospital Indemnity Plan | |
| Daily Stay; Limitations | 60 days/year |
Important Reminder
You must enroll or re-enroll in Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) each year during annual benefits open enrollment. This benefit does not roll over from year to year.
Annual Maximum Contribution Amounts
The annual max contribution amounts have not been announced by the IRS. Once these announcements are made, we will incorporate any increase to our Flexible Spending Account offerings.
2026 Current Maximum Contribution Amounts
- Healthcare FSA: the current (2026) maximum contribution amount is $3,400.
- Dependent Care FSA: the current (2026) maximum contribution is $7,500 per household, including the $10 per pay period Carilion match.
2027 Maximum Contribution Amounts
- Dependent Care FSA: The IRS has not yet finalized the 2027 Dependent Care FSA annual contribution limit. This page will be updated with the new annual maximums once they are announced. As a reminder, Carilion Clinic contributes $10 per pay period, which should be included in your calculation for how much to contribute in 2027. Please refer to the DCFSA worksheet for guidance.
- Healthcare FSA: The IRS has not yet finalized the 2027 Healthcare FSA annual contribution limits. This page will be updated with the new annual maximums once they are announced.
FSA Payroll Deduction Information
- Although your FSA deduction will appear in Workday as a semi-monthly deduction, the total annual amount will be divided over 26 pay periods for the year.
- This means the deduction amount shown in Workday may look like it’s based on a twice-monthly schedule, but the actual deduction is calculated to spread evenly across all 26 pay periods.
- Deductions will begin with the first paycheck following the effective date of your enrollment and will appear on your pay stub under Pre-Tax Deductions.
Benefit Deductions will come out of 24 pay periods. What this means:
- Benefit premiums will come out of two pay checks per month. On the months there are three pay checks, benefit premiums will not be deducted from the third check.
- If you participate in the 403b/401k savings plan or are enrolled in Flexible Spending Accounts, those deductions will occur over 26 pay periods in 2027.
- If you have a benefit premium arrears balance, those deductions will occur over 26-pay periods.
- Refer to the chart below to see what benefits are taken out of which pay checks.
| Benefit | First Pay Period | Second Pay Period | Third Pay Period |
| Medical and Vision | x | x | |
| Dental | x | x | |
| Short-Term Disability | x | x | |
| Long-Term Disability | x | x | |
| Supplemental Life | x | x | |
| Critical Illness | x | x | |
| Hospital Indemnity | x | x | |
| Accident | x | x | |
| Legal | x | x | |
| Retirement Savings | x | x | x |
| Healthcare FSA | x | x | x |
| Dependent Care FSA | x | x | x |
Key points about your premiums
- For current employees: Premiums for 2027 are based on your current base hourly rate or salary amount as of Oct. 4, 2026. Your premiums should not change during the plan year, even if you receive a pay change that would put you in a different tier.
- If you experienced a pay increase prior to Oct. 4, 2026, you could be in a different contribution tier for 2027.
- For employees hired or rehired after Oct. 4, 2026: Your base pay rate at the time of hire determines your premium costs; however, if you experience a pay increase or decrease, you could move to a different salary tier, and your medical premium could change during 2027. Salary tiers are the compensation ranges used to determine premium costs. Be sure to review the contribution summary to see how your premiums may change if your pay changes.
Virtual Benefits Fair
We continue to offer the virtual benefits fair as a resource to help you learn more about your benefits. Starting Wednesday, Oct. 28, the fair will be updated with 2027 benefits information and is available 24/7.
From wherever you are, in the morning or in the afternoon, visit vendor booths virtually to learn more about your available benefits.
Tools and resources are available at each booth from these plan carriers to help answer your benefits questions:
- Aetna
- Delta Dental
- New York Life
- Optum Financial
- Principal
- Voluntary Benefits
- And more!
Visit the Fair to Win!
Check out the fair between Wednesday, Oct. 28 and Tuesday, Nov. 17 and be entered into a drawing for various door prizes donated by our vendors.
- When you visit 5 booths, a pop-up box will ask you to enter your email address.
- All prizes will be mailed to the winners’ home address.
The fair is open all year for new hires and employees who become eligible for benefits and want to learn more.
Access the fair from here, starting Oct. 28, or scan the QR code below on Oct. 28 or after.
Alex® Virtual Benefits Counselor
ALEX® Returns Oct. 28
ALEX, our interactive online benefits counselor, once again has all the knowledge on the 2027 benefits to help you make choices about important life events—from selecting a health insurance plan to managing leaves of absence.
Whenever you want to talk, ALEX will walk you through your benefits, pay and well-being choices so you can make decisions based on personal and anticipated needs.
- If you are wondering how much to save for retirement, Alex can offer advice.
- Get guidance on the go with Alex in English and Spanish. Have a recommendation in minutes on your mobile device.
- If you have benefits questions, Alex offers chat and short videos on various benefit-related topics.
Take a look at ALEX’s Benefit Sneak Peek video.
Get to know ALEX when he goes live Oct. 28 at: https://www.myalex.com/carilionclinic/2027 .
OR scan the QR code below on Oct. 28 or after.
A Reminder About Retirement Savings Plans
In accordance with the Secure 2.0 Act—a federal measure passed in 2022 to encourage more people to save for retirement—there are changes nationwide for catch-up contributions within retirement savings plans.
Catch-up contributions are additional pre-tax contributions you can make to your retirement plan (as designated by the IRS) if you are 50 or older. Be sure to check the Savings Plan page (Benefits>Retirement) on the Benefits, Pay and Well-being hub on Inside Carilion.
Helpful Tips for Completing Open Enrollment
- Complete open enrollment in Workday to enroll in benefits and acknowledge important reminders about your savings plans.
- Note: Social security numbers are required when you enroll your dependents.
- Note: Social security numbers are required when you enroll your dependents.
- Use a Carilion computer that is connected to the network to successfully update your benefits and complete open enrollment.
- To access Workday outside of a Carilion facility, use the apps portal at apps.CarilionClinic.org or use the Workday mobile app.
- For technical assistance with Workday, contact TSG at 540-224-1599 or 800-254-1599.
- Create a plan for your future; schedule free sessions with our retirement educator through Principal.com/Carilion1on1. The educators can help you better understand your personal retirement goals and help you create a plan for your future.
- Enroll or re-enroll in a Flexible Spending Account (FSA) during benefits open enrollment. Your elections from last year do not carry over.
- If enrolling in or making changes to Employee/Spouse supplemental life insurance, you may be asked to complete Evidence of Insurability (EOI) in order to be approved. The EOI will show up in your Workday task box at the beginning of January. Notification of approval or denial will be initiated from New York Life. Premiums will not be charged for any amounts undergoing the EOI process until approval is received
- After the Open Enrollment task is complete, Workday may display the most recent effective date from last year’s benefits if no changes were made during that period. This is normal. Any new elections made during this year’s open enrollment will still take effect on Jan. 1, 2027, even if a different effective date appears.
- Tuesday, Nov. 17: Deadline to Complete Open Enrollment
If you do not enroll in or make benefits changes by Nov. 17, your next opportunity to elect or update your benefits coverage will be next year’s open enrollment period, or if you experience a qualifying event in 2027—such as getting married or having a baby.
- Wednesday, Dec. 2: Deadline to Submit Domestic Partner Affidavits
You can submit your documents by creating a case through Employee Center.
Step 1: Learn more about all your available benefits and rewards on Employee Center and Inside Carilion under the Benefits, Pay, and Well-Being hub.
Step 2: Interact with Alex and the Virtual Benefits Fair to find the benefits that best fit you and your household.
Step 3: Visit Workday between Tuesday, Nov. 3 and Tuesday, Nov. 17 to enroll in or make changes to benefits.
- 2027 Contribution Summary - Employee (PDF)
- 2027 Contribution Summary - Physician (PDF)
- 2027 Contribution Summary - Medical Resident (PDF)
- Medical Plan Summary 2027 (PDF)
- Out-of-Area Medical Plan Summary 2027 (PDF)
- Comprehensive Vision Summary (PDF)
- Basic Dental Plan 2027 (PDF)
- Comprehensive Dental Plan 2027 (PDF)
- Aetna Supplemental Plans Highlight Sheet (PDF)
- Aetna Accident Plan Summary 2027 (PDF)
- Aetna Hospital Indemnity Plan Summary 2027 (PDF)
- Aetna Critical Illness Plan Summary 2027 (PDF)
- Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account Worksheet (xlxs)
