Benefits Enrollment

Open Enrollment: October 19 - November 6

Benefits Enrollment is Oct. 19-Nov. 6 for benefits eligible employees in all OU programs. If you do not make changes to your benefits, you will automatically be enrolled in the same plan as 2026, with the exception of any Health Savings Accounts (HSA) and Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) in which you are enrolled. HSA and FSA plan elections must be completed each year. In addition, you may review 2026 benefits by using Employee Self-Service.

Top things to know about 2027 Benefits

Medical & Pharmacy

Vendor

Medical benefits will remain with Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) in 2027
Pharmacy benefits will remain with Rightway in 2027

Premium Rates

Premiums will increase 6.77% for active employees

Plan Design Changes

PPO Plan

Category	Current 2026 Plan Year	2027 Plan Year
Deductible	$2,000 Individual / $4,000 Family	$2,500 Individual / $5,000 Family
Primary Care Physician	$25 Copay	$25 Copay
Specialist	$35 Copay	$40 Copay
Emergency	$100 Copay per visit + 15% coinsurance	$200 Copay per visit + 20% coinsurance
Coinsurance	15% after deductible	20% after deductible

HDHP Plan

Category	Current 2026 Plan Year	2027 Plan Year
Deductible	$4,300 Individual / $8,600 Family	$4,300 Individual / $8,600 Family
Coinsurance	15% after deductible	20% after deductible
Out-of-Pocket Max	$7,750 Individual / $15,500 Family	$8,500 Individual / $17,000 Family

Garner & ZERO Health

The university will continue to offer both Garner and ZERO in 2027 at no cost to employees. For more information on Garner and ZERO, please visit our webpage.

Dental

Vendor

BCBS will remain the dental plan carrier in 2027

Premium Rates

Premiums will increase by 3.73%

Plan Design

There will be no plan design changes to the dental plan in 2027

Vision

Vendor

VSP will remain the vision plan carrier in 2027

Premium Rates

Premiums will remain the same in 2027

Life & Disability

Vendor

The Standard will remain the life and disability plan carrier in 2027

Premium Rates

Premiums will remain the same in 2027

Flexible Spending Accounts

2027 Maximum Contribution Limit

The IRS has not yet published the 2027 maximum contribution limits.

More Information Coming Soon!

Health Savings Accounts

2027 Maximum Contribution Limit

The HSA contribution limits for 2027 are $4,500 for individual coverage and $9,000 for family coverage.
Employees 55 and older who are not enrolled in Medicare can contribute an additional $1,000 as a catch-up contribution.

More Information Coming Soon!

Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

More Information Coming Soon!

Benefit Documents

2027 Premium Rates

Attend a Benefits Fair!

Date	Time	Campus	Location
October 12	10am - 2pm	Tulsa Campus	OU Schusterman Learning Center, Founders Hall
October 13	10am - 2pm	Norman - South Campus	Stephenson Research & Technology Center, Atrium
October 14	9am - 3pm	Norman - Main Campus	OU Armory
October 15	9am - 3pm	Health Campus	Robert M. Bird Library

Enrollment Timeline

Before Enrollment

Attend a Benefits Fair. Vendor representatives will be available at all four locations.
Review your current benefits in Employee Self-Service. After you log in, go to Self-Service > Benefit Details > Benefits Summary.
Contact Human Resources with any questions about benefits.
Review the Benefits Guide, found in the Quick Links on the right.

During Enrollment

Use Employee Self-Service to select your benefits that will be effective January 1, 2027. If you do not wish to make changes during this open enrollment opportunity, your benefits will continue as-is for 2027 with the exception of your Flexible Spending Account elections and Health Savings Account elections.
Add or drop coverage for yourself or your dependents.
If you are already enrolled in a Flexible Spending Account (FSA), you must re-enroll to continue your FSA in 2027. Use Employee Self-Service to do this.
If you are already enrolled in a Health Savings Account (HSA), you must select your contribution levels for 2027. Use Employee Self-Service to do this.
Choose if you would like to be enrolled in Short-Term Disability, Long-Term Disability, or any other voluntary insurance plans.
Review your beneficiary information. You will be able to review whom you have designated as beneficiaries and verify their information is up-to-date.

After Enrollment

Whether or not you take action during the enrollment period, you will receive a Confirmation Statement in Self-Service. If you do make selections, your Confirmation Statement will be online within 48 hours of your enrollment. If you do not take action, your Confirmation Statement will be available within 48 hours after open enrollment ends. Either way, you’ll receive an email to let you know it’s there. Printed Confirmation Statements will not be delivered through campus mail.
Review the statement to be sure benefits are correct.
If you have questions after reviewing this confirmation, contact Human Resources by November 6, 2026.
If you make changes to life or disability insurance, you may be required to complete additional forms which will be mailed to you after you complete enrollment. Please return them promptly.

Additional things to consider

Consider reviewing your beneficiary designations with Fidelity for retirement plans and in Employee Self-Service for life insurance and accidental death and dismemberment insurance.

Review and Update Your Beneficiaries!

Keeping your beneficiary information up to date is one of the simplest and most important steps you can take to protect the people who matter most. Life changes such as marriage, divorce, the birth of a child, or the loss of a loved one can all impact who you want to receive your benefits. Open Enrollment is a great time to review your beneficiaries! By reviewing and updating your beneficiaries regularly, you help ensure your wishes are honored and your loved ones are supported without unnecessary delays or complications.

Take a few minutes today to log in and review your current designations. It’s a quick task that can make a lasting difference. If you haven’t checked your beneficiaries in the past year, now is the perfect time to do so. Your future self and your loved ones will thank you.

Benefit and Retirement Plan Beneficiaries

Remember to review and update your life and AD&D beneficiary information in PeopleSoft Self-Service.
You can update your 401(a), voluntary retirement plan information with Fidelity by logging in to Fidelity NetBenefits.
If you are currently enrolled in Oklahoma Teacher’s Retirement (OTRS), you may update your beneficiaries by logging into the OTRS portal.

Wage Beneficiaries

Designating a wage beneficiary is a step that many people overlook, but it's important. If something were to happen to you, having a designated wage beneficiary ensures that your final paycheck(s) are directed according to your wishes.

To complete the Wage Beneficiary Designation:

Log in to Employee Self-Service.
Go to the Payroll tile.
Click on the “OU Wage Beneficiary” tile to update your wage beneficiaries.

Update Your Address!

Please help us keep you informed by ensuring your physical mailing address is correct in Self Service.

If you make changes to your medical or dental coverage, new ID cards will be sent to your mailing address.

Insurance Rates

Benefits-eligible employees receive university contributions (called Sooner Credits) for the premiums on medical, dental, life, and accident protection insurance. To review the rates for the current plan year, choose your classification below.

2027 Premium Rates

By Employee Type

Full-Time Employees

Full-Time Employees (Paid over 12 months)

Part-Time Employees

9-Month Faculty

COBRA Participants

COBRA Premium Rates

Review your confirmation statement

View the confirmation statement by visiting the OU Employee Self-Service portal. Whether or not you enrolled in or changed your benefits, you'll receive an email when your Confirmation Statement is available in Self-Service. Please review your Confirmation Statement to be sure your benefits are correct.

For Norman and Health Campus employees: Main Menu>Benefit Details>Benefit Statements

For questions about benefits enrollment or your confirmation statement, contact Human Resources.