2026 Open Enrollment
Open Enrollment: Sept. 14 – Oct. 9, 2026
Working for the State of California gives you access to competitive, quality and affordable benefits for a life well lived. By using your employee benefits, you can improve your overall wellbeing, positively impacting long-term physical and financial health for yourself and your loved ones.
Open Enrollment is your annual chance to review and update the following benefits:
- Health
- Dental
- Vision
- FlexElect Reimbursement Accounts
- Legal Insurance
- Cash Option (Non-CoBen)
- Cash Option (CoBen)
- COBRA
- Long-Term Disability Insurance (LTD)
- Supplemental Life Insurance
- NEW: Pet Insurance
2027 Plan Changes and Enhancements
Dental
Beginning January 1, 2027, eight dental plan options will be available across two carriers: six PPO plans (Delta Dental and MetLife) and two prepaid DHMO plans (Delta Dental and MetLife).
DHMO (prepaid) plans administered by Western Dental, Premier Access and MetLife Enhanced DHMO end December 31, 2026. Current coverage under these plans remains active through December 31, 2026.
During Open Enrollment (September 14 – October 9, 2026), choose a 2027 plan. If you do not choose a plan by October 9, 2026:
- Employees currently in a DHMO (prepaid) plan will be auto enrolled into MetLife Select DHMO.
- Employees currently in a Delta Dental PPO plan will continue their enrollment under new plan names.
Learn more about the dental changes and dental plan names on the CalHR Dental webpage.
Pet Insurance
We are pleased to introduce MetLife pet insurance. This voluntary program offers customizable plans to help protect your furry friends from unexpected veterinary expenses, including coverage for accidents, illnesses and routine care. Eligible employees can enroll in or modify their pet insurance coverage at any time, not just during Open Enrollment.
Learn more about Pet Insurance on the CalHR Pet Insurance webpage.
Open Enrollment Benefits Fairs
Discover your benefit options and get the answers you need to prepare for important decisions about your benefit plans including health, dental, vision and more.
In-Person Benefits Fairs: September 2, 2026, join us at the State Capitol in Sacramento.
Virtual Benefits Fair: September 9, 2026. Join to connect with carriers online, view on-demand video presentations, listen to the CalPERS health plan webinar and participate in live Q&As.
For more information and to register for events, visit the Benefits Fairs webpage.
How to Enroll or Make Changes During Open Enrollment
Visit our How to Enroll or Make Changes webpage and find the forms you will need to complete to make changes.
You can:
- Enroll, cancel or change your benefit elections for health, dental, vision, COBRA and legal insurance. You can also add or delete eligible dependents.
- Consider enrolling in FlexElect Reimbursement Accounts. If you already have a reimbursement account and want to continue participating next year, you must re-enroll during Open Enrollment.
- Enroll in a Cash Option in lieu of health and/or dental benefits if you have qualifying coverage through another source such as your spouse or domestic partner. Permanent-intermittent employees who want to continue receiving the cash option must re-enroll annually during Open Enrollment.
If you are an excluded employee:
- You can also enroll, cancel or change LTD coverage. Excluded employees enrolled in LTD now have the option to add their spouse to enhanced accident and critical illness coverage.
- If you are enrolled in basic group term life insurance, purchase or change your supplemental life insurance for yourself and your dependents. Changes can be made at any time.
No action is required if you are currently enrolled in health, dental, vision, cash option, group legal, LTD or supplemental life insurance and do not wish to make changes.
All changes take effect on January 1, 2027.
For eligibility information, please contact your departmental personnel office.
Open Enrollment Deadlines
- The last day to enroll or make changes to health, dental, vision, reimbursement accounts, cash options, group legal and LTD is October 9, 2026.
- Enrollments and changes submitted by mail must be postmarked by October 9, 2026.
- For FlexElect Reimbursement Accounts, the last day to change or cancel your enrollment is December 31, 2026.
- For cash options, your last day to change or cancel your enrollment (including automatic re-enrollment) is December 31, 2026.
