Managing Your Benefits

Open Enrollment Season is in Full Swing. Here’s What You Need to Know

Published April 24, 2026

It's open enrollment season, which means the time is now to make changes to your benefit election without a qualifying event like the birth of a child, marriage or loss of other coverage.

Is your employer offering a new plan or did it add ancillary coverages like vision, life insurance or disability? Has your health or that of a dependent changed in the past year? You may want to review your options and see if you have the best coverages to fit your current needs.

Other things to consider include:

• If you’ve had health changes in the last year that might be the impetus for enrolling in a vision hardware plan or an FSA if offered by your employer
• Do you have dependents to add or drop from coverage?

You MUST take action during Open Enrollment if you wish to:

• Enroll for the first time
• Make changes to your current medical, dental or vision coverages or
• Contribute to an Flexible Spending Account (FSA)You must annually make an FSA election to continue your contribution

Here are some important resources to help you during open enrollment.

Understand Your Benefits

• The annual Enrollment Guide provides an overview of the health and wellness benefits provided by SchoolCare, updated Good For You! Well-Being Program details, a spotlight on new benefit offerings, a checklist to make sure you’re on track and more.
• Your group-specific benefit summaries and health plan webinars can be found here. Select your employer/group from the drop-down list for details about your plans.
• Check with your HR department to find out if there is going to be an in-person or virtual open enrollment meeting where you can speak live with a member of SchoolCare ’s Group Relations Team. If not, watch this year’s recorded Open Enrollment Webinar.

Consider Personal Health Changes or New Needs

Do you or a family member need glasses or contacts that you didn’t previously need? Were you prescribed a new medication or did you come off one that might change how much you set aside for a Flexible Spending Account (FSA)? This is the time of year to enroll in a vision hardware coverage plan or FSA if offered by your group.

If you are newly joining the Orange Plan or have been on it but haven’t set up a Health Savings Account yet, the start of a new plan year is a good time to open your account and plan how much you wish to contribute keeping within the federal maximum contribution guidelines.

Need assistance?

Changes you make, or do not make, during open enrollment last for an entire year. Medical plans may be dropped at any time in the year, but you are not eligible to enroll in a plan mid-year without a qualifying event. Vision and dental plans cannot be dropped mid-year.  

Get assistance if needed:

• For questions about benefit changes or forms contact your HR department
• For specific medical or dental coverage questions contact Cigna at 800-244-6224
• For additional information and resources click on Resources in the menu above

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