Annual Enrollment—your once-a-year opportunity to enroll in JHU's benefits that best fit your unique needs—opens Oct. 15. Wherever you are in your life and on your health and well-being journey, now is the time to take full advantage of JHU's benefits to support you in your work and life. The university offers a robust suite of benefits designed to support your health, financial goals, and overall well-being so that you can focus on what matters most.
Is it OK to skip Annual Enrollment?
If you don't select benefits during Annual Enrollment, your current medical, dental, and vision coverage—and that of your covered dependents—will carry over to 2026. However, you must reselect your contribution amounts for flexible spending accounts and health savings accounts or they will reset to zero. If you aren't enrolled or want to make any changes, this is your annual opportunity to do so unless you experience a personal life change in 2026.
Image caption: JHU benefits programs support individuals in each phase of their life.
Read on to see what you should know about 2026 benefits. Visit the Benefits Enrollment webpage for full details, and enroll by Oct. 31 in the benefits portal.
What you should know for 2026
The university is committed to offering you comprehensive benefits plans, services, and support for 2026. Overall, plans have limited changes for the coming year. Here's a brief overview of what you should know as you make your benefits decisions for next year.
Medical updates
The university's total health care costs will increase by approximately 14% in 2026. JHU will absorb most of the increase, while employee medical premiums will increase by 4%.
As of Jan. 1, 2026, JHU will no longer offer a medical waiver credit for employees who opt out of JHU medical coverage. You are still able to opt out but will not receive a payment.
Medical, dental, and vision plan options, coverage, deductibles, co-pays, and limits will remain the same, with the university continuing to cover more than 75% of the total cost of premiums.
Updated limits for tax-advantaged accounts
In 2026, the health care flexible spending account maximum employee contribution limit will increase to $3,400 (from $3,300).
If you contribute to a dependent care flexible spending account, or DCFSA, you'll be able to set aside up to $7,500 per family, or $3,750 per person if married and filing taxes separately. Thanks to the increased tax-free maximum, eligible families will now have more flexibility to combine child care vouchers, backup care, and DCFSA benefits.
If you elect the CareFirst high-deductible health plan for your medical insurance, you'll be able to set aside more money in your health savings account in 2026. The maximum contribution limit is increasing to $4,400 (from $4,300) for individual coverage and to $8,750 (from $8,550) for family coverage. Note that these maximum amounts include JHU's contribution.
A new well-being program: Vida Health
Starting Jan. 1, 2026, adults enrolled in a JHU CareFirst health plan will have access to Vida Health, a personalized digital health platform that provides coaching and tools to support your physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Vida Health offers support for nutrition, weight management, pre-diabetes, diabetes, hypertension, and more.
Resources to help you choose confidently
Need help deciding which plans and programs are right for you? Here are some ways to learn more about 2026 benefits:
- Ask ALEX, a virtual benefits counselor that can guide you through your options. Answer a few questions about your health care needs and preferences to find the right benefits for you in about 10 minutes. Learn about your options, compare costs, plan for care, and you can even compare with your spouse or domestic partner's medical plan.
- Quantum Health experts are ready to answer your health care questions and can help you choose the right plan for you and your family.
- Virtual town hall webinars are scheduled throughout October for you to hear about 2026 benefits firsthand. If you can't attend live, look for a recording on the Benefits Enrollment webpage.
- In-person benefits fairs are happening from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 16, in the Glass Pavilion at Homewood and on Tuesday, Oct. 21, at the Turner Concourse in East Baltimore. Attend to connect with benefits representatives and vendors (and get your flu shot, too).
Supporting you every step of the way
Whether you're navigating your career, caring for loved ones, managing finances, steering through life's challenges, working to live life fully, or any combination of these, the university is committed to offering benefits that bring lasting value to help you thrive today and prepare for tomorrow.
Visit the Benefits Enrollment webpage to select your 2026 benefits before Annual Enrollment closes on Oct. 31.
Questions? Email benefits@jhu.edu or call 410-516-2000.
Posted in Benefits+Perks
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