2027 OPEN ENROLLMENT
Thursday, Oct. 29, 2026 8 a.m. -
Friday, Nov. 20, 2026 5 p.m. Pacific times
Changes will be effective January 1, 2027
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OPEN ENROLLMENT IS OCT 29 - NOV 20 5PM
What to know for 2027
What to know for 2027
UC’s plan choices remain available for 2027, but some premiums and out-of-pocket costs are changing. Use these highlights as a starting point, then review the complete details on UC’s official site. Watch the Recorded Presentations for details.
For complete plan changes, costs, and eligibility rules, visit the official UC Open Enrollment website.
Prepare before you enroll
Prepare before you enroll
A short review now makes it easier to compare plans and confirm your elections before the November 20 deadline. The 2027 UC Medical Plan Availability Tool indicates plan availability by ZIP code and county. Developed by UCD
Review your current elections
Check your existing plans, dependents, and contact information in UCPath.
Re-enroll in an FSA
Submit a new Health or Dependent Care FSA election if you want to participate in 2027.
Confirm providers and prescriptions
Same Medical plan options. Verify provider network and formulary coverage directly with the plan
Review covered family members
Make sure dependents remain eligible and respond to any verification request.
Estimate total costs
Compare premiums together with deductibles, copays, coinsurance and expected care.
Save your confirmation
After submitting in UCPath, carefully review and retain your confirmation statement.
Official UC resources
Start with UC’s complete benefits information
Start with UC’s complete benefits information
The UC Open Enrollment site is the source for 2027 plan changes, monthly premiums, medical plan comparisons, and enrollment instructions. Berkeley Lab resources are designed to help you navigate and apply that information. Watch the UCPath tutorial video.
Open Enrollment events
Open Enrollment events
Use the complete Berkeley Lab Benefits calendar to find employee presentations, CUCSA, and plan partner sessions, deadlines, and other Open Enrollment events. Select an event for its description and registration information, if needed.
Berkeley Lab Benefits calendar Open the full calendar in a new window →
Presentation recordings and plan information
Presentation recordings and plan information
Unable to attend a session? Recordings and supporting materials will be added here after they become available. Employees can return to this section for the presentation video, slides and responses to frequently asked questions.
Berkeley Lab Open Enrollment overview
Berkeley Lab Open Enrollment overview
A review of the 2027 changes, employee actions, available resources, and important deadlines.
Recording To be added
Presentation slides To be added
Questions and answers To be added
Delta Dental plan
Delta Dental plan
Recordings or reference materials shared by UC and participating benefits plans will be posted when provided.
WEX Health - Flexible Spending Accounts
WEX Health - Flexible Spending Accounts
Save money by paying for eligible health or dependent care expenses pre-tax. Remember, you must re-enroll each year!
2027 Health FSA Limit $3,400
2027 Dependent FSA Limit $7,500
ARAG Legal Plan
ARAG Legal Plan
UC’s voluntary legal insurance through ARAG gives you access to over 15,000 network attorneys nationwide for legal matters like creating wills, estate planning, marriage, buying a home, and more.
Kaiser plan
Kaiser plan
Kaiser Permanente HMO offers coordinated medical, pharmacy, behavioral health, and specialty care through Kaiser’s integrated network. For 2027, the plan remains available, but premiums and certain out-of-pocket costs are changing, so employees should review their costs and confirm that Kaiser’s service area meets their needs. Employees in the Mid-Atlantic region now have access to Kaiser.
Recorded Presentation
UC Blue & Gold plan
UC Blue & Gold plan
UC Blue & Gold HMO provides coordinated care through Health Net’s network, including access to UC Health medical centers and other participating providers. For 2027, the plan remains available with Health Net as the administrator, but premiums and certain out-of-pocket costs are changing, so employees should review the plan details and confirm that their providers participate in the network.
Questions and answers from presentation
Supplemental Health Plans
Supplemental Health Plans
Supplemental Health Plans—including Accident, Critical Illness, and Hospital Indemnity coverage—provide cash benefits following certain covered injuries, diagnoses, or hospital stays. These voluntary plans can help with medical deductibles and everyday expenses, but they do not replace comprehensive medical insurance.
Vision Service plan (VSP)
Vision Service plan (VSP)
Vision Service Plan (VSP) provides coverage for routine eye exams, prescription glasses, and contact lenses through a nationwide network of participating providers. For 2027, Warby Parker joins their vast network.
Recording To be added
Local guidance
Need help making sense of your options?
Need help making sense of your options?
You do not have to sort through everything alone. A consultation can help you identify the official resources that apply to your situation and prepare questions for the health plan or UCPath.
Schedule with the Health Care Facilitator
Schedule with the Health Care Facilitator
Select an available Open Enrollment appointment time using the Berkeley Lab Benefits scheduling page.
Common questions
Common questions
These quick answers cover the actions employees ask about most often. Plan-specific questions should be confirmed through UC’s Open Enrollment site or the plan. These are the top 5 questions; find additional Questions and Answers here
Do I need to make an election if I want to keep my current coverage?
Do I need to make an election if I want to keep my current coverage?
Most existing benefit elections continue automatically if you do not make changes. However, you must take action if you want to:
Change medical, dental, vision, or other eligible coverage.
Add or remove an eligible family member.
Enroll or continue participating in a Health or Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account (FSA). FSA elections do not automatically continue.
If you contribute to the Health Savings Account, your monthly election will continue into the new year.
Even if you do not plan to make changes, review your plans, covered family members, premiums, and beneficiaries.
Where do I make Open Enrollment changes?
Where do I make Open Enrollment changes?
Employees make elections in UCPath from October 29 at 8 a.m. through November 20 at 5 p.m. Pacific time.
Where can I see the premium that applies to me?
Where can I see the premium that applies to me?
Use ALEX or review your Open Enrollment event in UCPath. Premiums may vary by salary band, coverage level, plan, and bargaining unit.
Can I change life, disability, or AD&D coverage during Open Enrollment?
Can I change life, disability, or AD&D coverage during Open Enrollment?
You cannot make voluntary disability, supplemental life, or AD&D changes through the UCPath Open Enrollment event. These plans have separate enrollment and change rules. Review UC’s insurance change information or contact UCPath (855-982-7284) before attempting to make a change.
Can the Health Care Facilitator tell me which plan to choose?
Can the Health Care Facilitator tell me which plan to choose?
The Health Care Facilitator can help you understand your options and identify questions to consider, but the final plan decision is yours. Provider participation, prescription coverage and plan-specific benefits should be confirmed directly with the plan.
Last update: 10/26/2026
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