OPEN ENROLLMENT 2026

YSU offers two medical plans to benefit eligible employees to meet the needs of the employees and their families. Through Medical Mutual of Ohio employees can choose between two plans: the Traditional Plan or the Consumer Driven Health Plan with a Health Savings Account (read more about the HSA below).

Open enrollment is the time for employees to review these plans and elect coverage to support their needs.

• PPO Plan Summary
• Consumer Driven Health Plan Summary

YSU offers dental coverage through Delta Dental. Employees are encouraged to review the plan summary before electing coverage.

• Delta Dental Summary of Benefits

YSU offers vision coverage to benefit eligible employees through NVA. Employees are encouraged to review the summary plan before electing coverage.

• NVA Vision Summary of Benefits*

Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs) allow an employee to set aside money to reimburse themselves for health and dependent care expenses. Once enrolled, the elections are fixed for the remainder of the plan year. Qualifying events allow employees to make mid-year changes in contribution amounts.

Elections for the healthcare and dependent care programs must be made annually during the annual open enrollment period. Elections do not roll over into subsequent years. IRS rules indicate that claims must be submitted by March 31 of the following year, or funds will be forfeited.

2027 Maximum Contribution Limits for FSA Account 

• Health Care Flexible Spending Accounts Maximum Contribution Limit is $3,500.
• Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts Maximum Contribution Limit is $7,500 per household.

Health Care Flexible Spending Account

A Health Care Flexible Spending Account (FSA) is an employer-sponsored account that lets YSU employees set aside pre-tax money from their paycheck to pay for eligible medical, dental, and vision expenses.

How it works

• You choose an amount to contribute during your employer’s enrollment period.
• The money is deducted from your paycheck before taxes, which can reduce your taxable income.
• You can use the FSA to pay for eligible expenses such as:
  • Doctor and specialist copays
  • Prescription medications
  • Deductibles and coinsurance
  • Dental care
  • Vision care, including glasses and contacts
  • Certain eligible over-the-counter medical product

Claims may be incurred from January 1 to March 15 of the following year using a 14 ½ month plan year.

Dependent Care FSA

The Dependent Care FSA lets YSU employees use pre-tax dollars towards qualified dependent care such as caring for children under the age of 13 or caring for elders.

Examples include:

• The cost of child or adult dependent care
• The cost for an individual to provide care either in or out of your home
• Nursery schools and preschools (excluding kindergarten) FLEXIBLE SPENDING ACCOUNTS (SECTION 125 BENEFITS)

YOU MUST COMPLETE AN FSA PAYROLL DEDUCTION FORM ANNUALLY
 

FLEXIBLE SPENDING ACCOUNT AND DEPENDENT CARE ENROLLMENT FORM*

Health Savings Account (HSA)

YSU employees who enroll in the Consumer Driven Health Plan are eligible to participate in the Health Savings Account (HSA) plan. The University will contribute $500 for single coverage or $1000 for family coverage when an employee enrolls in the Consumer Driven Health Plan for 2027. Employees may also elect to contribute additional money into the account through payroll deductions. Once enrolled, the elections are fixed for the remainder of the plan year. Changes in family status allow employees to make midyear changes in coverage consistent with the family status change. Please contact the Human Resources department to determine if a family status change qualifies under the plan document and IRS regulations.

2027 Maximum Contribution Limits for HSA Account (Employee and YSU contributions combined)

• Single Annual Maximum Contribution Limit is $4,500
• Family Annual Maximum Contribution Limit is $9,000
• $1,000 catch up contribution for those 55+ and not on Medicare

Funds deposited into your HSA remain in your account and automatically roll over from one year to the next.

YOU MUST COMPLETE A HSA PAYROLL DEDUCTION FORM ANNUALLY

Health Savings Account Payroll Deduction Form*

• PNC Open Enrollment Education Library provides resources and education for employee eligible for a Health Savings Account.
• Health Savings Account Overview*
• Health Savings Account FAQ's*

YSU provides life insurance in the amount of 2.5 times the employee's basic annual compensation (rounded to the next higher $1,000) to a maximum benefit of $250,000. Basic compensation does not include supplemental pays such as overtime and overload. It does include deferred earnings under the retirement plans such as STRS, OPERS, ARP and voluntary 403(b) contributions.

YSU will be transitioning its Life and Long-Term Disability insurance coverage to Lincoln Financial, effective January 1, 2027.

Employees currently enrolled in these benefits will be automatically transitioned from the current carrier to Lincoln Financial. No action is required from employees at this time.

Supplemental Life Insurance

Employees who want to supplement their group life insurance benefits may purchase additional coverage. Employees are responsible for the full cost which is deducted through payroll deductions. You can purchase coverage for yourself and your spouse in $10,000 increments. For plan minimums and maximums, review the group life insurance program listed below for voluntary employee, spouse, and dependent coverage.

• Supplemental Life Plan Summary & Rates*
• Supplemental Life Enrollment Form*
• Life Beneficiary Form* - Employees are asked to keep updated beneficiaries on file in Human Resources.
• Evidence of Insurability* - Employees who did not enroll in this coverage during a qualifying event and are electing coverage during open enrollment must complete the evidence of insurability online process (see link). Once Lincoln Financial’s review of the employee/dependent submitted information is complete, the employee will be notified if the request for additional coverage is approved.

YSU employees are enrolled in the Long-Term Disability Insurance plan if they have less than 5 years of Ohio Retirement System service.

BENEFIT INDICATOR - AMOUNT  

• Elimination Period - 90 days
• Percentage of Income Replaced - 60% of monthly income
• Maximum Monthly Benefit - $7,500
• Minimum Monthly Benefit - $100

Supplemental Long-Term Disability Coverage

Supplemental coverage is available after the completion of the first five years of public service and is 100% cost to the employee. Employees may enroll upon the completion of their first five years of service, due to a qualifying event or during the annual open enrollment. Employees are encouraged to review their benefits through their state retirement system to determine availability and effective date before enrolling in coverage.

In the event you become disabled from a non-work-related injury or sickness, disability income benefits are provided as a source of income.

• Supplemental LTD Plan Summary & Rates
• Supplemental LTD Enrollment Form