It’s almost game time for Open Enrollment, the once-a-year window when employees can step up and make changes to their benefit lineup. From May 1st through May 15th at 4 PM, participants have the opportunity to adjust benefit elections and confirm which dependents will be covered for the upcoming season.

Starting May 1st, employees can log into Employee Self Service to make their selections before the final buzzer sounds on May 15th at 4pm.

The benefits season runs July 1 through June 30, and the elections made during Open Enrollment will officially take effect July 1, 2026.

BENEFITS LINEUP REPORT:

When you enter ESS, you’ll be making your picks for each of the following benefit plans—setting your roster for the year ahead.

• Health

• Stand-Alone Dental

• Stand-Alone Vision

• Flexible Spending Account – Medical

• Flexible Spending Account – Dependent Care

Think of it as building your benefits starting lineup—making the selections that will support you and your family throughout the upcoming plan year.

BENEFITS SIDELINE REPORT:

While most benefits can be selected in Employee Self Service (ESS), a few plans operate a little differently. These options can only be elected or adjusted during Open Enrollment, but they won’t appear in ESS, so participants will need to make their moves off the main scoreboard.

Here’s the rundown:

Aflac – This coverage requires a contract and is not included in ESS. To enroll or make changes, contact Dana Norris at 540-325-1649 or dana_norris@us.aflac.com before the May 15th, 4 PM deadline.

Legal Resources – To enroll, waive, or make changes, complete the Legal Resources enrollment form and return it to HR by May 15th at 4 PM.

Health Savings Account (HSA) – Players must first be enrolled in the High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP) to participate. To join the HSA, complete the enrollment form and submit it to HR during Open Enrollment.

Bottom line: These benefits are still in play during Open Enrollment—you’ll just need to make your selections outside of ESS before the final buzzer on May 15th at 4 PM.

For comprehensive instructions on how to complete the OE process in ESS, please refer to the OE guide for 2025-2026. You will also find OE resources, plan materials, pricing, and more in this guide.

BENEFITS DESK – Deduction Breakdown

Let’s take a look at how the benefits deductions play out on the payroll scoreboard.

For Health, Stand-Alone Dental, and Stand-Alone Vision, deductions are taken one month in advance because the providers bill the division ahead of time. That means the new plan rates will begin with the June payrolls, setting the stage for the upcoming plan year.

For Flexible Spending Accounts, Aflac, Legal Resources, and the Health Savings Account, the timing is a little different. Since those providers do not bill in advance, deductions for these benefits will begin with the July payrolls.

Now here’s the key rule once Open Enrollment wraps up:
After the May 15th deadline, the lineup is locked in. Employees cannot add, drop, or change coverage for themselves or their dependents until the next Open Enrollment.

The only exception comes if there’s a qualifying mid-year life event—such as marriage, birth, or other eligible changes. In those cases, adjustments may be made for Health, Stand-Alone Dental or Vision, Flexible Spending, Aflac, or Legal Resources.

Bottom line: once the buzzer sounds on Open Enrollment, your benefits roster is set for the season—unless a qualifying life event puts a new play in motion.

IMPORTANT ALERT– Final Buzzer

This is your two-week window to make your move. Open Enrollment is only open for a limited time, and late submissions cannot be accepted once the clock hits zero.

The Open Enrollment tab in Employee Self Service (ESS) will open on May 1, giving employees the chance to review and make their benefit elections. But don’t wait until the last second—the deadline is May 15 at 4 PM, when the final buzzer sounds and the window officially closes.