Benefits - Open Enrollment Overview

When is Open Enrollment?

Open Enrollment begins on Monday, November 10th, and lasts through Friday, November 21, 2025. Changes go into effect on January 1, 2026.

Important Reminder: You cannot change or adjust your benefit elections outside of the open enrollment period unless you experience a qualifying event such as marriage, divorce, birth, adoption or gain or loss of coverage. Benefits that are governed by this rule include all medical and dental elections and flexible spending.

Benefit changes due to a qualifying life event must be made within 31 days of the event, which requires submission of supporting documentation. After 31 days, changes to medical, dental, and flex spending benefits must be made during Open Enrollment.

What is Open Enrollment?

Open Enrollment, sometimes referred to as annual enrollment, is the window of opportunity occurring once a year when employees of The New School may make changes to their elected fringe benefit options such as health insurance, dental insurance, flexible spending, etc.

How to Enroll

No action is required if you do not wish to make any change to your benefits enrollment—you will automatically be re-enrolled in your 2025 elected medical and dental plans.

Follow the instructions below if you do wish to make changes to your elections, or if you wish to enroll in a Flexible Spending Account (FSA) for 2026.

1. Learn more about your benefits and the benefit changes for 2026 by reviewing your Open Enrollment Guide and this overview card.
1. You may also wish to attend an upcoming Benefits Information Session, Q&A, or on-campus office hours if you have questions regarding open enrollment or your benefits. View the full schedule of Open Enrollment events.
2. Review your current benefit elections and costs in MyDay. Click on the Benefits app on your homepage, then select View > Benefit Elections.
3. Use our Navigating Open Enrollment guide for step-by-step instructions to changes to your medical, dental, or life insurance and/or to enroll in a Flexible Spending Account (FSA) for 2026 in MyDay.
4. Once you have submitted your changes or elections, you can use the 'Print' button in MyDay to download a PDF for your records.

All changes will go into effect on January 1, 2026.

Which benefits should I enroll in or modify during Open Enrollment?

Outside of your initial period of eligibility or change in eligibility, you may change most benefit elections only once a year during the university's annual Open Enrollment period. This means that you may enroll in a new benefit plan, switch to a different benefit plan (such as from one healthcare plan to another), or change your per-paycheck contributions only once per year (except for qualifying life events, also called a Change in Status).

Full-Time Faculty & Staff, and Part-Time Staff

Your 2025 benefits will automatically continue in 2026 and you do not need to take any action if:

• You (and your currently enrolled dependents, if any) want to continue to be enrolled in the same medical plan that you have in 2025
• You (and your currently enrolled dependents, if any) want the same dental plan that you have in 2025
• You do not want to make a 2026 Health Care or Dependent Care FSA election

Please review the plan materials below to choose the options that best meet the needs of you and your family.

• Medical Insurance:
• Aetna Choice Plan (POS)
• Aetna Select Plan (EPO)
• Aetna Value Plan with HSA (NOTE: If you are enrolled in the HSA plan, you must also open a new account with Inspira Financial during Open Enrollment)
• Vision Insurance:
• Aetna Vision Preferred Plan
• Dental Insurance:
• Aetna Dental HMO Plan
• Aetna Dental PPO Plan
• FSA Plans:
• Health Care Flexible Spending Account
• Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account

Part-Time Faculty

Your 2025 benefits will automatically continue in 2026 and you do not need to take any action if:

• You (and your currently enrolled dependents, if any) want to continue to be enrolled in the EPO that you have in 2025
• You (and your currently enrolled dependents, if any) want the same dental plan that you have in 2025
• You do not want to make a 2026 Health Care or Dependent Care FSA election

How do I change my benefits?

All changes to your elections have to be made through the university's online self-service system, MyDay. View your current elections or follow along with the Open Enrollment - MyDay Navigation to update your benefit elections during Open Enrollment.

Return to Benefits - Overview.

RELATED LINKS

• ​Benefits - Terminology (Glossary)​
• Benefits - New Hire Enrollment
• Benefits - Change in Enrollment Eligibility
• Benefits - View Current Elections
• Benefits - Change in Status (Qualifying Life Event)
• MyDay Benefits Guide