Benefits open enrollment begins Tuesday; resources are available to support employee decisions for 2027

The opportunity to review, select and make changes to benefits for 2027 is almost here. Open enrollment for Purdue University and Purdue Global employees begins on Tuesday (Oct. 27) and continues through 6 p.m. ET Tuesday, Nov. 10, giving benefits-eligible employees two weeks to make decisions about their coverage for the coming year.

Most current benefit elections will automatically carry over into 2027, except for health savings accounts (HSAs), health reimbursement arrangements (HRAs) and flexible spending accounts (FSAs). To make changes to your current elections or enroll in an HSA, HRA or FSA for 2027, log in to Benefitfocus through the OneCampus Portal during the enrollment period.

Human Resources encourages all benefits-eligible employees to take an active role in the process by reviewing their options, understanding what requires action and making elections that best meet their needs.

Benefit elections made during open enrollment will remain in effect throughout 2027 unless a qualifying life event occurs.

Before enrollment begins: What employees should know

Employees are encouraged to review their current benefits, consider any changes in healthcare or family needs, and familiarize themselves with the options available for 2027.

Several important items require attention during open enrollment:

• Funding accounts: Health savings accounts (HSAs), health reimbursement arrangements (HRAs) and flexible spending accounts (FSAs) require new elections each year. Current elections will not automatically carry over into 2027.
• Tobacco survey: Employees enrolling in medical coverage must complete the tobacco survey annually. Failure to complete the survey will result in additional tobacco-user premiums for the employee and covered spouse, if applicable.
• Working spouse certification: Purdue University employees covering a spouse must complete the working spouse certification annually to avoid the applicable additional premium. Employees who need to submit a working spouse waiver must do so by Dec. 1.
  • Working spouse certification is not required for Purdue Global employees.

Beginning Tuesday (Oct. 27), employees can review and update their benefit elections through Benefitfocus, accessible via the OneCampus Portal.

Resources to help employees make informed decisions

Whether comparing medical plans, reviewing what’s changing for 2027 or looking for assistance with enrollment, both Purdue University and Purdue Global employees have access to a variety of resources.

Purdue University employees

The Benefits Enrollment website serves as a central resource for employees across Purdue University’s campuses. Available materials include:

• 2027 Benefits Open Enrollment Decision Guide: A checklist to help employees review their options and prepare for enrollment
• 2027 Benefits Guide: An overview of available benefits, coverage details and enrollment instructions. A Spanish-language version is also available here.
• 2027 recorded Benefits Enrollment presentation: An interactive overview covering what’s new for 2027, available plans, consumer-driven health plans (CDHPs) and enrollment instructions. The presentation is also available in Spanish and can be paused or revisited as needed.
• Medicare & Purdue Medical/HSA Plans presentation: A recorded resource for employees approaching or over age 65 that explains Medicare basics, Purdue medical plan options and considerations when deciding when to enroll in Medicare.

Additional help choosing a medical plan

Employees who are still comparing coverage options can use the following resources:

• Benefits 101 – Key Terms and Concepts
• Choosing the Right Medical Plan
• Pages 5-10 of the 2027 Benefits Guide

The Enrollment Videos, Forms and More webpage also provides enrollment-specific resources.

Enrollment assistance is available

Employees who would benefit from additional support can take advantage of scheduled assistance opportunities:

• West Lafayette: Computer labs will be open to get hands-on assistance completing open enrollment with the benefits team Nov. 3, Nov. 4, Nov. 5, Nov. 6 and Nov. 9 at various times at 2550 Northwestern Ave.
• Spanish-language assistance: Computer labs with hands-on assistance will be offered Oct. 27 and 28 at McCutcheon Hall, Room C-216, 400 McCutcheon Drive.
• Purdue Fort Wayne and Purdue Northwest: One-on-one assistance sessions are available through Nov. 10.

Scheduling details and registration information for these opportunities are available on the Open Enrollment Resources webpage.

Purdue Global Employees

Purdue Global employees should refer to the Benefits/Wellness website, which provides enrollment information and resources specific to Purdue Global benefits.

Available resources include the 2027 Purdue Global Benefits Guide and the 2027 Open Enrollment Decision Guide.

Next steps

With open enrollment beginning Tuesday (Oct. 27), employees are encouraged to review the available resources and prepare to make their benefit elections between Oct. 27 and 6 p.m. ET Nov. 10. Additional information and reminders will be shared throughout the enrollment period via Purdue Today, email and the dedicated benefits websites for Purdue University and Purdue Global.

Employees should direct questions to Human Resources at 765-494-2222 or via email at hr@purdue.edu.

Note: The service center experiences a higher-than-normal volume of inquiries during open enrollment. Staff members are available to answer calls and emails from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Emails are assigned a case number and are worked in the order received — from oldest to newest. Each ticket received is registered and addressed as quickly as possible. Allowing time for responses is crucial, and if follow-up is needed, it’s helpful to follow up on the original case to avoid duplication and delayed responses.