Human Resources
Benefits

2027 Open Enrollment

Enrollment Period: Oct. 21 – Nov. 11, 2026
Effective Date of Benefit Changes: Jan. 1, 2027​

Open Enrollment Guide Cover

View the 2027 Open Enrollment Highlights

Open enrollment is your opportunity to enroll in new benefit plans or make changes to your existing coverage for 2027.  IRS regulations prohibit changes outside of open enrollment unless you experience a Qualifying Life Event and report it within 31 days.

Open Enrollment Presentation

Benefit Fairs and Vaccine Clinics

Meet with benefit vendors and learn about your benefit options. Vaccines for influenza and COVID-19 will be available. Pre-registration is required for vaccinations, along with insurance information.

University City – Tuesday, Oct. 27

  • Location: Behrakis Grand Hall, Creese Student Center, 3210 Chestnut Street
  • Benefit Fair: 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
  • Vaccine Clinic: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
  • Register for Vaccines at Behrakis Hall (required)

Elkins Park – Thursday, Oct. 29

What's New in 2027?

At Drexel University, offering competitive benefit options is a crucial part of how we care for our faculty and professional staff. As we look to best serve our community, we also are navigating national trends, such as increasing costs for medical services, healthcare labor and prescription drugs, which are placing unprecedented cost pressures on Drexel. During this year's open enrollment, as a necessary part of ensuring the long-term sustainability of our benefits program, the following changes will go into effect January 1, 2027.

Employee contributions will increase by 5% for the medical and prescription plans and 5% for the dental plans. Vision will have no rate increase this year.

For the 2027 plan year, Drexel is introducing a working spouse surcharge for employees who choose to enroll a spouse or domestic partner in the University’s medical plan when that spouse or domestic partner has access to employer-sponsored medical coverage through their own employer. In these cases, a $100 per month surcharge (bi-weekly = $46.16) on a pre-tax basis will apply for spousal coverage effective January 1, 2027. This change is intended to help manage rising healthcare costs while continuing to provide high-quality, affordable benefits for our community.

  • How it will work (see FAQ for complete details):
    • Employees who are covering a spouse or domestic partner on their Drexel medical plan, either under Employee & Spouse, Employee & Domestic Partner, or as Family coverage, will – by default – have a surcharge of $100 applied to their account; it can only be removed by your taking action during open enrollment.
    • During the enrollment process in the My Drexel Benefits portal, employees will be asked to confirm whether their spouse has access to other employer-sponsored medical coverage.
      • If your spouse or domestic partner is employed, has access to employer-sponsored medical coverage, and chooses to participate in Drexel’s plan, the surcharge will apply.
      • If your spouse or partner meets any of the criteria in the “will not apply” list below, the surcharge will be removed, based on your response.
      • If you do not respond to the question in the My Drexel Benefits portal, the surcharge will apply.
  • The surcharge will not apply if you attest that the spouse or domestic partner participating in Drexel’s plan is:
    • also a Drexel employee;
    • not employed;
    • self-employed and doesn’t have access to medical insurance;
    • employed but not eligible for medical coverage through their employer; or
    • eligible for age-based Medicare/Tricare/Medicaid.

It is important to log in to the My Drexel Benefits portal during open enrollment to ensure that you update your information so that medical rates are properly assigned for 2027. The Working Spouse Surcharge will be automatically added as a deduction and will only be removed, if applicable, when you answer the attestation questions.

  • Prescription (RX) Program:
    • All Plans: Copay increases
      • $15/$40/$60 (CDHP must satisfy deductible)
    • All Plans: Specialty Rx tier increase (4th tier)
      • 30% coinsurance, up to $300 max
  • Free Market Health Program: Eligible members will be contacted directly about this new prescription drug program, which helps route you to the specialty pharmacy best equipped for your specific conditions and specialty pharmacy needs. Free Market Health Program Flyer [PDF]
  • Health Savings Account (HSA) Contribution Limits Increase: To comply with updated federal regulations, HSA contribution limits have increased to $4,500 for single coverage and $9,000 for families.
  • Flexible Spending Account (FSA) Contribution Limits: The Internal Revenue Service has not yet released the 2027 Health Care FSA contribution limit. Once the updated limit is announced, we will notify employees and provide the applicable 2027 contribution information.

Full-time employees who are currently waiving Drexel medical coverage are no longer required to re-waive coverage each year during open enrollment.

  • Already receiving the waiver credit? No action is required to continue waiving coverage for 2027. Your current waiver election and applicable waiver credit will automatically continue.
  • Waiving coverage without a waiver credit? No action required. Your current waiver election will automatically continue for 2027.
  • Want to change your election? You only need to take action if you want to make a change, such as enrolling in Drexel medical coverage for 2027.

Note: Employees covered as a dependent under another employee’s Drexel medical plan are not eligible for the waiver credit.

It is important to log in to the My Drexel Benefits portal during the open enrollment window and take the following actions:

  • Ensure that your information is correct
  • Make the necessary updates to ensure your benefits are accurate for 2027
  • Complete the Working Spouse Surcharge attestation, if applicable, as described above
  • Re-elect any of the following benefits that do not roll over, if you wish to use them in 2027:
    • Healthcare Flexible Spending Account
    • Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account
    • Health Savings Account
  • Consider enrolling in Short-Term Disability: This voluntary, employee-paid benefit provides income replacement if you are unable to work due to an eligible illness or injury. To be eligible to use the benefit during the 2027 plan year, you must enroll during this open enrollment period. Short-Term Disability benefits may provide income replacement for up to 90 days. If your disability continues beyond that period and you meet the applicable eligibility requirements, coverage may transition to Drexel’s employer-paid Long-Term Disability benefit.

Once you have finished checking your information and making your elections in the My Drexel Benefits portal, review your Benefit Confirmation Statement, which is sent to your Drexel email address.

New hires must complete two enrollment windows: one within 31 days of hire (2026 plan year) and again during open enrollment (2027 plan year). Employees hired between Sept. 20 and Dec. 1, 2026, will have two enrollment windows open at the same time, and you will be required to complete both to ensure that your elections are saved.

Review your confirmation statements for both plan years to ensure your elections are saved correctly. Once the enrollment window closes, changes can only be made if you experience a Qualifying Life Event during the plan year.

If you are covering a spouse or domestic partner on your medical plan, be sure to answer the Working Spouse Surcharge attestation for your 2027 enrollment. If you take no action, the surcharge will automatically apply for 2027.

Open enrollment is your opportunity to review benefits, compare options, and make the choices that best fit your needs for the upcoming year. The resources below are available to guide you through the process.

Access, Questions & Help

  • Accessing the Enrollment Portal: Log in to DrexelOne, navigate to the Employee tab, and select My Drexel Benefits to access the enrollment portal. Once in the portal, click Enroll to review current elections and make changes for 2027.
  • Health Coverage Questions: Contact Health Advocate at 866.799.2728 for guidance on coverage, costs or in-network providers.
  • Benefits Enrollment Help: Contact the Drexel University Benefits Center at 844.690.3992 or help@mybenefitexpress.com.

Below are the medical, dental, and vision rates for the 2027 plan year. Please select the rate sheet that applies to you based on your employment status and pay frequency. These rate sheets are also available in the My Drexel Benefits online enrollment portal.:

Active Employees

Life Insurance and Disability Rates

Premiums for life insurance and disability benefits vary by employee, based on:

  • Age
  • Salary
  • Coverage elections

You can view your personalized rates directly within the My Drexel Benefits enrollment portal.

MEDICAL

Comparison Charts

Medical and Rx Highlights

DENTAL

DHMO

Base Plan

Preferred Plan

VISION

Drexel University retirees have been mailed an open enrollment letter that contains information specific to their personal benefits. Please review your letter carefully, as it outlines your available options, benefits and rates for the 2027 plan year.

Making Benefit Changes

If you wish to make changes to your benefits for 2027, you may:

  • Follow the instructions provided in your mailed letter, or
  • Call the Drexel University Benefits Center at 1.844.690.3992; please note that all calls are recorded, and you will be asked to provide identifying information before any changes can be processed.

Retiree Open Enrollment will end Nov. 11, 2026!

Medicare Eligible Retiree Health Plan Changes

Effective January 1, 2027, Drexel University will transition our Medicare Advantage plan from Elevance/Blue Medicare Advantage back to Independence Blue Cross (IBX). The new plan name will be Blue Medicare Advantage RetireSecure PPO.

IBX is re-entering the retiree medical plan market and is offering a plan that not only offers a smooth and seamless transition for our retirees, but also continues to provide a robust benefit while minimizing member disruption.

Premiums for single coverage will be $367.03 per month for the Blue Medicare Advantage Retire Secure PPO. Those eligible for a subsidy will have their cost reduced by their subsidy amount. 

  • Visit the IBX Blue Medicare Advantage RetireSecure website for details on the plan, and to search for in-network providers.
  • Your IBX Group Member Help Team is ready to provide guidance and support every step of the way. If you have questions, please call 1.877.456.8002 (TTY/TDD: 711), Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Retiree Resources

Please review the information below for more details to assist you through the enrollment process.

Medicare Transition Supporting Material

2027 Retiree Premiums

Retiree Billing

At the end of December 2026, you will receive a plan change notice and payment coupons from WEX with your updated premium information. If you pay by ACH, your monthly payment will be adjusted automatically. Please be sure to make payments on time—missed payments will result in your coverage ending.

The healthcare experts at Health Advocate can help you understand your coverage, explain your share of the costs (i.e., deductibles, copays, and coinsurance), locate in-network providers, and more. Call for a free consultation on 1.866.799.2728.

If you have questions about the enrollment process, how to waive your medical or anything related to open enrollment, please contact the Drexel University Benefits Center by phone at 1.844.690.3992, email at help@mybenefitexpress.com, or use the chat function (general questions only*) in the enrollment portal. A benefits representative is available Monday-Friday from 8:30 a.m. until 7 p.m. (EST). *Certain confidential information such as plan details or personal identifiable information cannot be relayed over chat or email and may require a phone call.

Wellness Incentive Program

Eligible employees and their partners can earn up to a combined $650 by logging and participating in wellness activities through Nov. 30. 

Wellness Incentive Program

Contact Us

HR Service Center
Suite 430
3201 Arch St
Philadelphia, PA 19104
215.895.2850 hr@drexel.edu

Contact your HR Business Partner

In-Person Hours

Monday-Thursday:  8 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Remote Hours

Monday-Friday:  8 a.m. - 5 p.m.

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