Open Enrollment for 2027 Flexible Benefits

Lehigh Employees: The annual Open Enrollment period for your Lehigh Flexible Benefits runs from November 2-16, 2026. The changes you make during this period will take effect January 1, 2027. 

Open enrollment is a great opportunity to confirm or update your dependents, review and change your current elections, use the comparison shopping tool to view estimated out of pocket costs and update your beneficiary information.

After Open Enrollment, you may only make changes to your benefits in response to a qualifying life event (QLE). QLE changes are restricted to those that are directly related to the life event, such as the birth or adoption of a child. So we encourage you to take advantage of this two week period to review all of your benefits elections and consider whether they are still meeting your needs. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to do anything if I don't want to make any changes to my benefits for 2027?
If you take no action, your current elections will carry into 2027 with the exception of if you contribute to a flexible spending account (FSA) or a health savings account (HSA). Employee contributions to these accounts must be renewed each year.
Additionally, if you cover a spouse or partner on your medical insurance, be aware of the $125/month surcharge. This is automatically applied every year. Even if you qualified for a waiver of the surcharge in 2026, you must still request an additional waiver for 2027. 

Where can I learn more about the changes to our medical and prescription benefits?
Consult the Open Enrollment Quick Reference Guide or the full 2027 Employee Benefits Guide for additional details. If you still have additional questions, feel free to reach out to the BenefitsVIP team at 866.293.9736 or solutions@benefitsvip.com.

I'm interested in the Sword/Thrive virtual physical therapy option. How do I learn more and sign up?
We're excited to announce this benefit available to participants of Lehigh's medical plans. Additional information, including how to enroll, will be available around the start of the new plan year. Stay tuned!

Why am I seeing a $125 spouse/partner surcharge?
This surcharge applies automatically when you are covering a spouse or partner on your medical plan. You may request a waiver if your spouse/partner meets the qualifying criteria (e.g., does not have access to their own coverage, etc.). Complete the Waiver Request Survey by November 30, 2026 (the survey goes live on Monday, November 2). Note: surcharge amounts paid until completion and approval of your waiver request cannot be refunded to you.

I completed the spouse/partner surcharge waiver request survey, but I still see the surcharge listed. When will this be removed?
Human Resources individually reviews each surcharge waiver request. You will be notified via email from inben@lehigh.edu either way if your request is approved or denied, or if additional information is needed. If you qualify for the waiver, the surcharge will be removed from your election before January 1.
And a reminder: even if you requested the waiver in 2026, you still need to request the waiver again for 2027. This is required annually. Note: surcharge amounts paid until completion and approval of your waiver request cannot be refunded to you.

How should I choose my medical plan?
There are many factors that contribute to the personal selection of a medical plan for yourself and/or family. Review the plan designs in the Quick Reference Guide, and utilize the Cost Estimator Tool within the Lehigh Benefits enrollment site. The estimator is available within the medical plan selection area and will allow you to tailor your anticipated usage over the next year to help you determine which medical plan may be most cost effective for you.

Maximize Your 2027 Benefits

Use your Lehigh benefits to save money on taxes, plan for emergencies, see a doctor when it is convenient to you, or just get a second opinion or help disputing an insurance bill. Learn more at the links below.