Office of Human Resources

Open Enrollment

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What's New for 2027

 

Action Needed:  Primary Care Provider (PCP) Designation

You will need to log in to eBenefits (Benefitfocus) to designate your Primary Care Provider under Aetna during Open Enrollment to continue to enjoy lower copays when visiting that provider in 2027.

Health Care Premiums:
Standard PPO Plan (70/30) and Plus PPO Plan (80/20)

2027 Open Enrollment Guide:

Important changes to 2027 premium rates - Review the plan summaries on www.shpnc.org for the most up-to-date plan details.
There will be increases to premiums. Active members will have a monthly increase ranging from less than $2 to around $8 for individual coverage and less than $29 to $42 per month for family coverage. 



 NEW  

Tiered Provider Network Plan

There will be four tiers of providers, and your out-of-pocket costs will vary based on the tier of the provider you choose:

  • Preferred: You’ll have lower deductibles, out-of-pocket maximums, and copays than what you are currently paying when you receive care from a preferred provider.
  • Access: You’ll generally have the same out-of-pocket costs as you have today, but in some cases costs may be lower when you receive care from an access provider.
  • Non-Preferred: You’ll have significant increases to your out-of-pocket costs when you receive care from a non-preferred provider.
  • Out-of-Network: You’ll continue to have higher out-of-pocket costs when you receive care from an out-of-network provider since these providers are not included in the Plan’s broad, national network.

 UNC Plan Updates

  • Employee Voluntary Life Insurance Plan: The monthly cost of coverage for employee voluntary life insurance (with matching AD&D rider) has slightly decreased
  • Voluntary Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D) Plans: The monthly cost of coverage for employee voluntary AD&D as well as employee and family AD&D has decreased.

NCFlex Changes

Where to Enroll/Make Changes

1. Between Oct. 12 and Oct. 30, visit the UNC System Open Enrollment page. 
2. Look for the Appalachian State University button under both the eBenefits and Empyrean headings. Log in using your App State username and password.

  • Log into eBenefits for enrollment/changes for your Health Plan. You will need to log in to designate your Primary Care Provider under Aetna during Open Enrollment. 
  • Log into UNC Empyrean for enrollment/changes to NCFlex benefits (all benefits except health)
    • Dental
    • Vision
    • Accident
    • Flexible Spending Accounts
    • UNC Voluntary Life Insurance and Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D)
    • UNC Supplemental Disability
    • Cancer and Specified Disease
    • Critical Illness
    • TRICARE Supplement coverage

 

Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs) require re-enrollment every year, so your benefit election from last year will not roll over for 2027. If you want to participate in either of the FSAs, you must make an election during Open Enrollment. Keep in mind:

  • The 2027 Health Care FSA maximum annual contribution limit has increased to $3,400.
  • The 2027 Dependent Day Care FSA maximum annual contribution limit for 2027 remains $7,500.
  • All other elections made through this platform will remain in effect for 2027 unless you make a change during Open Enrollment.

 

Need More Information?

Need more information or have questions? You've got options!

Make an Appointment

Make an appointment here. Choose to meet with an App State Benefits staff member either in-person or virtually for Open Enrollment.

Boone Campus Drop-in Hours 

App State Benefits representatives are available for drop-in appointments from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., in Room 165 (Elk Knob) in Plemmons Student Union, on the following days:

  • Thursday, Oct. 15
  • Tuesday, Oct. 20
  • Monday, Oct. 26

Note: Human Resources cannot accommodate unscheduled drop-in inquiries during Open Enrollment. Please make an appointment or visit during the drop-in hours listed above.


Hickory Campus Drop-in Hours

App State Benefits representatives are available for drop-in appointments on Thursday, Oct. 22, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Faculty Commons.

 

For more assistance, Hickory employees can also make a virtual/Zoom appointment with a Benefits staff member. 

  

Assistance with Enrollment Platforms

eBenefits (Benefitfocus):  During the Open Enrollment period of October 12 - 30, 2026, the Eligibility and Enrollment Support Center will have extended hours. Call 855‑859‑0966, Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-10 p.m., ET, and Saturday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m., ET.

UNC (Empyrean):   Call the University of North Carolina Benefits Service Center at 833‑862‑1490, Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m., ET.

Other Resources

You can also call the State Eligibility and Enrollment Support Center at 855-859-0966. Hours during Open Enrollment: Monday-Friday 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Saturday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Important Reminders About Open Enrollment

  1. You will only use eBenefits (Benefitfocus) to make your 2027 elections for health coverage through the State Health Plan. You will use the UNC (Empyrean) platform to make all other 2027 benefit elections, including all NCFlex and UNC System benefits.
  2. Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs) require re-enrollment every year, so your benefit election from last year will not roll over to the UNC (Empyrean) platform. If you want to participate in either of the FSAs, you must make an election on the UNC (Empyrean) platform during Open Enrollment.
  3. Any elections you made through the UNC (Empyrean) enrollment platform last year—UNC voluntary life insurance and AD&D,  cancer and specified disease, UNC Supplemental Disability, and critical illness—will remain in effect for 2027 unless you make a change during Open Enrollment.
  4. If you enrolled in the Plus PPO Plan (80/20) through the State Health Plan during 2026 and want to participate in that option in 2027, you must enroll for coverage on the eBenefits (Benefitfocus) platform during Open Enrollment.