UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Penn State's 2026 Benefits Open Enrollment starts today (Nov. 3) and ends at 5 p.m. on Nov. 14. Through Workday, employees can elect their benefits for 2026.
As recently announced, Penn State is contracting with CVS Caremark, the largest pharmacy benefits provider in the U.S., designed to help lower prescription costs through its extensive network. The University also announced adjustments to payroll contributions and out-of-pocket maximums to meet the reality of nationally rising health care costs. Penn State remains committed to covering the majority of employee health care costs through its 75% / 25% cost share model.
To help University employees make informed decisions about their benefit options for next year, Penn State Human Resources' benefits team is offering the following resources:
Webpages
Human Resources has dedicated a section of its website to 2026 Benefits Open Enrollment. Employees can learn about their benefit options, costs, eligibility, and coverage.
Presentations
Members of the Penn State benefits team, as well as representatives from Highmark Blue Shield, will be conducting live online presentations to review the benefits options available for 2026 and to answer any benefits-related questions. See the full schedule for more details. For employees unable to attend a live presentation, a recorded version is available.
Benefits Mentor
Employees can utilize the Benefits Mentor, a tool designed to help employees determine which health care plan may be the best for them and their families. Benefits Mentor uses an employee’s claims to help calculate which health care plan option is the lowest cost for you, assuming the employee incurs similar health care expenses during 2026. This tool is available in Workday as part of Benefits Open Enrollment.
Employees with questions should contact HR Services at 814-865-1473 or submit an inquiry via WorkLion.