An open enrollment guide for family caregivers

Being a family caregiver can take many forms. You might care for aging parents, a sick spouse, children with special needs or several family members at once.

For university employees who serve as caregivers, open enrollment – which began Oct. 20 and runs through Nov. 7 – is an opportunity to make informed decisions that support your life and your ability to care for others. While most benefits will automatically roll over to 2026, this is your chance to review, compare and select options from the university's benefits package that best meet your family's needs, including your own.

Medical plans

For 2026, medical plan options include:

• A new PPO Plan (replacing the Triple Choice Plan) with no in-network deductible or provider tiers
• The High-Deductible Health Plan (HDHP) with a Health Savings Account
• The U of A Alternative Plan for domestic partners

Think beyond today's needs

As you look ahead to the upcoming year, consider whether your current medical plan makes sense for what you and your eligible dependents, including domestic partners, expect to need for doctor visits, medical equipment or other treatments. For example, the higher monthly premiums on the PPO plan compared to the HDHP might seem more expensive at first but could save you money over the course of the year. If you anticipate ongoing therapy sessions, medical procedures or frequent prescriptions, it might be worth comparing the total yearly costs of each plan.

Flexible Spending Accounts

Flexible Spending Accounts are great options for family caregivers. FSAs, which are only electable during open enrollment, allow you to use pre-tax money to cover qualified medical (available to PPO plan participants) and other healthcare-related expenses and childcare or older adult care costs (available to all benefits-eligible employees). 

Why FSAs are especially valuable for caregivers

When you're managing care for multiple people, medical and dependent care costs can add up quickly. FSAs let you set aside pre-tax dollars for these expenses, which effectively gives you a discount on costs you're already paying.

The key is to estimate realistically: review last year's receipts for items such as copays, medical equipment, daycare or older adult care and then add a buffer for the unexpected.

As you evaluate your options, consider that you may have more FSA-eligible expenses than you realize. Review the full list of eligible expenses on the FSA vendor website. Here are a few caregiver-related examples that often surprise people:

• Health care eligible expenses
  • Acupuncture
  • Hearing aids
  • Mental health copays
  • Massage therapy (with prescription)
  • Personal training
• Dependent care eligible expenses
  • Before/after school care
  • Day camps
  • Adult and older adult care
• 2026 FSA maximum allowed contributions :
  • Health Care FSA: $3,300 (with a $660 rollover available)
  • Dependent Care FSA: $7,500 (no rollover, so estimate conservatively)

Get up to speed on the new 2026 flexible options for dependent life insurance

The U of A's supplemental life insurance option is switching vendors from The Hartford to Unum in 2026. Employees electing this plan can also select separate coverage for spouses/partners and children (up to $50,000), which gives caregivers more tailored coverage choices. 

Due to the vendor change, current Hartford dependent life enrollees must re-elect 2026 coverage through Unum to maintain it or choose the state's plan with The Hartford instead. As a change for 2026, you can elect any level of coverage.

Consider short-term disability insurance

In 2026, short-term disability premiums are decreasing, so it's a good year to explore this benefit. Short-term disability insurance can be especially important when others count on your income.

Other Caregiving Task Suggestions

• Review and update beneficiaries.
• Plan for backup childcare and older adult care.
• Review the university's Family Resource Map.
• Explore HR and Life & Work Connection's Employee Assistance Counseling, provided through ComPsych.

Get support

You don't have to navigate these decisions alone. HR representatives can provide benefits information and resources to help support your caregiving duties. You can also meet with trusted financial advisors like CAPTRUST, Fidelity or TIAA to discuss how choices align with your financial goals.

You can also attend the Benefits Open Enrollment Expo on Oct. 30 from 8 a.m.–2 p.m. in the Student Union Memorial Center's Grand Ballroom. Human Resources also hosted a virtual Enrollment Expo earlier in October. You can view the video below.