Open Enrollment is opening soon!
April 3 - 17, 2026
All changes will be effective July 1, 2026
The Human Resources team at Rice University is committed to providing comprehensive information to university faculty and staff on benefits and other university services. Rice University offers a wide range of health and welfare benefits, as well as several retirement options. These benefits are an important part of the total compensation package. Employees are encouraged to review all the information available on this website to determine how best to apply these benefits to their individual situations. POLICY 403 - Benefits Eligibility
To review the PDF versions of the Open Enrollment Guides for FY26 and FY27, please click the items listed below:
When enrolling in benefits, we recommend using a laptop or desktop computer. Enrolling on a mobile device can be troublesome. If you need assistance with this, please plan to come to an in-person session (listed below), and we will have a device you can use to enroll onsite.
- Open Enrollment Instructions - English PDF- coming soon
- Open Enrollment Instructions - Spanish PDF- coming soon
Open Enrollment begins Friday, April 3, and runs through Friday, April 17. A full list of enrollment assistance sessions, either in person or via Zoom, is coming soon!
Preparing for Open Enrollment
- Open Enrollment Frequently Asked Questions
-
1. How to make changes after submitting open enrollment:
Return to iO, Go to Me > Benefits, click on the “Update Enrollment" button, and continue to the Self-Service Enrollment page. You will want to follow each task until you get to "Enroll in benefits that matter to you," where you can select the "Edit" button to make any final changes.
2. My Contacts
My contacts are either those you want to include under your insurance, OR those you want to designate as beneficiaries on your life insurance coverage(s).
3. Beneficiary Organizations
Beneficiary Organization is an area where you can designate a trust or organization as a life insurance beneficiary.
4. Spousal and or Tobacco Surcharge
How to answer the surcharge questions:
Spousal
- If your spouse works and has access to medical coverage through their employer AND you are going to cover them on the Rice Medical Plan, click the Box next to Spouse/DP - Medical Coverage Surcharge.
- If your spouse does not work OR you are not going to cover them on the Medical Rice Plan OR they work and their employer does not offer coverage, click the box next to “I certify that my spouse/domestic partner (if applicable) is not eligible for an employer medical plan or I am not planning to add coverage for him/her on the Rice Plan.
Tobacco/Nicotine
-
Employees and spouses or domestic partners who use nicotine and/or tobacco products and enroll in Rice’s medical plans are assessed a Smoker Surcharge.
Important Notice Regarding Tobacco Surcharge:
Please be advised that employees and/or spouses and/or domestic partners who currently use nicotine or tobacco products are subject to an annual smoker surcharge.How to Remove the Surcharge:
Rice supports your journey toward a tobacco-free lifestyle. If you and/or your spouse/domestic partner quit using nicotine or tobacco products at any time, you are eligible to have this surcharge removed.Action Required:
Once you and/or your spouse/domestic partner have quit, please email benefits@rice.edu to request removal of the surcharge.Note:
Tobacco products include, but are not limited to, cigarettes, cigars, chewing tobacco, snuff, and electronic nicotine delivery systems (vaping).
6. Individual Disability Insurance (IDI)
Note that not everyone is eligible for this coverage.
Continuing coverage: The Benefits Module does not hold your election for IDI, so your actual enrollment for that benefit does not show in the enrollment system. If you have IDI today, it will continue with no action from you. You can tell if you have IDI coverage today if you have a deduction for that benefit on your paycheck stub.
If you are eligible for IDI, you will be provided information in the fall about the offering and will be provided an opportunity to enroll or change your coverage.
For more information, please visit the Benefits Overview page.
Enrollment assistance is available by calling 713-348-BENE (2363). Open Enrollment begins Friday, April 3, and runs through Friday, April 17.
FAQ's
- Are rates changing?
-
Yes, for Fiscal Year 2027, all faculty and staff will see an increase in medical. The dental subsidy has been applied to all Faculty and Staff as a result of the Total Rewards Initiative.
- When will the Open Enrollment changes become effective?
-
Changes made during open enrollment will be effective July 1st.
- Do I have to complete Open Enrollment if I am not making any changes?
-
Open Enrollment is a good opportunity to review your current benefits and life insurance beneficiaries.
Required action is only needed for those who want to re-elect the Health Savings Account or a Flexible Spending Account.
- Do benefits roll over if I don't complete Open Enrollment?
-
The Health Savings Account (HSA) and Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs) do not roll over. You will need to elect a new annual amount for your HSA and FSAs each year.
FSAs include:
Health Care Flexible Spending Account (HCFSA) and the Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account (DCFSA).
- Will I get a new ID card?
-
Faculty and staff who change medical plans will receive a new ID card by late June 2026.
- Información en español
-
¿Cuándo es la Inscripción Abierta?
La inscripción abierta comienza el viernes 3 de abril y termina el viernes 17 de abril.
¿Están cambiando los precios?
Sí, para el año fiscal 2027, todos los profesores y el personal verán un incremento en las cuotas médicas. El subsidio dental se ha aplicado a toda la facultad y al personal como resultado de la Iniciativa de Recompensas Totales.
¿Cuándo entrarán en vigor los cambios en la Inscripción Abierta?
Los cambios realizados durante la Inscripción Abierta entrarán en vigencia el 1 de julio.
¿Tengo que completar la Inscripción Abierta si no estoy haciendo ningún cambio?
La Inscripción Abierta es una buena oportunidad para revisar los beneficios actuales de su seguro de vida y los beneficiarios.
La acción requerida solo es necesaria para quienes desean reelegir una Cuenta de Ahorros para la Salud (HSA) o una Cuenta de Gastos Flexibles (FSA).
¿Se transfieren los beneficios si no completo la Inscripción Abierta?
La Cuenta de Ahorros para la Salud (HSA) y las Cuentas de Gastos Flexibles (FSA) no se transfieren. Deberá elegir un nuevo monto anual para su HSA y su FSA cada año.
¿Obtendré una nueva tarjeta médica?
Los profesores y el personal que cambien de plan médico recibirán una nueva tarjeta de identificación a finales de junio de 2027.