Open Enrollment
November 2 to November 13, 2026
Retirees: your Open Enrollment runs October 26 to November 9. See the Retiree Benefits page.
Dartmouth is proud to offer a comprehensive, flexible benefits program that provides a range of options to support you and your family.
Open Enrollment is your annual opportunity to:
- Learn about benefit changes coming in 2027
- Review your current elections
- Add or remove dependents from a plan
- Re-enroll in a tax advantaged plan
- Re-establish your Child Care Subsidy
- Re-enroll in the gym membership
- Change your wellness option
- Update your life insurance beneficiaries
Changes take effect on January 1, 2027.
The Benefits Fair will not be held this year. If you have questions about your benefits, see Need Help? below for office hours and the Emma plan assistance tool, or contact the Benefits Office at (603) 646-3588 or Human.Resources.Benefits@dartmouth.edu.
Key Dates
| What | When | Time and place |
|---|---|---|
| Open Enrollment period | November 2 to November 13, 2026 | Complete your enrollment before 11:59 p.m. on November 13. |
| Let's Talk Benefits sessions | November 4 to November 10, 2026 | Seven sessions, in person and on Zoom. See Let's Talk Benefits below for the schedule and to register. |
| In-person office hours | Nov. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 9, and 11 | 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Location: 7 Lebanon Street, 2nd floor, HR Training Room. |
| Virtual office hours | Nov. 3, 4, 6, and 9 | 8:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 1 to 3 p.m. Drop in to our public Zoom room: Join office hours on Zoom. |
| New benefits take effect | January 1, 2027 | Elections you make during Open Enrollment begin on this date. |
Your 5 Steps
| STEP 1 Check your 2026 elections |
To see what benefits you are currently enrolled in:
|
|---|---|
| STEP 2 What you need to know |
Set aside 30 minutes to watch the Open Enrollment video to get an idea of what's new and what's changing in 2027. Get a high level overview of what benefits are available, and how to get started. |
| STEP 3 Check your costs |
Use the Benefit Plan Cost Estimator tool 24/7/365 to check your 2027 benefit costs. Try different scenarios, like including your spouse and children, or taking individual plans. Rates are based on your anticipated annual salary, your full time equivalency, and who you are covering on your plan(s). If your salary or hours will be changing in 2027, enter your anticipated 2027 annual salary and full time equivalency in the tool so your rates are accurate. |
| STEP 4 Review the 2027 Benefits Guide |
Take a look through the 2027 Benefits Guide to learn a little more in depth about each benefit, and about any new benefits you may still have questions on. |
| STEP 5 Enroll in FlexOnline |
November 2 to November 13, 2026 To simplify the enrollment process, we have created instructions for navigating the FlexOnline system and an enrollment worksheet that you can print before you start. Fill out the worksheet as you review the plans and make your enrollment decisions, then use the instructions and worksheet to log in and complete the process. Make sure you COMPLETE your enrollment before 11:59 p.m. on November 13, 2026. Access Your FlexOnline Benefits Here FlexOnline Instructions and Worksheet (PDF) Need help along the way? See Need Help? below for office hours and the Emma plan assistance tool. |
Let's Talk Benefits
Join us for an open conversation about Dartmouth's 2027 benefit changes and the thinking behind our longer-term benefits strategy. There is no formal presentation. Come with your questions, tell us what matters to you, and hear directly from the Total Rewards team.
Register for a session: dartgo.org/lets-talk-benefits
Pick the day, time, and place that works best for you.
| Date | Time | Location | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wed, Nov. 4 | 12 to 12:45 p.m. | Cook Auditorium | In person |
| Wed, Nov. 4 | 3:30 to 4:15 p.m. | Rockefeller, 1930s Room | In person |
| Thu, Nov. 5 | 12 to 12:45 p.m. | Haldeman 041 | In person |
| Thu, Nov. 5 | 2 to 2:45 p.m. | Filene Auditorium | In person |
| Fri, Nov. 6 | 8:30 to 9:15 a.m. | Dartmouth Hall 105 | In person |
| Mon, Nov. 9 | 12 to 12:45 p.m. | Zoom | Virtual |
| Tue, Nov. 10 | 12 to 12:45 p.m. | Zoom | Virtual |
Need Help?
Need hands-on help? Drop in.
Stop by for one-on-one help with benefit questions or FlexOnline enrollment.
In-Person Office HoursNov. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 9, and 11 No sign up required. Simply drop by 7 Lebanon Street, 2nd floor, HR Training Room during the designated times and chat with a member of the Benefits team. Bring your family members, come with your questions, or bring your laptop and we'll help you enroll in FlexOnline. Laptops are also available onsite. |
Virtual Office HoursNov. 3, 4, 6, and 9 No sign up required. Simply drop in to our public Zoom room and chat with a member of the Benefits team. Come with your questions and your family members, or we can help you enroll in FlexOnline. Confidential questions should be sent directly to the Benefits Office by email, by phone at (603) 646-3588, or by private message during the Zoom meeting. |
Campus Services Drop-Ins
Set aside for Campus Services employees.
| Date | Location | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Tue, Nov. 3 | Grounds Garage | 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. |
| Thu, Nov. 5 | 53 Commons | 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. |
Try the Emma Assistance Tool
Choosing a medical plan can be stressful and complicated. Emma is a decision support tool you can use while completing your enrollment in FlexOnline. By answering a few questions about you and your family's health care needs, Emma will quickly estimate what you will pay in medical rates, deductibles, copays, and coinsurance in the calendar year, and will recommend which medical plan she believes will be the most cost effective option for you.
Simply click "Continue with Audio" when prompted in FlexOnline to use Emma, or click "Continue without audio" if you wish to bypass the Emma tool.
After You Enroll: Your 2027 ID Cards
Starting in 2027, our benefits vendors will be providing digital first ID cards. Starting in late December, you can access your ID cards by logging into your individual accounts or by downloading the vendor app. Here's what you can expect:
- Cigna: new ID cards for all
- Express Scripts: new ID cards for new members or when changing plans
- Northeast Delta Dental: new ID cards for new members or when changing plans
- VSP Vision: does not require an ID card (use your Dartmouth ID and date of birth)
- Sentinel Benefits: new debit cards for new members or if your card is expiring
Hard copies are available by contacting the vendor directly.
Please DO NOT cancel appointments. If you have trouble getting your digital ID card in time for an appointment, reach out to Human.Resources.Benefits@Dartmouth.edu or call us at (603) 646-3588.
Want to Learn More?
Want to learn more about a specific benefit? We have a webpage for that. Learn about each benefit offered to you as a benefits-eligible employee: what's covered, how the plans work, how to check whether your providers are in-network, how to file claims, and more.
Learn more about a specific benefit
To see what is changing for 2027, go to the "What's Changing for 2027" section on each page: Medical and Pharmacy, Dental and Vision, Health and Dependent Care Accounts, and Life Insurance and Voluntary Benefits.
Need help? Contact Benefits | (603) 646-3588 | FlexOnline
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