Annual Enrollment

Office of Human Resources

Annual Enrollment for 2027 Benefits

Annual Enrollment Period: October 1 through October 16, 2026 
Effective Date for Changes: January 1, 2027 

Passive Enrollment:

You are encouraged to login and review your current coverage to verify that your selections are accurate. If you do not make any changes, your current benefits will continue into next year.

Note: Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) must be re-enrolled each year.

New Dependents:

If you’re adding new dependent or your spouse to benefits, you will be required to submit documents to prove their relationship to you.

  • Dependent verification documents MUST be submitted within 10 days after your Annual Enrollment deadline. 
  • The state of TN has provided a list of documentation allowed. 
  • The following documents are NOT acceptable for spouses: car loan statements, utility bills, cell phone bills, cable bills and voided checks.
  • If you and your spouse both work for agencies on the State Group Insurance Program, you cannot cover each other on your insurance, unless you’re enrolled in different plan groups, such as State, Local Education or Local Government. You must also choose only one plan option for your dependent children.

Health Insurance:

For 2027, health insurance premiums will increase due to rising healthcare costs; however, they are lower than both the national and state averages. Premiums will increase by an average of 7.9%.

2027 Monthly Health Premium Chart

You will have the choice of the same three (3) health plan options:

    • Premier Preferred Provider Organization
    • Standard PPO
    • Consumer-driven Health Plan

You will also have the choice of the same two (2) carriers:

For the PPOs, there will be no increase in health plan copays, deductibles or coinsurance.

For the CDHP, deductibles will increase as recently announced by the IRS, but coinsurance will not. These are your “cost shares” for the out-of-pocket costs you pay when you get care.

Pharmacy benefits remain with CVS Caremark.

Weight-loss surgery will only be covered through the Carrum Health centers of excellence program. There will be no cost share for PPO members and no cost for CDHP members after meeting their deductible. Weight-loss surgery performed by any other provider will not be covered.  

Health plan members enrolled in the Sharecare wellness program will be able to earn an incentive for participating in the Unwinding Anxiety program. Five wellness challenges will offer incentives instead of four.

Member ID Cards:

Those who are newly enrolled, members who changed their last name and members who change plans will receive new medical, behavioral health and pharmacy ID cards for 2027.

All individuals enrolled in the Consumer-driven Health Plan will get new medical ID cards.

When cards will be mailed:

    • BlueCross BlueShield: ID cards will be mailed by Dec.15, 2026
    • Cigna (both medical and dental): ID cards will be mailed between Dec. 9-18, 2026
    • CVS Caremark: ID cards will be mailed between Dec. 11-31, 2026
    • MetLife Dental: ID cards will be mailed between Dec. 9-18, 2026
    • EyeMed: ID cards will be mailed by Dec.17, 2026
    • Optum Behavioral Health: ID cards will be mailed by Dec.15, 2026

Health Savings Account (HSA) 

HSA contribution limits will increase in 2027. TASC will continue to be the HSA vendor. 

    • Self-only coverage: $4,500 (increase of $100 from 2026)
    • Family coverage: $9,000 (increase of $250 from 2026)
    • Catch-up contribution (age 55+): $1,000 (unchanged)

Current consumer-driven health plan/health savings account members will use their same debit cards. Newly enrolled CDHP members will get a new debit card from TASC.

HSA debit cards will be mailed between Dec. 10-31, 2026. They’ll arrive in an unmarked envelope.

Flexible Spending Account (FSA):

In 2027, the Flexible Spending Account (FSA) administrator will continue to be TASC. Employees must re-enroll in FSAs each year during Annual Enrollment if they want to participate.

Dental and Vision:

Dental and vision premium rates and benefits will not change next year. The same carriers will administer these benefits.

Dental will again be offered by two (2) carriers: Cigna Dental and MetLife.

2027 Monthly Dental Premium Chart

Vision benefits are offered through EyeMed.

2027 Monthly Vision Premium Chart

Disability:

Disability coverage will stay with MetLife but available plan options will change for both short and long term disability.

    • Short Term Disability: If you are currently enrolled in short-term disability through MetLife, and you don’t cancel your coverage during Annual Enrollment, you will be automatically moved into the only available plan. The short term disability plan provides a 14-day waiting period, will pay for 60% of your salary, up to $2,500 per week, and can last up to 13 weeks.

2027 Monthly Short Term Disability Premium Chart

    • Long Term Disability: In 2027, only one long-term disability plan will be offered thru MetLife, and all eligible employees will be automatically enrolled. The state will pay 100% of the monthly premium for this long-term disability plan and disability starts after a 90-day waiting period and pays 63% of your salary, up to $10,000 per month. 

Life and AD&D Insurance:

Securian Financial will continue to be the provider for Life and Accidental Death and Dismemberment insurance.

The State will continue to offer Basic Life insurance and Basic Accidental Death and Dismemberment valued at 1x the employee's basic annual salary rounded to the next highest $1,000. Minimum coverage is $50,000 and maximum coverage is $250,000, except when reduced at age milestones. 

2027 Basic Life and AD&D Age Reductions

Voluntary Life insurance and Voluntary Accidental Death and Dismemberment premium rates and benefits will not change next year.

2027 Monthly Voluntary Term Life Premium Chart

2027 Monthly Voluntary AD&D Premium Chart

Optum Behavioral Health:

All state and higher education employees, and enrolled health plan members and eligible dependents will now get up to eight short-term counseling visits, per problem, per year, per individual at no cost with Optum Behavioral Health.

Additional Resources:

Partners for Health: Important 2027 Benefit Updates

Enrollment Materials:

Helpful Videos: Annual Enrollment Videos

Need Help? 

For detailed information please visit the Partners for Health Annual Enrollment website or contact the ETSU Human Resources Benefits Team at (423) 439-4457 or by email at hrbenefits@etsu.edu. 

Benefits Administration  
(800) 253-9981 or (615) 741-3590  
Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. CT  
Fax: 615.741.8196 
e-mail: benefits.administration@tn.gov  

For assistance or questions about Edison, please contact the Edison Help Desk at (866) 376-0104 or (615) 741-4357.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • If I don’t wish to make any changes to my benefits, do I need to log in to Edison or actively participate in Annual Enrollment?

    No, if you are satisfied with your current benefit elections, you will not need to take any action. 

    The only exception is:

    • If you want a Flexible Spending Account (FSA), you must re-enroll at annual enrollment. 

    Note:  Annual Enrollment time is a great time to check all of your beneficiaries in Edison.

  • When will my health insurance coverage begin?

    New Hires: benefits will be effective on the first day of the month following the completion of one full calendar month of employment, provided you enroll within 30 days. 

    Example Hire Date Benefit Effective Date
    March 1 April 1
    March 2 - 31 May 1

    Annual Enrollment: any benefit changes made during the annual enrollment period will become effective on January 1st of the following year.

  • How do I know what benefits I’m currently enrolled in?

    You may view your current benefits elections in Edison. 

    Once logged into Edison, navigate to Benefits & Health and select Benefits Details > Benefits Summary. 

  • How do I make changes to my benefits?

    Current enrollees that experience a special qualifying event will need to submit an Enrollment Change Application through Partners for Health. 

    For annual enrollment you will make changes in Edison,   the State of Tennessee’s website for Benefits Enrollment.

  • When and how can I add family members to my benefits?

    New Hires: when you elect benefits, you will have the opportunity to add your dependent child(ren) and spouse. The State of TN does require documentation be submitted to establish the relationship between all parties to validate benefit eligibility. It is very important to submit this documentation timely so your family members can be enrolled in coverage. 

    Special Qualifying Events: when you submit the Enrollment Change Application through Partners for Health, you will indicate who you are adding to your benefits and you will also need to submit the supporting documentation to confirm the relationship. 

    Annual Enrollment: when you elect benefits during the annual enrollment period, you will have the opportunity to add your dependent child(ren) and spouse. The State of TN will require documentation be submitted to establish the relationship between all parties to validate benefit eligibility. It is very important to submit this documentation timely so your family members can be enrolled in coverage. 

  • How do I know that the changes I made in Edison were submitted?

    You will receive a confirmation email from Edison, but can also view current enrollments within your Edison self-service portal at any time. 

  • How do I make changes to my voluntary term life insurance?

    You will log in to the Securian Financial website to make changes to your voluntary term life insurance, or you can call them at (866) 881-0631.

  • What is my Edison ID?

    Your Edison ID is the eight-digit number beginning with 2 zeros on your Caremark RX card.  If you cannot find your Edison ID, please contact the Human Resources Benefits Team by phone at (423) 439-4457 or email hrbenefits@etsu.edu.

  • Is my ETSU Person Number the same as my Edison ID?

    No. Your ETSU Person Number is your identification number only for ETSU. Your Edison ID is your state issued ID for benefits purposes.

  • How do I update my beneficiaries?

    You may update your life insurance beneficiaries in the Edison portal for Basic Life Insurance, Basic Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D) and Voluntary AD&D.

    You may update your voluntary term life insurance beneficiaries via the Securian Financial website.