Open Enrollment is here—your annual opportunity to review your coverage and make changes for 2027.
Outside of this window, you can only change most benefits if you experience a qualifying life event.
Take action Nov. 2-13: Log in to MySlice to complete your 2027 enrollment. If you don’t, your 2026 coverage continues automatically, except the Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs), which require enrollment each year.
Contact HR Shared Services at 315.443.4042 with questions or to request an accommodation.
Helpful Resources
- Enrollment changes allowed for dental and vision coverage. A new two-year commitment cycle for the dental and vision benefit programs begins Jan. 1, 2027. This Open Enrollment is your opportunity to change your elections for these plans. Dental and vision are separate elections—you don’t need dental coverage to enroll in vision. You can choose dental only, vision only or both. Any dental or vision election you make will be effective through Dec. 31, 2028 (unless you are eligible for a change due to a qualifying life event). Dental and vision contributions will see small increases for 2027.
- Flexible Spending Account (FSA) requires re-enrollment. FSA elections don’t carry over automatically. You must enroll during Open Enrollment to have an account for 2027. Contribution limits will be $7,500 per household for a Dependent Care FSA.
- Age-based catch-up contributions: If you are age 50 or older and your Syracuse University 2026 Social Security wages (Form W-2, Box 3) exceed $150,000 (indexed for inflation), any age-based catch-up contributions you make to the Voluntary Retirement Plan will automatically be designated as after-tax Roth contributions. Learn more on the Retirement Planning webpage.
- Free flu and COVID-19 vaccines are available on campus on Nov. 12 at Schine Student Center, administered by Wegmans Pharmacy. Learn more on the Wellness Initiative webpage.
- Log in to MySlice from Nov. 2–13 and click the Open Enrollment tile on the Employee Home page. Need help? Visit Self-Serv or call 315.443.2677 for NetID or password assistance.
- Select your 2027 benefits. Review plan options, add or remove dependents, elect an FSA, update beneficiaries and more.
- Click finish to save your selections. You can make changes any time through Nov. 13.
- Review your confirmation statement sent to your Syracuse University email to ensure your 2027 plan selections are correct.
Multiple resources are available to help with benefit decisions:
- HR Shared Services: Available 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, at 315.443.4042. Appointments are available on request.
- While you’re at the vaccine clinic on Nov. 12, stop by to ask HR Shared Services your benefits and Open Enrollment questions in person. HR will be on-site from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in 304 ABC Schine Student Center.
- TIAA (retirement planning): Schedule a consultation with a University-dedicated financial consultant at 855.842.CUSE (TTY: 800.842.2755) or sign up online.
- View all other benefit vendor contact information online.
Benefits to Review During Open Enrollment, Nov. 2-13
A new two-year commitment cycle for the dental benefit program begins Jan. 1, 2027. Elections made during this Open Enrollment period will be in effect through Dec. 31, 2028, unless you experience a qualifying life event.
Two dental plans are offered:
- Preventive Plan: Covers two annual cleanings and other basic services.
- Comprehensive Plan: Covers basic and major restorative services, including oral surgery, endodontics, periodontics, prosthodontics and orthodontics.
Both plans include in-network and out-of-network providers. In-network dentists agree to accept the plan’s payment in full; out-of-network dentists don’t have to, so you could be billed for the difference by your provider.
As a reminder, dental and vision are separate elections. You don’t need dental coverage to enroll in vision. You can choose dental only, vision only or both.
Full coverage details and employee contributions are available on the dental and vision webpage.
A new two-year commitment cycle for the vision benefit program begins Jan. 1, 2027. Elections made during this Open Enrollment period will be in effect through Dec. 31, 2028, unless you experience a qualifying life event.
The VSP vision plan covers routine eye exams, contact lens care, glasses and frames. Consider contributing to a Health Care FSA to offset out-of-pocket vision and dental costs.
As a reminder, dental and vision are separate elections. You don’t need dental coverage to enroll in vision. You can choose dental only, vision only or both.
Full coverage details and employee contributions are available on the dental and vision webpage.
The Dependent Care FSA limit will be $7,500 per household ($3,750 if married filing separately). Unused dependent care FSA funds do not carry over.
FSA elections don’t transfer automatically to 2027. You must re-enroll during Open Enrollment.
FSAs help you save on taxes by setting aside pre-tax dollars for dependent care expenses. Dependent Care FSAs cover day care expenses for children under age 13 or adult dependents. Review details and use the online calculators on the HealthEquity|EZ Receipts website or the FSA webpage.
The University provides Life and Accidental Death and Dismemberment (AD&D) insurance through MetLife, with options to purchase supplemental coverage for yourself and your family members at group rates. A Statement of Health must be approved by MetLife before certain coverage becomes effective. Supplemental life insurance includes a valuable additional benefit—free will preparation [PDF].
Learn more on the Life Insurance and the Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D) Insurance webpage.
- Review your retirement savings: While you can change contributions anytime, Open Enrollment is a great time to evaluate what you’re setting aside and ensure you’re on track for your future goals. Log in to TIAA to review your account balance and update voluntary contributions through the Open Enrollment tile in MySlice. Outside Open Enrollment, make changes through the HR/Benefits tile in MySlice or by submitting the Voluntary Salary Reduction Form to HR Shared Services.
- Age-based catch-up contributions: If you are age 50 or older and your Syracuse University 2026 Social Security wages (Form W-2, Box 3) exceed $155,000 (projected and pending official IRS announcement), any age-based catch-up contributions you make to the Voluntary Retirement Plan will automatically be designated as after-tax Roth contributions.
- Once announced by the IRS, 2027 contribution limits will be posted on the Retirement Planning webpage, and TIAA will email you your personal contribution limit.
- You can begin or adjust your contributions at any time by completing the Syracuse University Voluntary Retirement Plan 403(b) Salary Reduction form [PDF] found under Helpful Links on the Retirement Planning webpage. If you are already enrolled, you can make updates directly through the MySlice portal.
Every effort has been made to ensure that the information contained within this website is accurate. However, benefits are governed by legal documents (which, in certain circumstances, may include insurance contracts). If there is any difference between the information in this website and the official documents, the official documents will control. As is the case with all of Syracuse University’s employee benefit plans, the University reserves the right to modify or terminate these benefits at any time.