Enroll during the first 30 calendar days of eligible employment, during annual open enrollment, or within 60 days of a qualifying mid-year event.  Make allowable changes during open enrollment or within 60 days of a qualifying mid-year event.  

• Review health plan options, 2025-2026 monthly premiums (PDF), and Benefits At A Glance.
• Use the ALEX decision tool to help choose a plan.
• Enroll online using the state plan's Cardinal system (see registration instructions and enrollment instructions). Submit eligibility documents (PDF) to VCU Human Resources for each family member you elect to cover.
• If you are unable to enroll online, complete the Health Benefits Enrollment Form (under Health care and wellness forms) and attach  eligibility documents (PDF) for each family member you elect to cover.
• If you are enrolling due to a qualifying mid-year event, submit documentation to VCU Human Resources substantiating the event (e.g. new family member, loss of other coverage). See Changing your benefits for details.
• If you are transferring to VCU from another Commonwealth of Virginia agency that participates in the state health benefits program, see Transferring from another state agency.

Enroll during the first 30 calendar days of eligible employment, during annual open enrollment, or within 60 days of a qualifying mid-year event. Make allowable changes within 60 days of a qualifying mid-year event. Annual enrollment is required to continue participating each year.

• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Review 2025 - 2026 Flexible Spending Sourcebook
• Make your election online using the state plan's Cardinal system (consult the Cardinal Instructions for assistance)
• If you are unable to enroll online, make your election using the Health Benefits Enrollment Form
• If you are transferring from another Commonwealth of Virginia agency that participates in the state health benefits program, see Transferring from another state agency.

New faculty, postdoctoral employees, and University and Academic Professionals are automatically enrolled in the Virginia Retirement System (VRS) and no application is required.  Exception: Faculty members, postdoctoral scholar employees, and those University and Academic Professionals in ORP Eligible Jobs may elect between VRS and Optional Retirement Plan (ORP) within the first 60 days of eligible employment. If no election is made, VRS enrollment occurs by default after 60 days.

If you are eligible for the ORP:

• Complete an Election of Retirement Plan (VRS-65) form (under Retirement forms) during your first 60 days of eligibility to elect VRS or ORP.
• If you elect ORP, open your ORP account online with TIAA or Fidelity Investments.
• If you elect VRS, VCU will enroll you in VRS.  No further paperwork is required.
• If you are transferring from another Commonwealth of Virginia public institution of higher education, see the Transferring from another state agency section below.

New faculty, University and Academic Professionals, and postdoctoral employees are automatically enrolled in the VCU 403(b) Tax Deferred Annuity plan with TIAA on the 60th day of employment unless they actively enroll in voluntary retirement savings before that date. All other employees must actively enroll if they wish to participate. All employees are also eligible to participate in the Commonwealth of Virginia 457(b) Deferred Compensation Plan.

• To actively enroll in the VCU 403(b) Tax Deferred Annuity Plan, open a VCU 403(b) account online with TIAA or Fidelity Investments and complete a Salary Reduction Agreement (under Payroll Forms) documenting your savings amount and investment company.  If you are a faculty member or a University and Academic Professional, also open a VCU Cash Match Account online with TIAA or Fidelity Investments, using the same investment company you chose for your 403(b).  
• To actively enroll in the Commonwealth of Virginia 457(b) Deferred Compensation Plan, enroll online at Virginia Retirement Systems or call 1-877-327-5261. Exception: Adjunct, hourly, and graduate assistant employees must use a paper enrollment form for this plan and cannot enroll online.

Life Insurance

Basic life insurance is automatically provided by VCU through the Virginia Retirement System policy for state employees.  You may enroll in additional coverage under the Optional Life Insurance Program at any time, however approval is guaranteed only within the first 31 days of eligible employment. Learn more about the life insurance program. 

• Complete your beneficiary designation online using the myVRS portal on the Virginia Retirement System website. 
• If desired, apply for Optional Life Insurance online using the myVRS portal on the Virginia Retirement System website.
• When applying for optional coverage after 31 days of employment, or for more than the guaranteed amount during the first 31 days of employment, the myVRS system may direct you to submit Evidence of Insurability for review.

Long Term Care Insurance

Transferring between Commonwealth of Virginia agencies that participate in the state health benefits program is not a qualifying mid-year event to change health benefits or flexible spending elections. Elections in force at your previous agency must continue at VCU until your next opportunity to make changes during open enrollment or with a qualifying mid-year event.  To ensure uninterrupted coverage, provide a copy of your pay stub or other documentation verifying your health coverage and/or flexible spending elections at your previous agency by attaching it to an HR support request ticket or emailing it to benefits@vcu.edu.  The same rule applies if you are rehired to state service with less than a 30 day break in state health benefits program eligibility. The documentation that you provide should include the name of your health plan, who is covered, your premium amount, and any flexible spending contribution elections in force at your previous state agency.

If you are transferring from an ORP-eligible job at another Virginia public higher education institution to an ORP-eligible job at VCU without a bona fide break in state service, you must maintain the same retirement plan election (VRS or ORP) at VCU that was in force at your previous institution.

Any optional life insurance, Deferred Compensation Plan, or voluntary Virginia Retirement System Hybrid Plan contribution elections from your previous agency do not continue automatically when you transfer, but may be re-elected at VCU.