2025 open enrollment takes place May 16 - May 30, 2025 for the plan year beginning July 1, 2025. Elections cannot be accepted after May 30, 2025.
2025 Open Enrollment for Health Coverage and Flexible Spending Accounts
Open Enrollment elections are accepted beginning May 16, 2025. Elections may be made online or by using an enrollment form. Online elections will be accepted by through Cardinal ESS until May 30 at 11:59 p.m. Enrollment forms are available as an alternative enrollment method (see "Election Form and Instructions" below). If returned electronically, VCU HR must receive the form by close of business on Friday, May 30th. If you use an enrollment form instead of Cardinal ESS, VCU HR must receive your form by 5:00pm on May 30th. Elections take effect on July 1, 2025 for the plan year that runs from July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2026.
The following employees are eligible for Commonwealth of Virginia health coverage and flexible spending accounts:
- Part-time and full-time salaried University and Academic Professionals
- Part-time and full-time salaried regular faculty members
- Part-time and full-time salaried Postdoctoral Scholar employees
- Part-time and full-time salaried classified staff
Employees who use enrollment forms may return them electronically, by postal mail, or by depositing them in the drop box outside the HR Welcome Center at Lindsey House (Belvidere Street entrance). Please use one method only.
- DocuSign: DocuSign form
- Upload with HR Support Request: http://go.vcu.edu/
ramscentral
- VCU Filelocker: https://filelocker.vcu.edu/
- Share with User ID "OPENENROLL" or email address openenroll@vcu.edu.
- Spotlight on Your Benefits Newsletter (PDF)
- VCU Open Enrollment Presentation (PDF)
- Open Enrollment Checklist (PDF)
- Cardinal ESS
- Cardinal ESS Information page
- How to complete and return the Open Enrollment Election form (PDF)
- Commonwealth of Virginia Open Enrollment page (Virginia Department of Human Resource Management)
The annual Open Enrollment period is optional for eligible employees and action is not always required. Please see the chart below to determine when action is needed for your particular scenario.
| I want to... | Do I need to make an Open Enrollment election? |
|---|---|
| Participate in flexible spending accounts (FSA) for the July 2025 - June 2026 plan year | Yes, even if you had a previous FSA |
| Change my health plan selection | Yes |
| Change who is covered on my health plan | Yes |
| Keep the same health plan with the same people covered, and not participate in flexible spending accounts (FSA) | No |
State Health Plan brochures
- COVA Care plan brochure (PDF)
- COVA HealthAware plan brochure (PDF)
- COVA HDHP brochure (PDF)
- Sentara Health Vantage plan brochure (PDF)
- Kaiser Permanente plan brochure (PDF)
Additional resources
- Benefits at a Glance Summary (PDF)
- Proposed Employee Premiums for July 1, 2025 - June 30, 2026
- Price a medication under the various COVA plans (see Pharmacy Plan Details heading)
- ALEX Interactive Benefit Counselor
- Eligibility and required documentation for family members (PDF)
- Premium Reward Program FAQ (PDF)
- COVA EAP Flyer
- Registering for Cardinal ESS
- Video: How to use Cardinal ESS for Open Enrollment
- Printable Instructions for making online elections in Cardinal ESS (PDF)
- Health Benefits and Flexible Spending Enrollment 2025-2026 (PDF)
- Health Benefits and Flexible Spending Enrollment 2025-2026 (DocuSign version)
- How to complete and return the Open Enrollment Election form (PDF)
Premium rewards for the current plan year end in June. To earn a premium reward for the next plan year (July 2025-June 2026), employees must complete or update a health assessment on or after May 16, 2024. Employees who participate in a COVA Care or COVA HealthAware health plan can earn a $17 per month ($8.50 per paycheck) discount on health plan premiums beginning in July if their health assessment is completed between May 16 and May 30. Spouses enrolled on a plan can earn an additional $17 monthly discount by completing the assessment, making the total monthly discount $34 ($17 per paycheck).
After completing your Health Assessment, keep a copy of the completion confirmation for your records. It does not need to be returned to VCU HR. Your health plan company will report your completion of the activity directly to the State Health Benefits Program. Review your paystub on the effective date of your Premium Reward to confirm that the correct premium is charged. VCU deducts the amount billed by the State Health Benefits Program.
For full instructions on how to complete the health assessment, see Premium Rewards Requirements (PDF).
If you and/or your enrolled spouse do not complete the health assessment by May 30, it can still be completed later but the premium reward(s) will also start later in the plan year. Completing the health assessment is voluntary. If you decide not to participate, you will pay the regular premium for your plan with no discount.
For more information please see pages 12-13 in 'Spotlight on Your Benefits'.
Additional questions?
For questions, please submit an HR Service Request through the: