- Medical
- Dental
- Vision
- Critical Illness
OPEN ENROLLMENT: PLAN YEAR 2026
Enrollment period: OCT. 13 - Oct. 31 | Effective date of changes: Jan. 1, 2026
The Open Enrollment period is your opportunity to select the health plan that best meets the needs of you and your family. To make changes to your benefits, you will need to visit both enrollment platforms. The platform you choose will determine the benefits in which you are enrolling: please navigate to eBenefits (Benefitfocus) to enroll in medical health insurance, and to UNC Empyrean (COMPASS) for NCFlex supplemental benefits.
Remember, YOU MUST TAKE ACTION during the enrollment dates: Oct. 13 - Oct. 31, 2025
During Open Enrollment, benefits-eligible employees will be able to enroll in or update the following benefits:
- Accident
- Flexible Spending Accounts
- UNC Life Insurance
- UNC Voluntary AD&D
- UNC Supplemental Disability
- Cancer and Specified Disease
- TRICARE Supplement coverage
Where you need to go
There are two enrollment platforms—eBenefits (Benefitfocus) and UNC Empyrean (COMPASS). For 2025, you will continue to use eBenefits (Benefitfocus) to make health coverage elections through the State Health Plan. For all other benefit elections, including all NCFlex and UNC System benefits, you will continue to use the UNC Empyrean (COMPASS) platform.
eBenefits (Benefitfocus)
You will need to log in to this platform to enroll/make changes to your elections for:
- Medical Health through the State Health Plan
You will also go here to answer your tobacco attestation if you elect to enroll for health coverage under the State Health Plan and want to receive the wellness credit.
Enroll Here
Questions?
Call the eligibility and enrollment call center at 855-859-0966,
Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. - 10 p.m., and Saturday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
UNC Empyrean (COMPASS)
You will go here to enroll in/make changes to your elections for:
- Dental
- Vision
- Accident
- Flexible Spending Accounts
- UNC Life Insurance
- UNC Voluntary AD&D
- UNC Supplemental Disability
- Cancer and Specified Disease
- Critical Illness
- TRICARE Supplement coverage
Important: If you are currently enrolled in the Life Insurance, AD&D (Core and/or Voluntary), Cancer and Specified Disease, and/or Critical Illness plans, you will need to log in to the UNC (Empyrean) platform and designate your beneficiary(ies). Your current beneficiary(ies) will NOT be transferred over to the UNC (Empyrean) platform.
Enroll Here
Questions?
Call the Empyrean University Benefits Service Center at 833-862-1490,
Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m., ET.
Questions about the SHP medical plan?
During the Open Enrollment period of October 13 - 31, 2025, the Eligibility and Enrollment Support Center will have extended hours.
Call 855-859-0966, Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-10 p.m., ET, and Saturday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m., ET.
Questions about the NCFLEX or UNC System plans?
Call the University of North Carolina Benefits Service Center at 833-862-1490, Monday‑Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m., ET.
OE Virtual Zoom Drop-in Labs
October 16th - October 17th
October 24th
October 30th - 31st
BSC OE Lab Plan
Oct 27th and 28th
The Benefits Service Center’s operation hours are Monday through Friday from 8 am – 5 pm, excluding holiday closures.
Please don’t hesitate to reach out by phone or email at:
919-445-1352 or benefits@northcarolina.edu
For assistance with your benefits, retirement, education, and special leave needs.
More detailed benefits information can also be found at: https://myapps.northcarolina.edu/hr/service/
- Dates:
Open Enrollment begins October 13, 2025 – ends October 31, 2025
- Enrollment Platforms:
State Health Plan – Benefit Focus
NC Flex and UNCS Plans – Empyrean (Compass)
- Plan name change:
70/30 Plan – Standard PPO Plan
80/20 Plan – Plus PPO Plan
- No Wellness Credit
- CPP Ending 12/31 –
The SHP continues its commitment to providing members access to high quality and affordable health care through a Preferred Provider network
- Teledoc Removed (SHP/Aenta)
- NOTE: If the medical provider still offers/provides virtual services, it will be allowed
- Premiums changing in 2026. Visit the State Health Plan website for information.
Active Enrollment:
- ALL active employees, including dependents, will be moved to the Standard PPO Plan (70/30) effective Jan. 1, 2026
Employees will see this change when they log in to eBenefits during Open Enrollment
- Subscribers MUST take action:
To enroll in the Plus PPO Plan (80/20); and
Failure to take action will result in:
Remaining on the Standard PPO Plan (70/30) for 2026
Preferred Provider Updates:
- Members that have a selected PCP that has both badges, no action is needed to select a different PCP
- If members switch PCPs during OE, that action is going to generate a new ID card immediately
- If you want to select a different PCP, members will need to wait until 1/1/26
New Cards:
- All members, regardless of action taken during OE, will receive a new ID card in last November - December
State Resources
- Employee Benefits Central
- Benefits Enrollment (SSO)
- UNCS Annual Open Enrollment
- SHP 2026 Open Enrollment
- NCFLEX 2026 Open Enrollment
Financial Assistance/Budgeting
Emotional and mental well-being check-in: