Open Enrollment
2026-2027 Active Open Enrollment
April 6 - April 30
This year’s open enrollment will be Active meaning you must make selections for the 2026-2027 year in order to have coverages. If you do not make any changes, your current benefits will not continue for the upcoming plan year (July 1, 2026 - June 30, 2027).
Please note that group life, voluntary life and AD&D, and long-term disability insurance are not included in the open enrollment process.
New for 2026-2027
- Open Enrollment Dates: This open enrollment will run from April 6 - 30.
- Coverage Elections: Employees will make elections for state medical, prescription, and dental plans, as well as NMSU-administered plans (vision, flexible spending accounts, accident, and critical illness, and hospital).
- Plan Year Shift: Beginning July 1, 2026, benefits will align with the state’s fiscal year. Elections, contributions, deductibles, and out-of-pocket maximums will now follow a single plan year to support better planning and cost management.
- Salary tiers have been updated so that this year’s cost-of-living increase does not push employees into a higher contribution tier.
- New medical carrier and plan designs.
- New Pharmacy Benefit Manager, Evernorth (also known as Express Scripts, Inc.)
- New dental carrier and buy-up plan options.
- New Limited Purpose Flexible Spending Account and Health Savings Account options.
- New Pharmacy Benefit Manager, Evernorth (also known as Express Scripts, Inc.)
- New dental carrier and buy-up plan options.
- Voluntary Benefits: Voluntary benefits through Unum (accident, critical illness, and hospital) have been renewed with lower rates and expanded hospital coverage.
Quick Links
- 2026-2027 Open Enrollment Memo 3/31/2026
- 2026-2027 State of New Mexico Open Enrollment Presentation
*NMSU does not participate in the State of NM vision plan - 2026-2027 NMSU Open Enrollment Presentation
- Benefits Calculator Effective 7/1/2026
- 2026-2027 Medical Comparison Grid
- 2026-2027 Dental Comparison Grid
- 2026-2027 Pharmacy Comparison Grid
- 2026-2027 Insurance Premium Rates
- Glossary of Benefit Terms
- 2026-2027 Open Enrollment FAQ
Upcoming Events
- Zoom Q&A Sessions: Every weekday, April 13 – April 30, 2026 at 11:00-11:30 am & 3:00-3:30 pm
- Live Carrier Event: April 10, 2026 9:00 AM – 1:30 PM, presentations will be from 10:30-12:30, Hardman Jacobs Rooms 125 & 126 & via Zoom
Key Dates
- Open Enrollment: April 6 - 30, 2026
- Live Carrier Event: April 10, 2026 9:00 AM – 1:30 PM
- Zoom Q&A Sessions: Every weekday, April 13 – April 30, 2026 at 11:00-11:30 am & 3:00-3:30 pm
- Benefits Effective Date: July 1, 2026 – June 30, 2027
- First Payroll Deduction: Exempt – July 15, 2026; Non‐exempt – July 30, 2026, 9-Month Faculty - August 31, 2026
- Benefit Counselors available starting April 15, 2026 - Schedule Here
Enrollment
How to enroll:
- To self-enroll visit http://www.employeenavigator.com/,
- Register as a new user, company identifier "NMSU" (no quotation marks)
- If you have forgotten your username or password, please call 575-646-8000 or submit a ticket at https://help.nmsu.edu for assistance.
- Click here for self-enroll instructions or Employee Navigator tutorial video
- Language support: click your name in the top right corner, select Español. For another language, after selecting Español, use Google Translate toolbar (top left) and select language from dropdown menu.
- Speak to a benefit counselor -- they can answer questions and complete your enrollment
- Unum call center Monday - Friday 6:00 am - 6:00 pm MT: 877-700-8136
- Set up an appointment click here, a counselor will call you at the appointment time
If you are adding a new dependent and have not already submitted required documentation, it must be submitted by April 30.
- Eligibility requirements: https://benefits.nmsu.edu/enrollment/eligibility.html
- Submit documentation: https://help.nmsu.edu/TDClient/267/Portal/Requests/TicketRequests/NewForm?ID=eRXVtU~qt-o_&Requestor…
Employee Navigator tutorial video
Medical
2026-2027 Medical Comparison Grid
|
Carrier |
Presentations |
Flyers & Documents |
|
Presbyterian |
2026-2027 Presbyterian Benefit Summaries |
|
|
BlueCross BlueShield |
2026-2027 BCBS Open Enrollment Video 2026-2027 BCBS Open Enrollment Presentation |
|
| United Healthcare |
Prescription Insurance
2026-2027 Pharmacy Comparison Grid
| Carrier |
Presentations |
Plan Documents |
| Evernorth (also known as Express Scripts, Inc.) |
Flexible Spending Accounts & Health Savings Accounts
|
Carrier |
Presentations |
Flyers & Documents |
|
McGriff |
2026-2027 McGriff Presentation
|
FSA Education Guide Flex Benefit Access Visa Card FSA Consumer Portal Quick Start Guide HSA Mutual Funds Investment List |
Dental
2026-2027 Dental Comparison Grid
|
Carrier |
Presentations |
Flyers & Documents |
|
Delta Dental |
Delta Dental Summary Plan Description Delta Dental Summary of Plan Benefits - Base Plan |
|
|
MetLife Dental |
Vision
|
Carrier |
Presentations |
Flyers & Documents |
|
Vision Service Plan (VSP) |
Voluntary Benefits
Unum
800-635-5597
Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
|
Carrier |
Presentations |
Flyers & Documents |
|
GuidanceResources |
ComPsych Open Enrollment Presentation ComPsych Open Enrollment Presentation Video |