Office of Human Resources

• The Dependent Care FSA annual plan maximum in increasing! This is the first significant change since the early 2000's.  The new max is $7,500 per individual or $3,750 per each if filing jointly.
• Dependent care will continue with the grace period into the 2026 plan year.  You have until March 15, 2026 to incur expenses for 2025 contributions.

• The annual limit on employee contributions to a health FSA will be $3___ for plan years beginning in 2026 (up from $3,300 in 2025).
• Carryover limit for Plan Year 2025.  As a reminder instead of the previous Grace Period, you can now carryover up to $660 of your unused HCFSA and LPFSA balances into the next plan year.
• This means a fixed amount (currently $660) of any unreimbursed funds that you do not have claims for by 12/31/2025 will be carried over into plan year 2026. Any funds over $660 are forfeit. The funds carried over are for expenses incurred in 2026. You cannot use the carryover amount for 2025 expenses. 

• • Please Note:  Keep in mind if you are enrolling in an HSA plan for 2025 you must spend down your balance by the end of the year.  You or your spouse cannot have any unreimbursed HCFSA funds on 12/31/2025 and contribute to an HSA on 1/1/26.
• Limited Purpose FSA
  • Compliment option for those enrolled/enrolling in a High Deductible Health plan (HDHP) with a Health Savings Account (HSA)
    
  • You can take advantage of the Limited Purpose Flexible Spending Account (LPFSA) to save on dental and vision expenses – tax free!
    If you have an HSA, this account is designed to complement it, allowing you to maximize your savings on dental and vision care without affecting your HSA contributions.
  • Internal Revenue Service (IRS) rules clarify that you cannot contribute to a HSA and a HCFSA in the same plan year. A Limited Purpose FSA (LPFSA) allows employees to pay for eligible dental and vision expenses exclusively.   You can pair an HSA and an LPFSA thus increasing your tax savings potential while also allowing you to save and invest more in your HSA. 
• HCFSA vs LPFSA vs DCFSA  quick overview

Action required: If you wish to renew a health care or dependent care  FSA or enroll in the Limited Purpose FSA accounts for 2025, you must make an active election though your Workday Open Enrollment Task.

• Due to the pre-tax nature of these programs, IRS regulations require that an active election be made each year.  Flexible spending accounts do not renew automatically.

Medical Coverage

• Our self-insured health plan is projected to experience an 11% to 15% increase in overall costs
• _______% modest employee increase
• Factors that contribute to increase:
  • Increased number and amount of high cost claims (medical expenses associated with very serious health conditions)
  • General medical cost inflation
  • Increased cost of prescription costs 
• 2026 Plan Comparison
• 2026 weekly rates   | 2026 semi-monthly rates
• Plan Enhancements:
  •  
• For those in the HPHC High Deductible Health Plan, deductibles will increase from $1,600 individual/$3,200 family  to $1,650 individual/$3,300 family, as mandated by the IRS.

Dental Coverage

• We are pleased to report that there will be no changes to the dental plan or rates for 2026!
  
  • Weekly rates  | Semi-monthly rates

Supplemental Vision

• We are pleased to report that there will be no changes to the vision plan or rates for 2026!

• Weekly rates   | Semi-monthly rates

Health Savings Account HSA for use with a High Deductible Health Plan HDHP. 

• Fidelity Learning Center - What is an HSA?
• 2026 Contribution Limits
  • $______individual / $______ family.
  • $500 Brandeis Employer Contribution January 2026 - (part of your total contribution)
  • Age 55+ may elect an additional $1,000 in catch-up contributions
• HSA contributions are tax free every step of the way: when you put money in, as it potentially grows, and when you take it out to pay for qualified medical expenses.
• Must re-elect contribution amount for open enrollment.
  
  • May change amount at anytime during the year.
• Pair with Limited Purpose FSA for maximum savings.
• HSA vs FSA  quick overview.

Reminder: If you or your spouse are enrolling in a HDHP/HSA plan for 2026; neither you nor your spouse can be enrolled or have unreimbursed funds in the HCFSA (as of 1/1/2026).  You may enroll in an LPFSA for eligible dental and vision expenses for 1/1/2026 with an HSA.

As a reminder, this is also your opportunity to enroll in or change supplemental life insurance for 2026.

• Employee Life Insurance Benefit
• Spouse Supplemental Life Insurance Rates
• Child Life Insurance Rates

• The Health Care (standard or limited purpose) FSA annual maximum plan contribution limit is increasing from $3,300 to $______ for 2026.
•  

• The monthly commuter benefits limit in 2026 for mass transit and parking is $_____ per month. 

• 2026 HSA contribution limit is $4,400 for an individual and $8,750 for family.
• Age 55+ may elect and additional $1,000 catch up.

403(b) IRS Deferral Limit

• $2_______ under age 50; $3_______ age 50 and over
• Additional $11,250 age 60 – 63   Still???

• For those in the High Deductible Health Plan, deductibles will increase to $1,700 individual/$3,400 family, as mandated by the IRS