Open Enrollment 2026 FAQs for Admins
What do I need to know?
#1. All 2025 auto-reimbursements expire Dec 2025! Your employees must set up auto-reimbursement for their 2026 plans or else they will not receive their benefit dollars.
#2. If your employees want to change their plan, they must shop during Open Enrollment (ending Dec 15)!
Employees will be automatically re-enrolled in the same plan or one similar if they do nothing. If your employee wants to change their health plan for 2026, they must enroll before the Open Enrollment deadline. For most states, Monday, December 15, is the deadline to enroll in coverage that starts Jan 1, 2026.
What do I need to do as an admin during Open Enrollment?
- Educate your employees on their 2026 health benefits. During Open Enrollment: All employees can enroll in a marketplace health plan or make changes to an existing plan
- Any employees who waived their 2025 ICHRA benefit have the opportunity to accept the benefit for 2026
- Employees must set up auto-reimbursements for the new plan year. Important: Auto-reimbursements set up for 2025 health plans expire in Dec 2025.
- Approve employees' 2026 reimbursement requests. - As the admin, you are responsible for approving your employees’ 2026 reimbursement requests. To ensure no delay in payment, approve reimbursements before January 1.
What StretchDollar resources can I share with my employees?
- Share this flyer - it has everything your employees need to know!
- Share our FAQs:
- Open Enrollment FAQs for Employees - How to set up reimbursements for 2025 and make changes to an existing health plan
- Open Enrollment 2025 Overview - Important state-specific deadlines when shopping for a health plan
When will my employees receive their pre-tax benefit?
Once the auto-reimbursements are approved by the admin, funds are transferred from the business account on the 25th of the month and transferred to the employee by the 1st of the month. Funds will be withdrawn monthly on the 25th for the rest of the calendar year.