TO: Sonoma State Employees
FR: Payroll and Benefits
Mark your calendars! The CSU annual Open Enrollment period takes place September 15 - October 10, 2025.
The health and well-being of our employees is important, and we encourage you to take this time to ensure your benefits are aligned with your individual and family’s needs. Elections made during the Open Enrollment period will take effect on January 1, 2026.
During Open Enrollment, you can:
- Enroll in a benefit plan
- Change or add to your existing plans
- Add or remove eligible dependents
- Elect to decline or cancel coverage
- Enroll/re-enroll in annual Health Care or Dependent Care reimbursement (HCRA/DCRA) accounts
- Update or enroll in voluntary benefit plans
If you are not making any changes to your current health, dental, vision or voluntary plans, no action is required - your current coverage will automatically continue into the next plan year - with the exception of HCRA/DCRA accounts which require re-enrollment each year.
Please also note that all employees are subject to updated health premium rates, even if no changes are made to coverage.
VISIT THE OPEN ENROLLMENT WEBSITE
The CSU Open Enrollment website provides updated resources, such as changes for 2025, benefit plans, rates, forms and benefit provider information. You can also find complete details on available health plans on the CalPERS website. Beginning September 8th CalPERS Health Plan Statements will be available through your personalized myCalPERS account.
SSU IN-PERSON OPEN ENROLLMENT FAIR
Plan to attend the in-person Open Enrollment fair on Tuesday, September 23rd from 12 pm to 2 pm in the Student Center, Ballrooms C and D. Benefit vendors will be on site to provide information and assist employees. Enrollment forms and supplemental materials will also be available.
VIRTUAL OPEN ENROLLMENT FAIR
The Chancellor’s Office is hosting a virtual benefit fair for all CSU employees. During the fair, you'll be able to speak with the benefit plan carriers as well as staff from Payroll and Benefits. The virtual fair will be held on Tuesday, September 30th from 11 am to 2 pm via Zoom Events. Registration is required to attend.
NEW VENDOR WEBINAR SERIES
This year, the Chancellor's Office will be hosting a mini-Open Enrollment Webinar Series, highlighting Health Care and Dependent Care Reimbursement Accounts (HCRA/DCRA) with ASI, Legal Insurance with ARAG, and Critical Illness, Accident, Life, Long-Term Disability and Accidental Death and Dismemberment coverages with The Standard. View the webinar series flyer for more details on specific presentation dates and times.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND ENROLLMENT
The CSU has created the Open Enrollment Brochure which provides important information about this year’s Open Enrollment period. The brochure is attached for your convenience and it contains information about the CalPERS health plans, as well as important links to the many benefits offered by the CSU.
Please carefully review all benefits plan options and costs before making any enrollment decisions for yourself and family members. Once changes have been submitted for the coming plan year, and the deadline has passed, a qualifying event must occur in order to be able to make further changes. For up-to-date information visit: http://calstate.edu/
If you have any other questions, please contact the Payroll and Benefits Office at (707) 664-2793 or [email protected].
