Open Enrollment for 2026
Open Enrollment for 2026 is October 13-31, 2025. Open Enrollment is your annual opportunity to enroll in or make changes to your NCFlex benefits.
Be sure to update your choices and re-enroll in Flexible Spending Accounts to ensure you and your family have the coverage you need next year.
2026 News & Updates
NCFlex Dental Plan rates will increase by four percent for 2026.
No matter what option you elect, you can receive benefits for basic services, such as fillings, extractions, root canal therapy, and treatment for gum disease, as well as diagnostic and preventive services like oral exams, cleanings, and x-rays.
The Classic and High options also cover major services, including crowns, dentures, bridges, and more.
Find rates for the Plan and more details on benefits on the Dental Plan page or by reading the NCFlex 2026 Enrollment Guide.
Contribute more to your DDCFSA!
In 2026, you can contribute up to $7,500 to your Dependent Day Care Flexible Spending Account (DDCFSA) per household. With these funds, you'll be able to reimburse yourself for eligible dependent care expenses throughout the year. Whether it's for all-day childcare, an after-school program, elder care, or even a summer camp, these funds are used on a pre-tax basis, making your dollars go further.
You can contribute if you and your spouse both work, your spouse goes to school full-time, or your spouse is unable to care for themself. Use the convenience card to pay for expenses up to your account balance or file manual claims online or through the P&A app.
Bonus: Changes can be made to your DDCFSA throughout the year if your dependent care needs change.
Dollars go further with a HCFSA.
With a Health Care Flexible Spending Account (HCFSA), you can set aside pre-tax dollars to pay for eligible out-of-pocket medical, dental, and vision expenses throughout the year. Contribute as little as $120 or up to $3,300 in 2026 (per eligible employee), and your entire contribution will be available on January 1.
Eligible expenses include: copays, prescription drugs and eyeglasses, deductibles, braces, contacts, hearing aids, qualifying everyday health products, over-the-counter medications, and surprising items like red light therapy devices!
Funds can be used for eligible family members, even if they're not on any of your other plans. Purchases are also easy to make with P&A Group's convenience card, and you can order cards for your spouse and children ages 18-26.
Do I Have to Enroll?
You must re-enroll in Health Care and/or Dependent Day Care Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs) each year to make contributions to the upcoming plan year. If you do not re-enroll, your current contributions end on December 31, 2025.
Reviewing available options helps you make the best benefits choices for you and your family for the upcoming year. However, your current elections for all plans except FSAs will roll over at 2026 rates if you do not make changes by Friday, October 31, 2025.
How to Enroll Now
Non-University employees can enroll in two ways.
Online at ncflex.org
- Visit ncflex.org and click Enroll Now.
- Select your enrollment system. If your employer is not listed, click eBenefits or contact your HR representative for assistance.
- Log into your enrollment system and it will automatically walk you through the steps to enroll.
Call 855-859-0966
- Call the eligibility and enrollment call center Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–5 p.m. ET.
- Call center hours will be extended to 10 p.m. during Open Enrollment and will include some weekend hours.
All UNC System institutions have single sign-on for online enrollment using Empyrean. To get to your institution's enrollment page, visit the UNC System Human Resources site.
Enroll on Empyrean:
- Log into the site.
- Once logged in, you'll see a pending event (i.e. open enrollment).
- Click Continue and follow the prompts to make your enrollment choices.
- Scroll through the display of your choices and click Submit My Elections.
- Click Accept on the pop-up message that appears. Be sure you complete this critical step. If you do not, your choices will not be recorded.
- Print a copy of your Confirmation Statement before logging out.
Have questions or need assistance? Call the University of North Carolina Benefits Service Center at 833-862-1490, Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–5 p.m., ET.
Learn More Before You Enroll
Looking for more information on NCFlex plans? The tools below can help you feel fully prepared when it's time to make your benefits choices.
Hear Directly from an NCFlex Representative
NCFlex representatives will host online benefits meetings during Open Enrollment, giving you the chance to hear directly from the experts about the plans available to you. During these virtual sessions, you'll also be able to submit questions to be answered in real time. These meetings will discuss NCFlex benefits only. For information on the State Health Plan, view the SHP's list of upcoming events.