September 17, 2025
Open enrollment logo

Open enrollment is your chance to make coverage changes for the upcoming year. It’s time to review your insurance benefit options for 2026 and ensure your coverage is exactly what you need. Check out our open enrollment webpage now, so you’ll be ready to elect your benefits for 2026.


Eligible subscribers can make changes October 1-31, 2025. Any changes you make during open enrollment will take effect January 1, 2026. Life insurance changes are effective January 1, 2026, or when MetLife approves coverage, whichever is later.


If you are satisfied with your coverage, you only need to reenroll in your MoneyPlus flexible spending accounts. Your current insurance coverage will continue in 2026. Keep in mind, you can make changes to your dental coverage this year and you must reenroll in MoneyPlus flexible spending accounts each year.


If you’re unsure what insurance coverage you currently have, log in to MyBenefits to find out. While you’re logged in, take a few minutes to review your life insurance beneficiaries and make any necessary updates.


Highlights for 2026

  • Active employee and funded retiree health insurance premiums will not increase in 2026.
  • Permanent, part-time teacher, partially funded retiree, non-funded retiree, COBRA subscriber, survivor and former spouse health insurance premiums will increase in 2026.
  • Dental Plus premiums will increase in 2026.
  • If you work for an optional employer, verify your premiums with your benefits office.
  • CVS Caremark will be the pharmacy benefits manager, effective January 1, 2026. Learn more on our transition webpage.
  • MoneyPlus flexible spending account administrative fees will decrease to $1.10 per account per month.
  • Health Savings Account participants will no longer pay a monthly administrative fee.
Learn more

Transition to new pharmacy benefits manager

Beginning January 1, 2026, CVS Caremark will replace Express Scripts as the pharmacy benefits manager for the State Health Plan. You will receive information from CVS Caremark over the next few months, and we encourage you to review the information carefully. We have a webpage dedicated to the transition. There, you’ll find frequently asked questions that might be helpful to you. We will update these FAQs as more details become available during the implementation process.
View FAQs

Secure your loved ones' future

We know life can get busy, but it’s good practice to review and update your beneficiary information, especially if you’ve had an important life event, such as the birth of a child. Make sure you have all the necessary beneficiary information, including full names, dates of birth and Social Security numbers.


To learn how to update beneficiaries, visit our website or view our Designating Active Member Beneficiaries flyer.

Retirement defined benefit plans through PEBA

Active members have the option to designate three types of beneficiaries for their retirement accounts. To update your beneficiary, log in to Member Access.


State Optional Retirement Program

If you participate in State ORP, you must update beneficiaries for your State ORP account through your chosen service provider. Your beneficiary must submit a claim to that service provider to receive your account balance in the event of your death. State ORP participants are eligible for an incidental death benefit while actively employed and in service with a covered employer. PEBA administers this benefit, and you can update your incidental death benefit beneficiaries through Member Access.


Life insurance

Active employees can update life insurance beneficiaries anytime through MyBenefits. Retirees who have life insurance with MetLife can review or update beneficiary designations with MetLife.


Deferred Compensation Program

As a Deferred Comp participant, you must update beneficiaries for your Deferred Comp account with Empower, the third-party administrator. You must designate beneficiaries for each plan (401(k) and/or 457) in which you participate. Your beneficiary must submit a claim to Empower to receive your Deferred Comp account balance in the event of your death.

Using your benefits

Open enrollment is upon us, but have you used your 2025 benefits? Make sure to schedule your appointments before the end of 2025. These can include, but aren’t limited to, your annual visit to the eye doctor, a trip to have your teeth cleaned or your yearly mammogram.

Are you retirement aware?

Consider the steps you need to take now to fulfill your future retirement plans—even if retirement is years away. People often plan to retire, and then realize they aren’t as prepared as they thought. It’s important to start thinking ahead about your potential sources of income in retirement so you can take steps to ensure you have enough time to prepare.


If you participate in Deferred Comp, you have access to local retirement plan advisors at no additional cost to you. RPAs can help you take an all-inclusive look at your potential retirement income sources and help you navigate the steps you need to take to prepare. Learn more about Deferred Comp and what RPAs can do for you on our Deferred Comp webpage.

Navigating your benefits
NYB logo

Insurance and retirement benefits can be complicated, and it might be difficult to make decisions. The Navigating Your Benefits series provides common-language explanations and can help you find your way in the world of your benefits. On this webpage, you’ll find helpful flyers and videos.
View flyers and videos
 
 

Serving those who serve South Carolina


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803.737.6800 | 888.260.9430 | www.peba.sc.gov | Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Not all members participate in a PEBA-administered retirement plan or insurance programs. Please disregard any information not applicable to you. (Data classification: public information)

S.C. Public Employee Benefit Authority | 202 Arbor Lake Drive | Columbia, SC 29223 US

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