Retiree Open Enrollment FAQs
Open Enrollment is your annual opportunity to review, update, and choose the benefits that best meet your needs and those of your family for the upcoming plan year. We encourage you to carefully review all available options, compare plans, and take any required actions before the enrollment deadline. The FAQs below are designed to help answer common questions and guide you through the enrollment process.
Retiree Open Enrollment FAQs
To make changes to your retiree medical plan, please log into Workday during open enrollment from October 12, 2026, through October 30, 2026. For step-by-step instructions, please review the Workday Retiree Open Enrollment Instructions Guide by visiting the Retiree Workday Open Enrollment instructions.
Medical Employee Premium: As healthcare costs continue to rise nationwide, UofL remains committed to offering competitive, high quality benefits and investing in the well-being of its employees and retirees. For 2027, retiree medical contributions will increase by 9%, while the university’s contribution will increase by 19%, reflecting the institution’s ongoing commitment to sharing the cost of coverage and maintaining a strong, competitive benefits package for faculty and staff.
GLP-1 Medication Coverage: Health plans will limit coverage of GLP-1 medications. These medications will remain covered for the treatment of diagnosed medical conditions, such as type 2 diabetes but will not be covered when used for weight loss or weight management alone.
Vision and Life Insurance: MetLife will continue to administer these benefits. To make changes to your current retiree direct bill vision and/or life insurance for 2027 please follow the instructions below during open enrollment from October 12, 2026, through October 30, 2026. You may only change, reduce, or cancel existing coverage.
Enrollment Instructions: boonchapman.benselect.com/uofl
Note: The Employee ID is SSN with dashes, and the PIN is the final 4 digits of the SSN and the final 2 digits of your birth year.
When? October 12 through October 30, 2026
Questions? Call 630-692-4242
Dental: Delta Dental of Kentucky will become the university’s new dental carrier; retirees with current MetLife Basic/Enhanced direct bill coverage will automatically transition to Delta Dental Kentucky. Dental Open Enrollment changes and ACH/direct bill setup must be completed between October 12, 2026, through November 15, 2026, by calling 800-955-2030. You may only change, reduce, or cancel existing coverage.
Health Savings Account (HSA): The 2027 IRS contribution limits are $4,500 for employee-only coverage and $9,000 for family coverage. The $1,000 catch-up contribution for individuals age 55 and older remains unchanged.
Note: If you enroll in the CDHP medical plan with HSA, once you enroll in any part of Medicare, you are no longer eligible to contribute to an HSA. Please reach out to Benefits@Louisville.edu if you are not eligible for the HSA. You may not receive or use HSA contributions on qualifying adults or dependents you do not claim on your taxes.
Dental Vendor Transition
We are transitioning to a new dental insurance vendor, Delta Dental of Kentucky, effective January 1, 2027. Delta Dental of Kentucky will administer all dental benefits beginning on that date. There will be no changes to the dental plans and benefits offered. You will want to check to see if your dentist is in Delta Dental of Kentucky’s network.
No. MetLife will continue to administer your current retiree vision and life insurance coverage. There are no changes to your vision plan or vision provider network.
The contract with MetLife was up for renewal. As part of our regular process of evaluating our benefit programs, we conducted a request for proposals (RFP). After reviewing the proposals, the RFP committee selected Delta Dental of Kentucky as the vendor that best meets the employees' needs and goals.
Delta Dental of Kentucky will issue ID cards in the mail. MetLife does not issue vision ID cards. To request a MetLife vision ID card, please contact MetLife at 877-923-2847 (Client Code: 7631).
Yes. You may access your 2027 dental coverage through Delta Dental of Kentucky by registering an account at mwp.ddkymembers.com. To review your retiree vision and/or life insurance coverage through MetLife, you may register an account at metlife.com/mybenefits.com.
If you have a registered account through MetLife, access to your prior dental coverage remains available for up to 6 months after your MetLife dental direct bill coverage transitions to Delta Dental of Kentucky.
No. If you are currently enrolled in MetLife Basic or Enhanced Dental Coverage via direct bill, your plan will automatically transition to Delta Dental of Kentucky for 2027. Your MetLife coverage terminates on December 31, 2026.
The following action will need to be taken by November 15, 2026.
- Set Up ACH Payment: Contact Delta Dental of Kentucky at 800-955-2030 to set up automatic clearing house (ACH) payments.
- Make Coverage Changes (Optional): Call Delta Dental of Kentucky at 800-955-2030 if you want to modify your current dental coverage for the new plan year.
If you currently cover eligible dependents, their coverage will continue, if you do not elect to remove them during Open Enrollment. If you add eligible dependents during Open Enrollment, their coverage will begin January 1, 2027. To make changes to your current dental plan, contact Delta Dental of Kentucky at 800-955-2030 beginning October 12, 2026, through November 15, 2026.
No. Effective the 2027 plan year, Delta Dental of Kentucky manages dental benefits only, while MetLife continues to administer vision and life insurance benefits.
It depends on whether your dentist participates in the new dental vendor's network. We encourage you to check the provider directory at deltadentalky.com or contact Delta Dental of Kentucky before receiving services. If you do not want to change dentist, depending on the plan design, you may still receive services from an out-of-network provider, but your costs may be higher.
Search the provider directory at deltadentalky.com. Select Find a Dentist at the top right corner. Under Plan Network Provider, select Delta Dental PPO Plus Premier.
- Contact Delta Dental's customer service line at 800-955-2030.
- Contact your dental office directly.
Depending on the plan design, you may still receive services from an out-of-network provider, but your costs may be higher. Review plan details for information about out-of-network benefits at https://louisville.edu/open-enrollment.
Yes. Delta Dental of Kentucky will mail ID cards for the 2027 plan year. You may also be able to access a digital ID card through the Member Portal at deltadentalky.com/memberportal or by downloading the Delta Dental Mobile App in the Apple or Android store once coverage is active.
Yes. Eligible dental and vision expenses can continue to be paid using your FSA or HSA according to IRS rules.
If you are in the middle of dental treatment, such as orthodontia, crowns, implants, or other major services, Delta Dental of Kentucky will provide guidelines regarding treatment in progress. Contact Delta Dental of Kentucky to understand how treatment-in-progress claims will be managed. Additional documentation from your dentist may be required in some situations.
Claims for services received on or prior to 12/31/26 should be submitted to the previous dental vendor according to their claim’s procedures and deadlines.
Claims for services provided before the transition date should be directed to MetLife by calling 866-832-5756.
The Basic and Enhanced plan options will remain the same, but dental premiums will increase for 2027.
Yes. Preventive services such as exams, cleanings, and X-rays are generally covered according to plan provisions.
Deductible and annual maximum accumulations reset each plan year effective 1/1. However, if you are currently in the middle of treatment prior to your Delta Dental of Kentucky coverage effective date, Delta Dental of Kentucky will provide guidelines regarding treatment in progress.
No, there are no changes to orthodontia coverage. Please review the new plan materials for orthodontia eligibility, age limits, lifetime maximums, and coverage percentages.
Yes. Eligible dental and vision expenses can continue to be paid using your FSA or HSA according to IRS rules.
Resources and Support
Attending the HRtalks session and Benefit Fairs. For more information, please review the Retiree Open Enrollment webpage.
Dental plan questions: Contact Delta Dental of Kentucky at 800-955-2030 or visit deltadentalky.com.
Vision and retiree life questions: Contact MetLife at 630-692-4242.
Enrollment questions: The Benefits Department is here to assist in any way possible so please reach out October 12, 2026, to October 30, 2026: Benefits@Louisville.edu or call Benefits during Open Enrollment Line at 852-0040 (Mon–Fri, 8 AM–4:30 PM).