09/02/2026
Not all benefits elections follow the same rules. While some changes can only be made during open enrollment, others may be updated throughout the year or after a qualifying life event.
Changes Typically Made During Open Enrollment
📋 Health Insurance Elections
Choosing or changing your medical plan, adding optional coverage, or moving between plan options is generally limited to open enrollment unless you experience a qualifying life event.
📋 Dental and Vision Coverage
Enrollment and plan changes are often restricted to the annual open enrollment period.
📋 Supplemental Benefits
Benefits such as critical illness, accident insurance, and other voluntary coverage options may only be elected or changed during open enrollment.
📋 Life and Disability Insurance Elections
Depending on your employer's plan, coverage amounts may be limited to open enrollment periods or may require additional underwriting outside of enrollment windows.
Changes That Can Often Be Made Outside of Open Enrollment
✅ 401(k) Contributions
Many employer-sponsored retirement plans allow you to increase, decrease, start, or stop contributions throughout the year.
✅ HSA Contributions
If you're enrolled in an eligible health plan, HSA contribution amounts can typically be adjusted at any time during the year.
✅ Beneficiary Designations
Beneficiaries for retirement accounts, life insurance, and other benefits can often be updated whenever your circumstances change.
✅ Changes Following a Qualifying Life Event
Events such as marriage, divorce, birth or adoption of a child, or loss of other health coverage may allow you to make benefits changes outside of open enrollment. These changes usually must be made within a specific timeframe after the event.
Your benefits play an important role in both your financial well-being and personal protection. Understanding which changes require open enrollment and which can be adjusted throughout the year can help you make more informed decisions and avoid missed opportunities.
