MA Group Insurance Commission (GIC) Open Enrollment April 1 - May 1, 2026

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MA Group Insurance Commission (GIC)
Health Insurance & Flexible Spending Accounts Open Enrollment
Is April 1 – May 1, 2026
For Coverage Effective July 1, 2026

Open enrollment is our once annual opportunity to enroll for, cancel or change GIC health insurance coverage, to enroll (or re-enroll) in the Flexible Spending Accounts or enroll to participate in the GIC Buy-Out Program.

  • Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA): enrollment or re-enrollment is required with the GIC's new FSA vendor, Ameriflex, to participate in the plan for coverage starting July 1, 2026.
  • GIC Health Insurance Plan: no action is required if you do not wish to change plan or add/remove dependents from your plan.
  • GIC insurance plans will no longer cover GLP-1 medication for treatment of obesity effective July 1, 2026 

During open enrollment please:

  1. Review the 2026-2027 GIC Benefit Decision Guide for insurance coverage and premium information. GIC health insurance plans can only be changed outside of open enrollment if you move out of your plan’s network area.
  2. Verify if your doctors and hospitals remain in your health insurance plan’s network, verify provider and hospital tiers. Health plan provider and hospital networks change each July 1. Plan information is provided on health insurance plan’s websites; hospital network & tier information is available under GIC Hospital List.
  3. Submit open enrollment health insurance changes online via the MyGICLink portal or in person at the UMass Amherst Human Resources Employee Service Center by 5pm on Friday, May 1, 2026.
  4. Enroll, or re-enroll, for Flexible Spending Account (FSA) coverage online with Ameriflex. Enrollment is required before midnight on May 1, 2026 to participate in coverage plan year 2026 –2027.
    • Health Care Spending Account (HCSA) allows you to spend up to $3,400 of pre-tax funds on qualified health care expenses (eg, co-pays and deductibles, expenses for medically necessary care not covered by a health plan).
    • Dependent Care Assistance Program (DCAP) allows you to spend up to $7,500 of pre-tax funds on expenses incurred to have qualified dependents cared for while you work. Qualified dependents are under age 13 or tax-dependent adults who reside with you and are incapable of self-care. Note the DCAP limit is $3,750 if you are married and filing taxes separately. 

FSA plan year 2026 – 2027, FSA expenses must be incurred by of September 15, 2027 or end of employment (whichever is earlier). Please calculate your election carefully as election amounts cannot be changed mid-year without a qualifying event & funds not spent on qualifying expenses during this period are forfeited.

Learn more about FSAs in the 2026-2027 GIC Benefit Decision Guide and on the Human Resources website.

Questions? 

Please note:

GIC open enrollment is not open enrollment for dental insurance coverages. For more information about dental insurance, for colleagues in positions covered by:

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