KATHY HOCHUL
Governor
TIMOTHY R. HOGUES
Commissioner
PA26-10
TO: Health Benefits Administrators of Participating Agencies (PAs)
FROM: Employee Benefits Division
SUBJECT: Open Enrollment for Plan Year 2027
DATE: August 31, 2026
Beginning in December 2026, the New York State Health Insurance Program (NYSHIP) has changed the annual Option Transfer Period to an annual Open Enrollment.
NYSHIP Open Enrollment is currently scheduled to run from December 1 to 31, 2026, for New York State employees. NYSHIP Participating Agencies can still choose to set the dates of their annual Open Enrollment Period or may follow the same dates as NYSHIP.
During NYSHIP Open Enrollment, employees can make the following changes for the 2027 plan year:
- Enroll in NYSHIP for the first time with no waiting period or qualifying event*
- Change between NYSHIP and an alternative plan offered through your agency (if applicable)
- Switch from Individual to Family coverage or add previously eligible dependents to existing Family coverage with no waiting period or qualifying event*
- Remove dependents or change to Individual coverage with no waiting period or qualifying event (allowed at any time during the plan year)
- Enroll in the Young Adult Option (YAO)
* Represents a change in NYSHIP policy.
When transacting in NYBEAS on requests received during NYSHIP Open Enrollment (December 1 to December 31), changes noted above will become effective January 1, 2027.
If your agency’s Open Enrollment does not coincide with NYSHIP’s and the enrollee should have a late enrollment waiting period, contact the HBA Help Line at 518-474-2780 for guidance on updating NYBEAS to calculate the correct effective date.
Representatives are available to answer questions Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. and on Wednesdays from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.