2027 Open Enrollment Resource Site

Internal Links Bankers Benefit Solutions

2027 Open Enrollment Timeline

*2027 POOLED BANK RENEWAL LETTER AND REFERENCED RESOURCES*

NEW THIS YEAR

LIFE & AD&D PLAN UPDATES

We have several enhancements to the Basic, Supplemental, and Dependent Life & AD&D plans for 2027, which include:

  • Extending Dependent Child Life and AD&D coverage to age 26 regardless of full-time student status
  • Offering a one-time Guaranteed Issue opportunity during 2027 Open Enrollment. Eligible employees may elect up to $500,000 or 5 times salary in Supplemental Life coverage without providing Evidence of Insurability (EOI).
SUPPLEMENTAL HEALTH BENEFITS – WELLNESS BENEFIT EXCLUSION

Effective January 1, 2027, Securian will no longer offer the wellness benefit under its Supplemental Health coverage. Covered employees that completed an eligible wellness activity in 2024–2026 but have not yet submitted their claim can still do so. Please encourage your employees to submit any outstanding claims and take advantage of benefits they may be eligible to receive.

HEALTHEQUITY – INTRODUCTING DIGITAL & VIRTUAL CARD ACCESS

Beginning November 5, 2026, eligible HealthEquity members will have access to new Digital Card and Virtual Card capabilities.

  • The Digital Card is a digital version of an existing HealthEquity Visa® card that uses the same card number as the physical card, allowing members to make eligible purchases even when their physical card is not available.
  • The Virtual Card provides a unique card number that can be used while members are waiting for a new or replacement physical card.

Members can securely view card details through the HealthEquity Member Portal and add their card to a digital wallet where supported. Physical cards will continue to be available and function as they do today.

ADMINISTRATOR RESOURCES

MEDICAL & DENTAL PLAN DESIGN COMPARISON CHARTS
DUE OCTOBER 2nd: TOBACCO SURCHARGES, WELLNESS CREDITS & SALARY REPORTS
  • Salary Report​ - Required for all employers: New for 2027 OE, we are asking each employer to upload their Salary Report to a secure SharePoint link. The Benefits Team will then import your salaries into bswift on your behalf!
  • Wellness Credit ER Template – Required for employers offering a Wellness Credit in 2027.  Download, complete, and email your completed template to benefits@vabankers.org by October 2nd.
  • Tobacco Surcharge Template - Required for employers offering a Tobacco Surcharge in 2027. Download, complete, and email your completed template(s) to benefits@vabankers.org by October 2nd.
DUE OCTOBER 9th: OPEN ENROLLMENT APPLICATION

Required for all employers - The 2027 Open Enrollment Application will close on Friday, October 9th, and we require all employers to submit an application.

Open Enrollment Application

For any items that require you to contact the VBA, please do so BEFORE October 9th. For application instructions, please refer to the Presentation Slides from our OE Administrator Webinar.

DUE OCTOBER 15th: EMPLOYER CONTRIBUTIONS

Your Employer Contribution amounts must be entered into bswift by October 15th. Instructions for entering these contributions can be found here:

We have also created a Contribution Model to assist you as you evaluate your employer contributions for 2027. This model is designed to help you evaluate both the employee impact and the overall cost implications of various contribution strategies.

DUE OCTOBER 15th: NEW 2027 HSA PLAN INFORMATION

New this year, we are asking each employer to complete this 2027 HSA Plan Information form. This will allow us to ensure that each bswift enrollment site is set up accurately. It will also help us as we consider setting up an HSA file feed from bswift in the future. Please complete and return this form to us by October 15th.

OCTOBER 23rd – NOVEMBER 2nd: PRE-OPEN ENROLLMENT TESTING

Pre-Open Enrollment Testing – Starts Friday, October 23rd at Noon.

Every year we ask all administrators to test their Open Enrollment site in the bswift testing environment called Sandbox (not the regular bswift site). Payroll-integrated employers that access bswift via Single Sign On (SSO) should use their specific Sandbox URL to access their testing site. Please email us if you need help accessing your Sandbox site.

The bswift Sandbox site will be available for testing starting at noon on Friday, October 23rd and should be completed no later than Monday, November 2nd.

Instructions and Testing Scenarios can be found below but please test any other scenarios that might be specific to your employees. Send us one compiled email with your results once you have completed your testing.

We expect each administrator to test their own site, keeping in mind that information from the 2026 OE does not necessarily carry over to the 2027 OE. Once employees start enrolling in your site it is more challenging to make updates

OPEN ENROLLMENT COMMUNICATIONS

OPEN ENROLLMENT NEWSLETTERS

COMPLIANCE

EMPLOYER ACTION REQUIRED BY OCTOBER 15th:

You must customize and distribute the Electronic distribution is acceptable. Creditable Coverage Notice to employees by October 15th.

The Creditable Coverage Letter is a document containing information about the VBA Benefits Corp.’s prescription drug benefit and Medicare Part D. This will apply to employees and covered dependents who are 65 or older, employees with a disabled dependent and/or those who are thinking about retirement.

Please note for 2027, all of the VBA Benefits Corp.’s plans are creditable.

DEPENDENT VERIFICATION
PLAN DISCLOSURE REQUIREMENTS

H&W Compliance Site

MEDICAL

Summaries of Benefits and Coverage (SBC):
Communications/Flyers:

DENTAL

Summary of Benefits and Coverage (SBC):

VISION

Summary of Benefits and Coverage (SBC):

WELLBEING POINT SOLUTIONS

VOLUNTARY BENEFITS

SUMMARIES
COMMUNICATIONS

Nationwide How to Apply Flyer

ADMINISTRATOR EVENTS

Open Enrollment Webinar – 9/17:
Fall Meetings: