[UCRDBR] Benefits Open Enrollment Exception Handling Process

[Departmental Benefits Representatives]

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November 24, 2025

To:
Department Benefits Representatives (DBRs)

From:
Central HR Benefits Office on behalf of UC Office of the President
Re:
Benefits Open Enrollment Exception Handling Process
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
DBRs, please share this information via your internal listserv.  Do not reply to this email.  Please send a separate email with questions to benefits at ucr.edu<mailto:benefits at ucr.edu>.

The Open Enrollment portals in UCPath closed at 5 p.m. on Friday, November 21, 2025.

If no new elections were made, all of the same benefits in place roll over unchanged (except Flexible Spending Account).

Requests for exceptions to the deadline should be sent to the UCPath Center, as described below.

Faculty and Staff should submit an Open Enrollment Benefits eForm to request late enrollment after the end of the Open Enrollment period. Please note that submission of an Open Enrollment deadline exception request does not constitute automatic approval. All forms received after November 21, 2025, at 5 p.m. will be reviewed for extenuating circumstances prior to approval or denial.

Request for Exception for Open Enrollment:


  1.  Log into UCPath at http://ucpath.universityofcalifornia.edu/ and enter the Single Sign-On credentials
  2.  On the UCPath Main Menu, select Benefits & Retirement
  3.  Under Forms, select Benefits Request eForm
  4.  Click on Submit, a new eForm will populate the member's personal information
  5.  The Late Enrollment section will populate.  Member must complete the Reason For Late Enrollment Request comment section by providing a detailed explanation for the request for late enrollment and the reason provided will be considered in the decision to approve or deny the enrollment request.
  6.  Make benefit plan elections.
  7.  Submit the eForm.

Once the Open Enrollment eForm has been reviewed by the UCPath Center, a follow-up email will be sent indicating if the enrollment request has been approved or denied.

Members who do not have computer access should contact the UCPath Center at 1-855-982-7284 for assistance.

UCPath has a dedicated, experienced team reviewing the exception requests, in collaboration with Health & Welfare Benefits.

Please note that in the event an OE deadline exception for a medical plan change is approved after January 1, 2026, for a reason other than UC administrative error, the employee's medical plan premiums must be paid on a post-tax basis (i.e., "no TIP") for the entire 2026 plan year, in accordance with IRS regulations. In addition, it will be the employee's responsibility to re-enroll in TIP for 2027.  The UCPath Center will notify members of this requirement if the request is approved after the plan year begins.

Appeals

If exception requests are denied by the UCPath Center, Faculty and Staff may submit an appeal using the procedures outlined on UCnet<https://ucnet.universityofcalifornia.edu/tools-and-services/administrators/group-insurance-appeals-process.html>. Note that policy exceptions are approved rarely and only in cases of UC error or extreme extenuating circumstances beyond the individual's control.

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