Hours:
The 2027 NJ State Health Benefits Program (SHBP) and Tax$ave Open Enrollment period will be held October 1 through October 31, 2026.
Open enrollment is your opportunity to review your current benefit elections and make changes for the upcoming plan year. We encourage all employees to take some time during this period to review their current coverage and determine whether any changes are needed for 2027.
Check out what’s new for the 2027 plan year, explore your benefits, enroll in webinars and compare your options!
What Can I Do During Open Enrollment?
During Open Enrollment, eligible employees may:
- Enroll in SHBP coverage if not currently enrolled;
- Change current medical and/or dental plan;
- Add eligible dependents to your coverage; and
- Enroll or re-enroll in a Tax$ave Medical and/or Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account (FSA).
If you are satisfied with your current medical and dental elections and do not wish to make changes, no action is necessary for those elections.
2027 Medical Plans
In July, 2026, the SHBP introduced new “26” health plans in 2026, and these options will continue for the 2027 plan year.
PPO Plans:
- 26 Aetna Freedom and 26 Horizon NJ DIRECT
- 26 Aetna CWA Unity Freedom and 26 Horizon CWA Unity DIRECT
HMO Plans:
- 26 Aetna HMO
- 26 Horizon HMO
Tiered-Network Plans:
- 26 Aetna Liberty Plus
- 26 Horizon OMNIA
High Deductible Health Plans:
- 26 Aetna Freedom HDHigh or 26 Horizon NJ DIRECT HDHigh
- 26 Aetna Freedom HDLow or 26 Horizon NJ DIRECT HDLow
Employees wishing to enroll in or make changes to their SHBP medical and/or dental coverage should access Benefitsolver/MyNJBenefitsHub during the Open Enrollment period. See the Enrollment Guide for login help (PDF).
Employees are encouraged to carefully review the 2027 Open Enrollment materials and their current benefit elections before making decisions for the upcoming plan year. If you have any questions or have trouble logging into Benefitsolver, please contact the benefits office at x7617 or x7641.
Cost Calculators: are available from Aetna or Horizon to help compare your options.
Live Webinars: view the schedule and attend informative live webinars hosted by Aetna or Horizon.
Important Prescription Information: Most “26” plans require maintenance medications to be filled through Optum Home Delivery. High Deductible Health Plans are excluded from this requirement. Visit the NJDPB or Optum website for more information and a list of maintenance medications.
Additional publications, rates and resources from the New Jersey Division of Pensions & Benefits are available.
Tiered Plan Incentive
The State offers a one-time incentive of $1,000 to first-time enrollees who remain enrolled for one year into the 26 Aetna Liberty Plus and 26 Horizon OMNIA plan. The incentive is reportable for income tax purposes, and is paid by gift card no later than the end of the current tax year. The incentive shall be forfeited and returned to the SHBP if you fail to remain in the tiered network plan for at least one year. View more information on the Tiered Plan Incentive.
Dental Plans
Dental plan options are:
- Dental Plan Organization (DPO) plan: Aetna DMO- Diagnostic and preventive services are covered in full with a DPO dentist. Other eligible expenses may require a copayment. Providers must participate with the selected DPO in order to receive coverage. Note: The rate for coverage under a DPO remains less expensive than the Dental Expense Plan.
- Two PPO Dental Expense Plans (DEP):
- Aetna Dental Expense Plan
- Horizon Dental Expense Plan
The DEP is a Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) plan where members can obtain services from any dentist; however, using an in-network provider will reduce an employee’s costs. After satisfying an annual deductible, members are reimbursed a percentage of charges for eligible services.
View the Dental Plan Rates (PDF) for 2027 from the New Jersey Division of Pension and Benefits website.
Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
2027 FSA Essential Guide (PDF)
Tax$ave, allows employees to set aside before-tax dollars to pay for certain medical, dental, and dependent care expenses. Important Reminder: FSA elections do NOT automatically carry over from year to year.
If you currently participate in a Medical or Dependent Care FSA and would like to continue participating in 2027, you must re-enroll during open enrollment. To change or enroll in Tax$ave plans, visit Horizon’s website. See how to enroll in the FSA here.
Horizon MyWay will also be offering informational webinars throughout October for employees interested in learning more about the Tax$ave FSA program:
- Register for Wednesday, October 7, 2026, 12:00 PM
- Register for Thursday, October 15, 2026. 1:00 PM
- Register for Thursday, October 22, 2026, 12:30 PM
NEW! Centers of Excellence Pilot Program 2027
Beginning in 2027, employees enrolled in a PPO medical plan will have access to a new Centers of Excellence (COE) Pilot Program, administered by Carrum Health.
The program is designed to help lower your out-of-pocket costs for certain non-emergency procedures, including:
- Diagnostic colonoscopies
- Knee and hip replacements
- Bariatric surgery
- Spinal surgery
- Heart surgery
Before scheduling one of these procedures, you must first contact Carrum Health. You will then have three options:
- COE Network Provider: $0 cost to you.
- Aetna or Horizon Network Provider: starting cost for the first year is a $300 copay.
- Out-of-Network Provider: Regular out-of-network costs apply, and you may also be responsible for additional charges from the provider for costs not covered by the plans reimbursement.
If you do not wish to participate in the COE program, you may choose an HMO, HDHP, or Tiered-Network plan, which are not part of the COE Pilot Program. More information will be available in your plan’s Summary of Benefits and Coverage.
Important Dates to Remember & Events
- October 1 – 2027 Open Enrollment begins
- October 15 – Ramapo College Benefits Fair | 10:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m. Alumni Lounges
- October 31 – Open Enrollment ends and FSA enrollment/re-enrollment deadline
- January 1, 2027 – 2027 Plan Year begins (Elections take effect)
Flu Shot Clinic for Faculty & Staff
The Benefits Office will host an on-site Flu Shot Clinic in conjunction with Acme Pharmacy on Thursday, October 15, 2026 from 10:00 am – 2:00 pm at the Benefits Fair in the Alumni Lounges Student Center and Thursday, October 21, 2026 from 10:00 – 12:00 pm the POER Conference room. You must register in advance.
Register for the Flu Shot Clinic
Join Us for the Ramapo College Fall Festival & Benefits Fair!
Thursday, October 15, 2026
10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Student Center- Alumni Lounges
Come enjoy Fall Fest! Grab some refreshments, play a few games, snap a picture at our Fall photo op, or cozy up by the fire pit and enjoy the fall vibes!
Then, stop inside the Benefits Fair to meet with benefit representatives, ask questions, and learn more about your benefits. Plus, we will have health screenings, flu shot clinic, raffles and more!
One on one financial consultations will also be available from 2:30–4 p.m. on a first-come, first-served basis. Sign-up sheets will be available at each vendor’s table during the Benefits Fair.
We look forward to seeing you at the Benefits Fair on October 15!
If you have any questions, please contact Ivy Payne at ipayne@ramapo.edu or Franklin Jaime at fjaime@ramapo.edu.
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