Navigating 2026 Open Enrollment

Tiffany

Hello team, welcome to the first edition of the OG HR Insider podcast, and we’re here to start open enrollment off on the right foot—and maybe even with a smile. Tiffany here, and I’ve brought backup today—Megan is in the studio with me, and we’re excited to tag-team this open enrollment conversation with you. I know, I know, it feels like we just did this, right? But here we are, stepping into the 2026 benefits season and there’s a bunch of good stuff to cover—so let’s jump right in. First off, let’s address the elephant in the room: is the cost of my coverage increasing? yes, but only for our medical insurance. Our medical plan premiums are going up a small amount, by 3.74%. That’s not something anyone wants to hear, but, and this is a big but—the $1,000 deductible plan, the one everybody loves, is still hanging on. We haven’t touched it—both plan designs are staying exactly the same. Let me tell you—when it comes to benefits, having a plan hold steady like this is a rare gift, and absolutely something worth celebrating. “Alright team, that wraps up the opening highlights. We’ve got a lot more to cover, so I’m handing it over to Megan to kick off the next part and share some really good news.”

Megan

Thanks, Tiffany—let’s keep this rolling. I’m excited to share some good news with everyone. Now, let’s talk about tobacco rates, this year, they’re completely gone from our medical coverage. And for dental, vision, and life insurance—this part makes me genuinely happy—they’re all moving over to MetLife. Why does that matter for you? No rate increase. Plus, richer coverage. Dental maximums are moving up from $1,500 to $2,500 now. That’s a pretty big jump and it should make a noticeable difference if you’ve got some big dental work coming up or kiddos headed for braces.

Tiffany

That's great news, Megan. Let's continue on. Here’s another thing I have to underline—because every year someone gets caught off guard: all full-time employees must complete the enrollment process. Even if you’re waiving coverage, you must log in, make your selections, and submit. And for those of you planning to waive medical coverage, listen closely—there will be a waiver of group health benefits form for you to complete. This form must be completed if you are waiving medical coverage. There are absolutely no exceptions on earning your opt-out insurance bonus. If you don’t enroll or waive in time, that benefit is gone for the year, so don’t miss your window. I had this wonderful employee once—let’s call him Mike—he was planning on declining coverage but didn’t realize he had to log in and officially waive. Missed the deadline, lost his bonus... let’s not repeat Mike’s mistake, right Megan?

Megan

Absolutely, Tiffany! So take this window seriously. Open enrollment runs November 19th through the 30th this year. Don't wait until Thanksgiving is happening and the turkey’s in the oven, because frankly, our phones ring off the hook with “can you help me enroll?” and there’s only so much magic we can do. Okay, so let’s get you set up for success this year. Tiffany! Are you ready to make sure everyone understands their benefits?

Tiffany

I'm ready, Megan. Alright, now that you know the key changes, let’s get into what you’re actually choosing from. We’ve got two medical plans like always: The PPO $1,000 deductible plan and the $3,500 high-deductible health plan if you wanna be HSA eligible. Both plans are through UMR, and we are sticking with the United Healthcare Choice Plus provider network, so most members shouldn’t see any change in which doctors you see. I always get asked what’s the difference between these two plans, so here’s the short version: the PPO has higher premiums but lower out-of-pocket costs up front—a lot of members like knowing exactly what they’ll pay at the doctor. The HDHP has lower premiums, but a bigger deductible. If you’re healthy and don’t go to the doctor much, you might come out ahead with the HDHP, especially since you can use an HSA. Megan, do you have any tips to add?

Megan

Of course I do. Here's a quick tip: use the in-network providers and our in-house lab for as much as you can. That’s where your benefits stretch the furthest. The in-house lab, you might not realize, is a serious perk. All full-time employees enrolled in our coverage can use it, and if your covered dependents are on the UMR health insurance, they’re eligible too. Lab tests for things like wellness panels or basic bloodwork? A lot of times, there’s zero cost to you if you do it in-house. Tiffany, do you want to talk about prescriptions?

Tiffany

Sure, let's do it. Prescriptions—so this is an area where it pays to be a little proactive. Our PPO plan keeps copays low for Tier 1 generics, and there’s caps for higher tiers, but here’s a little secret: sometimes out-of-pocket is actually cheaper than using insurance. GoodRx is your friend here—type in your medication and you might get a coupon that saves you a bundle at the pharmacy counter. It’s wild, but I’ve seen people pay half with a GoodRx coupon compared to what insurance would have charged. Alright team, let’s talk about some of the smart ways you can make your benefits work harder for you this year. Your FSA lets you set aside pre-tax dollars for everyday healthcare needs, and your Dependent Care FSA helps lighten the load for childcare expenses. If you’re on an HSA-eligible plan, your Health Savings Account gives you room to build real long-term savings — and OrthoGeorgia even matches your contributions up to $1,000, which is like free momentum toward your future. And don’t forget—your booklet also includes a full payroll calendar, so you can map out your contributions and keep your yearly costs right on track. Alright, Megan—jump on in and walk the team through our MetLife benefits.”

Megan

Okay team, On to MetLife dental and vision—wow, these are richer this year. Dental annual maximums bump up from $1,500 to $2,500, and both preventive and major restorative work is covered well, in or out of network. They even do adult and child orthodontia. Vision benefits include that yearly exam with just a $20 copay, and there’s solid allowances for frames and contacts. Important: dependents are eligible until the day they turn 26, as long as they don’t have other coverage. If your kid’s birthday lands on their 26th birthday during the year, that’s when their coverage ends, not December 31st. And no mid-year changes unless you have a true qualifying event—like marriage, divorce, or a brand new baby. And don’t forget—your life and AD&D insurance up to $50,000 through MetLife is already covered by OrthoGeorgia, giving you a foundation of protection with the option to add more for yourself and your family. This year, because MetLife is new to us, we’re opening the door wide with guaranteed issue amounts—$150,000 for employees, $30,000 for spouses, and $10,000 for children. No medical questions, no screenings, no hurdles. It’s a true open enrollment for voluntary life coverage, and now is the time to get it with no questions asked. It’s all about giving you choices, control, and a little peace of mind along the way.”

Tiffany

Wow, that was a lot Megan! And I’ve got to say it—our insurance plans at OrthoGeorgia are genuinely top-tier. They’re solid, thoughtfully designed, and built to take care of you and your family when it really counts. But what it boils down to is: take the time to look at this stuff, and don’t just blindly check the boxes. Your health care should work for you, you’re not just picking coverage… you’re choosing a package that truly shows OrthoGeorgia invests in its people. —so if you’re not sure, ask HR. Okay, team, we've got a new benefits system called Employee Navigator. Megan, you want to tell them all about it.

Megan

Tiffany, let’s break this down for the team. Here are the nuts and bolts of our new benefits system: Employee Navigator. Now, don’t let the name fool you—it’s a lot less intimidating than it sounds. Here’s what everyone can expect: an automated email straight from Employee Navigator. That email will guide you with either a registration link or simple login instructions. If you’re already registered, just head over to employeenavigator.com, drop in your usual username and password, and walk right through your enrollment. If you’re brand-new, no worries. Use the registration link in your email to set up your account. And remember, our company identifier is “OrthoGeorgia.”Before diving in, gather your dependents’ basic information—social security numbers and birthdates. Having it ready saves time and keeps things smooth. And truly, this system is user-friendly. I know our employees are going to settle into it easily.

Tiffany

Megan, you are right, its very easy. After they log in, they will see a little “Let’s Begin” button. If it asks you to finish some onboarding tasks, knock those out first. Then hit “Start Enrollment.” You’ll fill in any missing personal information for you and your dependents. Don’t try to guesstimate birthdays——trust me, getting one number wrong can turn into a last-minute scramble to make sure everyone’s covered.”

Megan

You are right, we've seen it happen. Here is more information to help you. When you get to plan selection, you pick who you’re covering under each benefit. Want to add your spouse for dental, but not medical? You can do that. Don’t want vision? Hit “Don’t want this benefit” and choose a reason from the dropdown. You’ll also hit a step for forms—beneficiary designations for life insurance or evidence of insurability for big supplemental life increases, that kind of thing. You must fill those out for the enrollment to count. Tiffany, do you want to add any other steps for them?

Tiffany

Sure! At the end, you should review your choices, hit “Sign & Agree,” and you’re locked in. And please, double-check your selections. I’ll admit it—I almost missed out on life insurance years ago because I clicked through too fast. Luckily, I caught it before the deadline. Megan, what should employees do if they have a problem logging in?

Megan

Well, if they have problems logging in? They should look for the reset password option right on the login page. Incomplete enrollment? Employee Navigator gives you a handy progress bar—just click on anything red or unfinished and go back to fix it. And if you get stuck or have questions, don’t wait! Call HR, email, or come by—our door’s are always open. We would rather help you up front than try to untangle a benefits mess after the window closes. And just a reminder—this podcast is only one way we’re keeping you in the loop for Open Enrollment. You’ll also find everything on the intranet, in your email, in the PowerPoint overview we’re sending out, plus a flyer and your full Open Enrollment guide booklet. And keep an eye on your phone—you’ll receive a text message with a link that takes you straight to even more information.

Tiffany

That is absolutely correct. All right, team, that's everything you need to get through open enrollment LIKE A BOSS this year. Don't forget. Take Action early. Keep that summary print out for your records, and reach out if you need any help at all. And before we close out, just a reminder, you'll have full access to the Benefits Guide booklet on the intranet, inside employee navigator and in your email. So whenever you're ready to dive deeper, everything you need is right at your fingertips. Thanks for joining us today. Now go choose your benefits with confidence, a smile and the steady pride of knowing you're taking care of your future. We’ve got everything lined up for you, Team OrthoGeorgia—here’s to a smooth and successful Open Enrollment.