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Choose the Right Plan for You and Your Family
Choosing a benefits plan is an important decision. Use this page to compare 2027 health plan options, review costs, and understand key differences in coverage so you can select the plan that best meets your needs.
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How to Read the Cost Tables
Coverage Options
- Employee Only: Coverage for you.
- Employee + Spouse: Coverage for you and your eligible spouse or Sponsored Adult Dependent (SAD).
- Employee + Child or Children: Coverage for you and one or more eligible children.
- Family: Coverage for you, your eligible spouse/SAD, and one or more eligible children.
For more information visit the dependent eligibility page on the UHR website.
Good to Know: A premium is the amount taken from your paycheck for insurance coverage. Because Auburn's benefits are offered through a Section 125 Cafeteria Plan, these deductions (medical, dental, vision, FSA, and HSA) are generally made before taxes are calculated, which lowers your taxable income and can increase your take-home pay.
To find your cost: Find your pay schedule in the first column. Then find the column that matches the family members you want to cover. The amount where the row and column meet is what will be deducted from each paycheck.
PPO and HDHP Premiums
Auburn University offers two health insurance plans through Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama: a Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) plan and a High-Deductible Health Plan (HDHP).
- The PPO has higher monthly premiums but lower deductibles.
- The HDHP has lower monthly premiums but higher out-of-pocket deductibles.
High-Deductible Health Plan
| Pay Schedule | Employee Only | Employee + Spouse | Employee + Child(ren) | Family Coverage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paid Every Two Weeks | $54.13 | $153.73 | $103.57 | $167.56 |
| Paid Monthly | $117.28 | $333.09 | $224.41 | $363.04 |
| 18-Pay Schedule | $78.19 | $222.06 | $149.61 | $242.03 |
| Monthly Increase from 2026 | $3.62 | $14.83 | $8.45 | $22.04 |
All rates are deducted every pay period, effective Jan. 1, 2027.
Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) Plan
| Pay Schedule | Employee Only | Employee + Spouse | Employee + Child(ren) | Family Coverage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paid Every Two Weeks | $120.72 | $340.78 | $229.44 | $378.12 |
| Paid Monthly | $261.57 | $738.35 | $497.13 | $819.27 |
| 18-Pay Schedule | $174.38 | $492.23 | $331.42 | $546.18 |
| Monthly Increase from 2026 | $3.31 | $10.70 | $6.43 | $39.64 |
All rates are deducted every pay period, effective Jan. 1, 2027.
Subsidy Elimination
All employees enrolled in the PPO plan will pay the same premium amount, regardless of income. Employees earning less than $40,800 annually will no longer receive a PPO premium subsidy.
Out-of-Pocket Maximums
PPO out-of-pocket maximums will increase beginning in 2027:
- Employee Only: $9,200 → $12,000
- Family Coverage: $18,400 → $24,000
Spousal Surcharge
Beginning Jan. 1, 2027, if your spouse has access to medical coverage through their own employer but enrolls in Auburn’s medical plan instead, you will be assessed a $75 monthly spousal surcharge. During the Open Enrollment window, you will have an opportunity to certify whether or not your spouse has access to medical coverage through their employer within Auburn’s Open Enrollment online system.
Spousal surcharges are a common practice among employers and are designed to help control rising healthcare costs while preserving affordable coverage for employees and their families.
The surcharge will be a separate line item on the paycheck and will be separate from the regular Employee + Spouse or Family Coverage premiums. The Open Enrollment website will be updated with additional information.
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If you do not complete Open Enrollment and have a spouse on your medical coverage, you will automatically receive the $75 spousal surcharge.
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The surcharge will remain in effect until a completed attestation is submitted and approved.
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Payroll deductions will only be adjusted on a prospective basis.
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Retroactive refunds or credits will not be provided for periods during which the surcharge was applied because an attestation had not been submitted or updated.
Important: As stated above, you must review your options and complete your benefit choices by Nov. 16, 2026. If you don’t, the $75 monthly spousal surcharge will be automatically applied.
What if My Spouse Works at Auburn?
If you and your spouse work at Auburn, then the spousal surcharge would not apply. However. you must complete your Open Enrollment (OE) elections and submit the required online attestation during OE to prevent the surcharge from being applied. If the attestation is not completed by the OE deadline, the surcharge will be deducted from your first payroll of 2027.
A paper attestation form will be available after the beginning of the year. Once the form is completed and approved, the surcharge will be removed from future payrolls as soon as administratively possible. Please note that no refunds will be issued for surcharges already deducted.
Dental Insurance
Beginning Jan. 1, 2027, Ameritas will become Auburn University's dental insurance carrier. Employees may continue to choose between the Basic Dental Plan and the Expanded Dental Plan.
Neither plan has a waiting period, which means covered services are available as soon as your coverage begins.
Visit the Ameritas provider directory to confirm that your dentist participates in the network.
If your provider is not currently in the Ameritas network and you would like them to be considered for participation, contact the Ameritas Enrollment Support Line at 877-313-0033. Representatives are available Monday through Thursday from 7 a.m. to midnight (CDT) and Friday from 7 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. (CDT).
Basic Dental Plan
The Basic Dental Plan focuses on preventive care and covers eligible preventive services at 100%, including:
- Routine exams
- Cleanings
- X-rays
- Fluoride treatments for children
- Sealants
- Space maintainers
The plan has no deductible and no annual benefit maximum.
| Pay Schedule | Employee Only | Employee + Spouse | Employee + Child(ren) | Family Coverage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paid Every Two Weeks | $7.62 | $17.13 | $16.37 | $24.72 |
| Paid Monthly | $16.50 | $37.12 | $35.47 | $53.57 |
| 18-Pay Schedule | $11.00 | $24.75 | $23.65 | $35.71 |
| Monthly Increase from 2026 | $0.85 | $1.91 | $1.82 | $2.71 |
All rates are deducted every pay period, effective Jan. 1, 2027.
Expanded Dental Plan
The Expanded Dental Plan covers preventive care and provides additional coverage for services such as fillings, root canals, extractions, crowns, bridges, and dentures.
The plan includes a $25 annual deductible per member, with a $75 family maximum deductible.
| Pay Schedule | Employee Only | Employee + Spouse | Employee + Child(ren) | Family Coverage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paid Every Two Weeks | $16.02 | $36.04 | $34.44 | $52.06 |
| Paid Monthly | $34.70 | $78.09 | $74.61 | $112.80 |
| 18-Pay Schedule | $23.13 | $52.06 | $49.74 | $75.20 |
| Monthly Increase from 2026 | $5.83 | $13.13 | $12.55 | $18.98 |
All rates are deducted every pay period, effective Jan. 1, 2027.
Vision Insurance
Beginning Jan. 1, 2027, Ameritas will administer Auburn University's vision insurance coverage. If you enroll in vision coverage, you will select either the VSP or EyeMed provider network.
Superior Vision will no longer serve as Auburn University's vision administrator.
The primary difference between the plans is the provider network. Choose the network that best fits your family's needs.
Provider Networks
- EyeMed: LensCrafters, Pearle Vision, Target Optical, America's Best, Walmart, MyEyeDr., and TeamVision (Moore's Mill and Dean Road locations)
- VSP: Walmart, Costco, Sam's Club, MyEyeDr., Visionworks, Basden Eye Care, and Moore's Mill Eyecare
Visit the EyeMed provider directory or the VSP provider directory to verify that your eye care provider participates in the network.
If your provider is not currently participating in either network and you would like them to be considered for inclusion, contact the Ameritas Enrollment Support Line at 877-313-0033.
2027 Vision Insurance Rates
| Pay Schedule | Employee Only | Employee + Spouse | Employee + Child(ren) | Family Coverage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paid Every Two Weeks | $2.94 | $6.15 | $5.38 | $8.45 |
| Paid Monthly | $6.36 | $13.32 | $11.66 | $18.30 |
| 18-Pay Schedule | $4.24 | $8.88 | $7.77 | $12.20 |
| Monthly Change from 2026 | -$0.41 | -$3.55 | -$5.21 | $1.43 |
All rates are deducted every pay period, effective Jan. 1, 2027.
EAP, Mental Health and Substance Abuse
Beginning January 1, 2027, EAP, mental health, and substance abuse services will be managed by Lucet, a partner of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama (BCBSAL). Lucet will also replace Uprise Health as Auburn’s Employee Assistance Program (EAP) administrator.
Important: If you or a covered family member are currently receiving these services, transition-of-care support may be available to help minimize disruptions in treatment during the provider transition. Additional information will be forthcoming.
FSA and HSA
Auburn's Health Care Flexible Spending Account (FSA) and Health Savings Account (HSA) options allow you to set aside pre-tax dollars for eligible health care expenses.
- The Health Care FSA is available to employees who are not enrolled in Auburn's High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP).
- The Health Savings Account (HSA) is available only to employees enrolled in Auburn's HDHP.
| Coverage Level | 2026 | 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| Employee Only | $250 | $300 |
| All Other Coverage Levels | $500 | $600 |
Dependent Care FSA
If you have eligible dependents, you may enroll in a Dependent Care FSA regardless of your medical plan choice, or even if you are not enrolled in an Auburn medical plan.
A Dependent Care FSA can help you pay for eligible work-related dependent care expenses, including:
- Daycare and preschool expenses
- Summer day camps for children under age 13
- Care for a disabled spouse or adult dependent who is unable to care for themselves
