The University of Nebraska System sent this message to all NU employees Friday, Oct. 10, with important information about NU health insurance plans.
Dear Colleagues,
As we prepare for the NUFlex annual enrollment, I want to make you aware of some upcoming changes to the University of Nebraska’s benefits plans for 2026. Like many employers nationwide, we are seeing significant increases in health insurance costs driven by medical inflation and higher utilization of health care services.
The university has worked hard to absorb as much of this increase as possible and to continue offering a strong, competitive benefits package for our employees. Even so, NU employees will see increases to insurance premiums and some other benefits-related costs in 2026. Below are key updates for the coming year:
- The 2026 premium for all health plan options will increase by 7.25%.
- The employee-paid portion of premiums will increase $10 to $59 per month, with the average increase being about $23 per month based on current enrollment.
- To help offset premium costs, plan design changes will include:
- Deductibles increasing by $100 for individual and $200 for spouse/family coverage.
- Out-of-pocket maximums increasing by $200 for individual and $400 for spouse/family coverage.
- Pharmacy copays increasing by $5 for a 30-day supply of generic and brand-name medications.
Notably, this will be the first increase to plan design costs since 2011. During the upcoming NUFlex enrollment period, employees will have the opportunity to review their coverage and make any desired changes; in some cases, selecting a different plan option may help reduce overall costs.
While these changes affect health insurance, many other benefits will remain the same or even improve in 2026, continuing our commitment to offering comprehensive coverage and valuable support for employees and their families:
- Members who complete the annual Health Risk Assessment will continue to have access to $0 copays for generic medications through mail order, helping to manage prescription costs.
- Dental insurance premiums will remain unchanged, with the university increasing its contribution by $2 per month.
- Long-Term Disability premiums will decrease by 25%.
- Vision, voluntary life, spouse/dependent life, and AD&D insurance premiums will remain the same.
- The Dependent Flexible Spending Account annual contribution limit will increase from $5,000 to $7,500.
- The university will transition to a new Flexible Spending Account administrator, Inspira Financial, beginning in 2026. Additional details will be shared as open enrollment approaches.
We recognize that any increase in costs can affect you and your family. Please know that the university remains committed to offering comprehensive, affordable benefits that support your well-being.
We’ll share more information soon to help you navigate the NUFlex open enrollment and compare plan options.
Thank you for your continued dedication to the University of Nebraska and the people we serve.
With appreciation,
Anne Barnes
Senior Vice President for Business and Finance | Chief Financial Officer
University of Nebraska System