Published on October 25, 2024

There are more Annual Enrollment questions and answers available!

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How and when do I enroll?

Beginning October 30, you’ll find the Annual Enrollment announcement when you log in to Workday. Click the announcement and follow the prompts. Choose your benefits for 2025, and don’t forget to click Submit.

Enroll before the deadline. The deadline to submit your Annual Enrollment elections is Friday, November 15, but don’t wait until the last minute. It doesn’t leave much time for questions or changes.

Do I need to complete my Annual Enrollment task?

Yes, please! Even if you aren’t planning to make any changes to your coverage, we strongly recommend clicking into the Annual Enrollment task to ensure that you and your dependents are enrolled in the right plans to fit your needs for 2025. Make sure the boxes next to your dependents names are checked, otherwise they will not be enrolled. Then, click the Submit button. Reminder: If you want to have a Flexible Spending Account (FSA) in 2025, you must enroll.

For the majority of your benefits, the IRS says you can only make changes to your elections during the year if you have a qualifying life event. So, take the time now to make sure your 2025 elections are exactly what you intend. You’ll find your enrollment event in your Workday inbox beginning Wednesday, October 30. Enrollment will be available until the end of the day on Friday, November 15.

Where do I go for more information?

  • WorkdayBenefits.com is your starting point. You’ll find key information about all our plans, including changes for next year, plan summaries, and more.
  • If you have questions related to a specific program, here are the various resources at your disposal:
  • Attend the U.S. Benefits Webinar and carrier-specific webinars from October 30 to November 7. Can’t make one? We get it. We’ll be recording them just in case. Pro tip: Download the invites from our events calendar so you don’t forget to join us. Need the replay link? Here you go.
  • Have a question you can’t find the answer to? Reading through this FAQ is a great place to start. Some plans will have one-on-one conversations or office-hours-style webinars available for you to ask questions. If you have a Workday-specific question, open a People Guide Request. Someone from our team will personally get back to you.

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What happens if I don’t enroll by the deadline?

In many cases, we can keep you in the same coverage you had for 2024, but there are some exceptions. You’ll also miss out on your once-a-year chance to make sure you have the right coverage for the following year, unless you have a qualifying life event.

  • You’ll waive participation in Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs) for 2025.
  • If you have a Health Savings Account (HSA), your contributions will stay the same for 2025 and you cannot take advantage of the increased IRS limits.
  • We’ll reenroll you in the same medical plan you have now at 2025 rates. Only dependents covered in 2024 will continue to be covered. 

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Whom can I cover? Do I need to submit proof?

You can cover your legal spouse, qualified domestic partner, and/or eligible children. Workday does not require proof of dependent eligibility to enroll your family, but we do reserve the right to request it, if needed, to support an audit or resolve an inquiry. If you decide to cover a domestic partner (or their children) on Workday plans, a portion of your contributions will be made after-tax, and imputed income may also apply.

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How do I add a dependent to my coverage?

Start by selecting the plan tile where you’d like to add dependents’ coverage. Once you’ve selected or confirmed that you’re enrolled in the intended plan, click Confirm and Continue. Then, follow the steps below that apply to your situation:

  • If this is a new dependent (i.e., someone you’ve never added before):
    • Click Add New Dependent, then select Create Dependent. If you’d like to list this dependent as a beneficiary, check Use as Beneficiary and then OK.
    • Enter your dependent’s personal information, and click Save.
    • Confirm that your dependent’s name is now listed and that the checkbox next to their name is checked (if you want them to have coverage under that plan).
  • If you want to add an existing dependent to a plan: Confirm that the checkbox next to your dependent’s name is checked. An unchecked box means they will not have coverage under that plan.
  • If you experience a qualifying life event (QLE) before Annual Enrollment, make sure to complete that enrollment first. And then enroll during Annual Enrollment separately. For more information, see "What happens if I have a qualifying life event or an address change during Annual Enrollment?"

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What are the tax implications of enrolling my domestic partner in medical coverage?

If you enroll your domestic partner and/or your domestic partner’s children in health plan coverage, the entire cost of their coverage that is paid for by Workday is considered a part of your gross income for federal tax purposes. Need help understanding these rules? Check out our glossary, or reach out to Northstar for extra guidance!

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What happens if I have a qualifying life event or an address change during Annual Enrollment?

Marriages, babies, and other life changes happen when they happen, whether it’s Annual Enrollment or not! If this is your situation, focus first on completing and submitting your qualifying life event. Benefits plans rely on effective dates, so you’ll need to process your 2024 change first, since those coverage changes will go into effect before your Annual Enrollment elections do.

  • If you’ve moved and your new address changes any of the benefits available to you, you’ll see a related qualifying life event automatically appear in your Workday inbox for action.
  • For all other types of qualifying life events, submit the Change Benefits task in Workday to get started.
  • After you’ve completed your 2024 changes, you’ll see the Annual Enrollment event reappear in your Workday inbox, and you’ll need to complete it again (if you had already submitted it), so that the changes carry forward to your 2025 coverage as well. You’ll have two weeks from the day that event launches to your Workday inbox to submit your Annual Enrollment event with the updated elections.

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I joined Workday in 2024. Do I have to enroll again?

Yes. Going forward, you’ll only need to enroll once a year during Annual Enrollment (or if you have a qualifying life event), but the elections you made as a new hire earlier in the year only cover you through the end of 2024. Since changes apply for next year, you’ll want to review your coverage during Annual Enrollment and verify that you (and your qualified dependents) are enrolled in the plans you want. If not, this is your opportunity to make and submit any changes to your elections for 2025.

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What if I’m on a leave of absence during Annual Enrollment?

During a leave, you can still access Workday using your normal credentials, and you’ll want to enroll for 2025 benefits through your Annual Enrollment task, just as if you were actively at work. Certain increases, like life insurance, may not go into effect if you’re still on a leave as of January 1, 2025, but they’ll apply as soon as you return to work.

Tip: If you’re having trouble accessing Okta or Workday, please contact Business Technology at 877-951-9348.

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Where is my 401(k) enrollment shown?

You can review and request changes to your 401(k) contributions and investment options anytime, separate from Annual Enrollment. Head over to Fidelity to make changes to and check on your retirement plans and savings. Want some extra help planning your contributions for next year? Let us introduce you to Northstar!

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What are the most critical things to review?

Please review our benefits website for more information. Looking for a quick overview? Check out the 2025 Annual Enrollment Highlights.

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What’s changing for next year?

Go to the Annual Enrollment page on WorkdayBenefits.com for details about 2025 changes and enhancements.

  • Contributions for medical, dental, and vision are changing. If you’re enrolled in the SimplePay Health plan or are considering it, take note. The contributions are changing for 2025. Review the 2025 medical plan comparison chart to see how deductibles and cost-sharing are changing for each of the medical plans.
  • Pet Insurance wellness benefits and premiums are increasing.
  • Contribution limits for your 401(k), FSA, HSA, and commuter benefits will be updated for 2025. The annual contribution limit is projected to increase. However, the IRS usually waits around until November to decide on those limits. For Annual Enrollment purposes, all FSA contribution maximums will be set at the 2024 limits.
  • Form Health, a new weight-loss program that is replacing Calibrate, is now active.
  • If you have a 529 plan or student loan through SoFi, your payroll deductions will end on December 31, 2024. Please contact your student loan administrator to set up new arrangements.
  • Remember that you must elect FSAs each year. So, if you want to participate in an FSA in 2025, you’ll need to enroll. “Even if I’m already enrolled?” you ask? Yes, because the IRS says so. Looking for expert advice regarding your health, life insurance, HSA, FSAs, and voluntary benefits coverage? Ask the pros at Northstar, Workday’s free financial planning and counseling benefit!
     

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What’s not changing?

Don’t worry—most things aren’t. Here are the highlights that might be at the top of your mind.

  • Workday will continue to invest heavily in Workmate wellbeing and cover most of the cost increases of health plan coverage for our Workmates and their families. That’s a biggie.
  • Mental health support through Mind Matters (powered by Lyra), basic life and AD&D, salary continuation during a qualified leave of absence, family planning, financial counseling, and more are automatically included (and paid for by Workday) for all eligible U.S. Workmates.
  • There’s a whole list of other programs available to you that don’t require enrollment each year. Review the program tiles included in your Annual Enrollment event in Workday for more information. Don’t forget that this website is available year-round and can be shared with your covered family members too.
     

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How do I know which medical plan to choose?

Everyone’s circumstances are different. Luckily, instead of using a dartboard, you can use some great tools to help you through the process.

  • Our medical plan decision tool suggests two medical plans based on your answers to a few questions.
  • The medical plan comparison chart allows you to compare all the medical plans we offer side by side.
  • The glossary of terms is your cheat sheet if you run across a weird insurance term you don’t recognize.
  • Ask about your situation at the in-person benefits fairs in Pleasanton or Atlanta. If you live elsewhere, check out our benefits webinar. Check out the event calendar for more information.
  • Cigna members can reach out to your dedicated resources, Olga and Pete, for on-demand help with any medical question. Kaiser members should contact Member Services. For SimplePay Health members, contact your Health Valet.
     

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How do I change my medical, dental, or vision plans for myself or my family members?

When you change your benefits, your dependents are not automatically added. Always verify that you’ve checked the box next to each dependent’s name while you’re in the medical, dental, and vision plan tiles. If a dependent’s name isn’t checked, they aren’t covered under that plan. You aren’t required to cover all the same dependents on medical, dental, and/or vision, which means that when you switch plans, you need to check the box for each dependent you want to cover on each plan.

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Is there anything else I should watch for when I’m enrolling?

Take the time to review your confirmation statement carefully. (Remember in school when the teacher said, “Be sure to check your work”? This is that.) There’s a limited time frame to make corrections or changes. If you miss that window, you may not have the coverage for your family in 2025 that you intended.

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I’ve already submitted, but how can I see what I elected?

After you’ve submitted your elections, but before you exit the enrollment event, you’ll have the option to print or download a confirmation statement for your records. If you skipped that step, you can access your enrollment event again by clicking the link from your Workday home page announcement. But remember, if you restart the enrollment event, you’ll also need to resubmit it to keep your changes.

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What if I need to make changes after I submit my elections?

If it’s before the end of the day on Friday, November 15, click on the Annual Enrollment announcement on your Workday home page to access your enrollment event and make changes, if needed. Don’t forget that you must click the Submit button when you’re done for those changes to be captured for the 2025 plan year.

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When does my new coverage start?

Short answer: January 1, 2025.

Long answer: Annual Enrollment coverage updates, including new plans and dependent enrollments, will be transmitted for processing to the benefits carriers in early December, and your new elections and coverage will be effective starting January 1, 2025.

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