Two enrollment periods. Two different benefits.
Two enrollment periods overlap this fall. The state’s Annual Enrollment covers state-sponsored benefits. TSEA’s separate Open Enrollment offers optional supplemental benefits to TSEA members.
State Annual Enrollment
Oct. 1–16, 2026
State and higher education employees
Oct. 1–30, 2026
Retirees, local education employees, and local government employees
TSEA Open Enrollment
Aug. 17–Oct. 16, 2026
Optional voluntary supplemental benefits for TSEA members, with enrollment support from Federated Marketing Inc.
State Annual Enrollment for 2027 benefits
Annual Enrollment is the yearly opportunity to review and change eligible state-sponsored benefits for the following calendar year. State and higher education employees have through Oct. 16; retirees, local education employees, and local government employees have through Oct. 30.
What to do now
- Compare your 2027 costs and coverage. Check premiums, provider networks, prescriptions, and available plans in the state’s enrollment materials.
- Check your current elections and dependents. Decide whether you need to make a change for 2027.
- Make any changes by your deadline. Starting Oct. 1, use Edison to submit your elections. State and higher education employees have through Oct. 16; retirees, local education employees, and local government employees have through Oct. 30.
What you can review
Compare health plans, provider networks, premiums, prescription coverage, dental and vision options, eligible dependents, and any other benefits available to your group.
What changes in 2027
State and higher education employees and retirees face an average monthly health premium increase of 7.9%. Your actual change depends on the plan, network, and coverage tier.
Health plan details
State and higher education employees continue to have Premier PPO, Standard PPO, and the Consumer-driven Health Plan (CDHP). Copays, deductibles, and coinsurance for the two PPO plans will not increase. CDHP deductibles will increase, while its coinsurance will not.
Local education and local government employees and retirees have a new Copay PPO option for 2027. It has a lower premium, no deductible, and set copays, with lower costs for certain Tier 1 providers in BlueCross BlueShield Network S. Review the state’s comparison charts before choosing a plan.
Average monthly premium increases for local education and local government groups are 8.7% and 10.5%, respectively.
Review your 2027 coverage
Retiree Annual Enrollment runs Oct. 1–30, 2026. If you remain eligible and do not make changes, you generally keep your current plan options at the applicable 2027 premium amounts.
If you have Medicare and The Tennessee Plan, check its separate 2027 information. BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee will replace UMR as plan administrator Jan. 1, 2027. Check the state’s current premium table for your 2027 cost.
Check the state’s enrollment materials
Partners for Health has the full 2027 premium tables, plan comparison charts, enrollment instructions, and details for each eligible group. Use the official materials to make your final selections.
For enrollment help, call Benefits Administration at 800-253-9981.
TSEA Open Enrollment for voluntary benefits
Aug. 17–Oct. 16, 2026
TSEA members can explore optional supplemental insurance offered through ManhattanLife, with enrollment support from Federated Marketing Inc. This is separate from the State of Tennessee’s Annual Enrollment. Enrollment here does not change your state-sponsored benefits.
TSEA member benefits are optional and available only to eligible TSEA members.
