9/16/2026

Dear Faculty and Staff,

Thank you to everyone who joined yesterday’s presentation on the university’s 2027 medical plan lineup. The deck from yesterday’s presentation is available online for anyone who would like to review it, covering not only the new plan lineup but the data-informed review process undertaken and the principles that guided MPARC in its work.

As we shared, for 2027, Puget Sound will offer three medical plan options instead of the single plan currently available. The lineup will include a qualified high-deductible health plan paired with a Health Savings Account (HSA Prime Network) and two PPO plans paired with Health Reimbursement Arrangements (HRA Prime Network and HRA Expanded Network). Premera will remain the university’s medical plan administrator, and both the high-deductible plan and one of the PPO plans will use the same Prime network available under our current plan. Together, the plans are designed to provide faculty and staff with more choice in monthly cost, provider access, and approach to risk protection when care is needed.

The final Medical Plan Advisory and Review Committee (MPARC) report is now available online, along with resources to help you understand and compare the three plans. These include:

We recognize that choosing a medical plan is an important and personal decision. Human Resources is available to help you understand the plans and how their features work. You may schedule a one-on-one consultation or a department presentation with an HR team member by sending an email to benefits@pugetsound.edu or calling extension 3296.

We will also offer two Medical Benefits 101 sessions next week. These sessions will explain common medical insurance terms and show how premiums, deductibles, copays, coinsurance, HRAs, HSAs, and out-of-pocket maximums work together for the three plans, with an emphasis on the new high-deductible HSA plan.

  • In-person: Monday, Sept. 21, 10:30-11:30 a.m., Collins Memorial Library Conference Room 054. Please let us know if you’re planning to attend by sending an email to benefits@pugetsound.edu
  • Virtual: Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026, 3:30-4:30 p.m., via Zoom.

Following these sessions, we will post a recorded presentation for those who were not able to attend.

Medical Benefits 101 is intended to build general understanding of medical insurance. We will provide additional plan-specific education and decision support before and during open enrollment.

Open Enrollment for all 2027 benefits will run Nov. 2-13. A comprehensive Benefits Fair will be held November 2. We will share more information about the open enrollment process in the coming weeks.

Thank you for taking the time to review these materials and learn about the new options available for 2027. Please contact Human Resources at benefits@pugetsound.edu with any questions or to arrange a consultation.

We look forward to assisting you with this year’s open enrollment.

Warmly,

Nancy Nieraeth, SPHR, SHRM-SCP | Chief People Officer