Open Enrollment Checklist
What you need to know
This year’s Open Enrollment period is November 10–24, 2025. Follow the steps below so you’ll feel prepared to choose the benefits that’ll help you reach your destination in 2026.
Your Enrollment Checklist
Explore
Review 2026 plan changes and benefit enhancements. You can read about the 2026 changes here.
Think about your 2026 health coverage needs, and determine whether they are different from 2025, for example, you start taking a new prescription, a new child is on the way, or your spouse becomes eligible for health coverage through their employer. Changes in your life may mean that a different health plan will better meet your needs in 2026.
Compare our medical plan options to determine which one best fits your needs for 2026. Check out our health plan comparison tool to help you choose the plan that’s the right fit for you.
Review
Review your eligible dependents (spouse or domestic partner and dependent children up to age 26) and make changes, if needed, to who you cover for 2026. You can drop or add an eligible dependent during Open Enrollment.
Consider enrolling in voluntary benefits. Check out our new vendor, Prudential, offering lower premiums for coverage. Review how Accident, Critical Illness, and Hospital Indemnity Insurance may provide for you and your family’s overall health coverage and financial protection.
Are you eligible for and planning to enroll in a flexible spending account? Think about your health care and/or dependent care needs for the year ahead and estimate their costs. Visit HealthEquity to view qualified medical expenses for the General FSA, and qualified expenses for the Dependent Care FSA. You must re-enroll each year to participate in Flexible Spending Accounts because your elections do not automatically roll over.
Enrolling in the BCBS Blue Care Elect Saver HDHP? Decide how much to contribute to your Health Savings Account (HSA) in 2026. Visit HealthEquity to review a list of qualified medical expenses. Note that you can change this contribution at any time.
Do you use public transportation or parking when you commute to the office? We are pleased to announce two new vendors for this benefit – WMATA for DC employees to pay for their transit costs and Inspira for all other employees to pay for transit. Inspira will also administer parking for enrolled employees in all office locations. Learn more.
Enroll
Between November 10 and November 24, 2025, at midnight local time zone:
Visit Workday, and select the Open Enrollment event in your inbox to enroll in or make changes to your medical, dental, and vision coverage, add or drop a dependent, and enroll in an HSA, supplementary insurance plan, or any voluntary benefits. Refer to the Open Enrollment QRC for enrollment instructions.
Confirm that your personal details (address and phone number) and beneficiary information are up to date, or make updates, if necessary.
Review your elections to confirm they are correct before submitting.
What to Consider Before Enrolling
Choosing your benefits should be about reflecting on what matters most to you and maximizing the programs and services we offer to take care of you and your family. Here are fictional employee examples to show how you could get the most out of our benefits program:
Meet Dev. He’s just starting out.
While his fiancée is busy planning their upcoming wedding, Dev’s working on getting their finances in order. The couple is already a year into their five-year plan, which includes buying their first home and starting a family. They don’t have a lot of free time, and they’re focused on getting the biggest bang for every buck they’re spending.
How Dev’s Goodwin benefits support him:
- Access free expert fertility guidance through Carrot Fertility
- Get help finding an in-network provider who’s accepting new patients with support from a Health Advocate. Advocates can schedule your appointments, too!
- Save on health care out-of-pocket expenses by participating in tax-advantaged accounts
- Get help reviewing real estate transactions with legal insurance
- Use One Medical for same-day urgent care appointments and 24/7 access to virtual medical care
- Protect future financial plans with voluntary term life insurance and supplemental disability insurance
- Reduce the stress of new responsibilities with Headspace
- Take advantage of Goodwin’s comprehensive medical plan benefits to help cover health expenses
Meet Alexis. Her responsibilities are growing.
Alexis and her partner have spent the past several years building their careers to the point where they feel ready to expand their family. At the same time, Alexis’s widowed mother was diagnosed with early-onset dementia, and she may need to move in with them. All the stress is making Alexis’s back pain act up. Alexis and her partner were ready to care for a child, but they weren’t prepared for this latest challenge.
How Alexis’s Goodwin benefits support her:
- Receive virtual medical treatment from a qualified telehealth provider through One Medical. One Medical is considered an in-network provider for the BCBS medical plans.
- Join Wellthy to receive concierge level support from care coordinators who can connect you with services and resources your elderly parent may need
- Check out Hinge Health for virtual physical therapy that you can do whenever it suits you
- Access family planning support with Cleo
- Seek help dealing with life’s unexpected challenges with Guide employee assistance program
Meet Val. She has an eye on the future.
Val’s nest isn’t quite empty, with one child getting ready for college and another still trying to find his footing, but she’s focused on when she can finally retire and live life on her terms. With her kids still on her Goodwin medical coverage, Val is making sure she’s taking advantage of everything she may want and need at this stage of life.
How Val’s Goodwin benefits support her:
- Contribute to a health savings account to save for future medical expenses
- Prepare for contingencies with voluntary insurance benefits
- Consider term life insurance and our long-term care benefit through Trustmark
- Take advantage of the new BCBS Mind and Body reimbursement program
- Set intentions with legal support
- Meet your match and save more when you contribute to the 401(k) plan and receive matching contributions from the firm
If You Don’t Enroll
If you do not take action during Open Enrollment, your benefits from 2025 will continue in 2026, with the exception of Flexible Spending Account (FSA) elections. Current FSA elections do not carry over into the next year.
Choose your benefits wisely; your next opportunity to enroll will be in the fall of 2026 for coverage that will start January 1, 2027, unless you experience a qualifying life event.