Open Enrollment - Union of Pitt Faculty

Accident, critical illness and hospital indemnity insurance may help you pay for unexpected costs resulting from an accident or serious illness. These plans are designed to supplement your medical insurance with lump-sum payments made directly to you for qualifying events.

• Learn more about this benefit.
• Access plan details, FAQ, and more.
• Video: Supplemental Medical Coverage info

The MetLife Legal Services benefit provides you legal help when you need it. The plan offers unlimited access to a network of attorneys that have an average of 25+ years of experience that can provide legal advice and representation on a wide range of legal matters.

• Learn more about this benefit.
• MetLife Legal Plan program overview flyer.

Download this flyer to share information about the PittPerks program during Open Enrollment.

Benefits coverage can be verified by logging into Pitt Worx (how-to guide), where you can confirm the benefits you are currently enrolled in, as well as review past benefits.

1. Log in to my.pitt.edu, search for and open Pitt Worx, and sign in via Pitt Passport.
2. On the "Me" page (the Pitt Worx homepage), select Benefits.
3. Select Your Benefits from the "Benefits" section.
4. Scroll down to the Enrollment Summary section to review your current elections. Select View all enrollments to see your full benefits lineup.

Check your existing health & welfare coverage and evaluate changes in coverage needs for the upcoming year.

Information about the Benefits Open Enrollment period is shared through email, my.pitt.edu announcements, on the OHR website, and more. In addition to these materials, you are encouraged to review the Plan Summaries and Rate Information section at the top of this page. 

Stay informed about what’s available before making decisions. 

1. Review the Key Highlights section above and updated benefits materials for the 2026-27 plan year.
2. Compare costs, deductibles, and coverage details to find the best option for you and your family.
3. Attend live or watch the recording of the Open Enrollment Benefits Overview Webinar for additional insights.

If after reviewing you decide not to make changes, no action is needed — your current elections will carry over automatically.

Open Enrollment is a good time to verify your dependents are accurate and documentation is on file. This includes providing dependent Social Security Numbers (SSNs) if they are not currently on file with the University to maintain compliance with the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Note: SSNs are required (if applicable) for dependents covered under medical, dental, and vision coverage.

Adding a New Dependent

Open the Before You Enroll task from the Quick Actions menu in Pitt Worx, then:

1. Click “Show More” to review requirements, then select the + button to add a new contact.
2. Complete all Required fields and select Submit. Repeat for each additional dependent.

Upload Required Documentation

Please note: If you are adding dependents, you must upload the appropriate documentation in Document Records (i.e, Marriage Certificates, Birth Certificates, etc.) prior to making your benefit elections. You will not be able to submit changes to your benefit elections (if you wish to enroll them in coverage) if dependents are not added and documentation has not been uploaded. 

From the Benefits section of Pitt Worx, select Document Records, then:

3. Select + Add, choose the appropriate Document Type from the dropdown, and enter the dependent’s name in the Name field.
4. Upload the document in the Attachments section. Leave the Context Value field blank. Select Submit. Repeat for each dependent. (View required documentation by dependent type)

View or Modify Existing Dependent Information

Open Before You Enroll and select the dependent’s name. Click the pencil icon to edit, update any information or add SSNs, then click Save.

Removing a Dependent from Coverage

Having a dependent in the Before You Enroll → My Contacts list means they are available to be covered — it does not necessarily mean they are currently enrolled. 

Beneficiary Designations

Beneficiary Designations
Beneficiaries are NOT set in Pitt Worx.

Now through June 30, 2026
To designate who receives your life insurance payout, visit the Health and Welfare page, select Life and AD&D, and complete the beneficiary election form for your employment type.

Starting July 1, 2026
Any beneficiary updates or new designations will need to be made through Securian Financial at LifeBenefits.com.

To name or update your beneficiary with Securian Financial:

• Visit LifeBenefits.com
• User ID: PITT followed by your employee ID number (using leading zeros). You can find your Employee ID by logging into Pitt Worx and selecting the Employment Info quick action.
• Password: Your eight-digit date of birth (MMDDYYYY) followed by the last four digits of your Social Security number
• If you've previously logged in to LifeBenefits™, use the password you created.

Keep your beneficiary designation up to date as life progresses, to help ensure any payment would be made according to your wishes.

Open Enrollment is a good time to make sure your emergency contact information on file is accurate and up-to-date.

Please review your emergency contacts in Pitt Worx and update any information that has changed. For step-by-step instructions, refer to the Adding or Editing an Emergency Contact Quick Reference Guide on SharePoint.

Ready to make changes? Select Enroll Now in the Benefits section of Pitt Worx. Detailed screenshots are available on the Pitt Worx Hub.

Before You Begin — Important Notes:

• The Panther HMO plan meets J1 Visa status requirements.
• If your home address on file is outside of Western Pennsylvania, carefully evaluate the Panther HMO and Concordia Plus Managed Care (PA Only) plans — both have regional coverage limitations. See the Additional Information section below.
• To enroll in MetLife Supplemental Medical Coverage or MetLife Legal Services (if eligible), you must enroll directly on pittperks.com, not in Pitt Worx.

Making Changes — Step by Step:

1. In the Benefits section of Pitt Worx, select Enroll Now.
   • If you are on the homepage of Pitt Worx, select Benefits from the Me page and then select the Enroll Now button.
2. In the Before You Enroll section, select Choose how you want to enroll. Verify that the Discovery journey is selected and click Continue.
3. On the Verify the people you’d like to cover screen, review your dependents listed under My Contacts. Keep in mind that this section means they are available to be covered if you choose to enroll them. It does not necessarily mean they are currently enrolled in your benefits.
   • Review your dependents listed under My contacts.
     • If you just added new dependents and their required documentation, they will be listed in the My contacts section.
     • If you already have dependents listed from the previous plan year, they will be listed in the My contacts section.
     • If you do not have any dependents, this section will be blank.
     • If you need to add new dependents, they must be added in My contacts and their required documentation must be uploaded in Document Records prior to enrolling (refer to checklist step 3).
     • If you are seeking to remove a dependent, do not edit your contact list. Only Benefit administrators may delete or remove dependents from the My contacts list. In step 5 you will be able to modify your plan and tier level to select the names of those you wish to cover. Anyone no longer designated with a check mark will have coverage end 6/30/2026.
   • After reviewing your dependents, click Continue.
4. Under Enroll in benefits that matter to you, select Edit, review the Legal Disclaimer, and click Accept.
5. Follow the on-screen prompts to complete your elections. Your options will reflect only the benefits you are currently eligible for. See the plan-by-plan guidance below:

Medical, Dental & Vision

Medical, dental, and vision plans are available to eligible employees. Click View Details in Pitt Worx to learn more about a specific plan.

• Keeping your current plan: You will show as enrolled in your current plan. Select Continue.
• Adding or removing dependents (same plan): Click Enroll, select the dependents you want to cover, click Save, then Continue.
• Switching plans: Unenroll from your current plan, enroll in the new plan, select dependents, click Save, then Continue.
• Waiving coverage: Unenroll from your current plan, enroll in Waive, then Continue.
• Not currently enrolled: You will show as enrolled in the Waive option. Select Continue to keep, or enroll in a plan.

Flexible Spending & Health Savings Accounts (FSA/HSA)

FSA and HSA options are available to eligible employees. Click View Details for specifics on each.

Account Types at a Glance:

• HSA: Only available with the Panther HDHP plan. Cannot be combined with a Health Care FSA. Funds roll over and never expire.
• Health Care FSA: Pay for eligible healthcare expenses. Unused balances above the annual rollover limit are forfeited.
• Dependent Care FSA: For eligible dependent care expenses (e.g., daycare) to allow you and your spouse to work or attend school. Unused balances forfeited per federal law.
• Parking FSA: For eligible non-University parking costs near your workplace, or University lot parking paid by the day. Unused balances forfeited per federal law.
• Mass Transit FSA: For vanpooling expenses or mass transit costs to travel from outside Allegheny County. Unused balances forfeited per federal law.

To edit an FSA/HSA, click Enroll next to the account, enter your monthly contribution, and click Save. Elections are monthly.

• Paid monthly: The full monthly amount is deducted from your monthly pay.

• Paid biweekly: Half your monthly election is deducted from the first and second biweekly pay each month. No deduction is made in months with a third biweekly pay.

  Please note: contributions are submitted to UPMC at the end of the month, once all payrolls have been processed. Deductions may not be reflected in your account until the beginning of the following month.

Basic & Optional Life Insurance (now provided by Securian)

• Basic Life: Automatically provided at no cost to eligible employees. No action needed.
• Optional Life: Click your desired option to make changes. New enrollees or those increasing by more than one level may be subject to Evidence of Insurability (EOI). EOI instructions will be emailed to your University email after Open Enrollment ends.

Basic & Optional AD&D (Accidental Death & Dismemberment) (now provided by Securian)

• Basic AD&D: Automatically provided to eligible employees. No action needed.
• Optional AD&D: Click your desired option to make changes. No EOI required for AD&D

Dependent Life Insurance (now provided by Securian)

Life insurance for spouses/verified domestic partners and children is available to eligible employees.

• Spousal Life: New enrollees or those increasing coverage may need to submit EOI. Paperwork will be emailed after Open Enrollment.
• Child Life: No EOI required.

Disability Coverage

• Disability coverage is automatically provided to eligible employees at no cost. The University pays the full premium. No action is needed — simply select Continue.

Benefits Outside of Pitt Worx

• Supplemental & Voluntary Benefits (MetLife, legal plans, etc.): Enroll at pittperks.com
• Retirement Savings (TIAA): Manage your elections in the TIAA portal (search “TIAA” on my.pitt.edu)

Once you’ve completed all enrollment selections, take a moment to review your elections before submitting. To make any corrections, click the pencil icon.

Click the Submit button. If successful, you’ll see a green checkmark confirming your enrollment was submitted, along with the date.

Post-enrollment activities include designating a primary care provider and completing the pending actions mentioned earlier (if applicable). These activities are based on your enrollment. 

Click Continue to begin post-enrollment activities. 

Designate a Primary Care Provider

The Panther HMO medical plan and the Concordia Plus DHMO dental plan are two plans that require the selection of a Primary Care Physician (PCP) and a Primary Dental Office (PDO).

You can add your PCP or PDO in Pitt Worx now, or wait until you receive your new insurance cards for 7/1/2026 and/or contact the carriers directly:

If you do not select a PCP/PDO at time of initial enrollment, a provider will be defaulted to you by the insurance carrier automatically, but can be modified directly with the carrier later on, prior to seeking services.

• UPMC Health Plan (Medical): 888-499-6885
• United Concordia (Dental): 877-215-3616  |  unitedconcordia.com

If you did not make any plan changes and were already enrolled in Panther HMO or Concordia Plus, no action is needed. Any pending action item will resolve automatically on July 1, 2026.

Note: After Open Enrollment ends, changes to your PCP or PDO must be made directly with the insurance carriers. Updates made in Pitt Worx after initial enrollment will not be sent to the carriers.

Pending Actions

These serve as a reminder to resolve any outstanding actions due to your enrollment. Typically, this will include adding a Primary Care Physician or Dentist after your initial enrollment in certain plans. This could also include a reminder of the need to submit medical certification, for Evidence of Insurability (EOI) to the life insurance company directly.

Complete EOI Paperwork (if applicable)

If you elected a life insurance option requiring Evidence of Insurability, an EOI application will be sent to your University email address, along with instructions on how to complete and submit the application. If approved, the pending action item will be removed. If denied, your coverage will default to your prior amount or the highest level available without EOI.

Saving a confirmation of your elections is strongly encouraged. It can serve as proof of enrollment if you need it (e.g., when dropping coverage elsewhere).

1. Log in to Pitt Worx via my.pitt.edu
2. Go to Benefits from the Me page
3. Scroll to the Enrollment Summary section
4. In the dropdown, change Current enrollment to As of Date
5. Set the date to 7/1/2026 and click View Enrollments
6. Click Print All Benefits in the top right corner to download your confirmation. This printout shows your coverage, effective dates, and covered dependents.

Protecting Your Personal Information

In order to protect your confidential information, the University will not mail a printed summary of your current benefit elections. This information may be found in Your Benefits in the Benefits section in Pitt Worx. You should review and print your online confirmation statement, which is available at the end of the benefits enrollment process, if you make any changes to your benefit elections.

Open Enrollment is a great opportunity to provide dependent Social Security Numbers (SSNs) if they are not currently on file with the University, to maintain compliance with the Affordable Care Act (ACA). SSNs can be added in the People to Cover section in Pitt Worx.

If you have moved, or will be moving soon, please update your home address in Pitt Worx and with your department administrator. Doing so ensures you receive University communications and items such as ID cards, billing information, important tax documents etc. to the correct address. 

Important Considerations for Selecting Panther HMO and Concordia Plus Managed Care (PA Only)

If your Home Address on file with the University is outside of Western Pennsylvania, you may want to carefully evaluate the suitability of the Panther HMO Medical Plan and Concordia Plus Managed Care (PA Only), as both have regional coverage limitations that could affect access to care.

Panther HMO Medical Plan:

The in-network service area for this plan is restricted to Western Pennsylvania with limited provider access outside of this region. Certain counties—such as Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Franklin, Fulton, Juniata, Mifflin, Montgomery, Montour, and Philadelphia—are excluded from the network. If your Home Address on file with the University is outside of Western Pennsylvania, you may experience significant restrictions in available healthcare providers. 

Please note: Urgent Care and Emergency Room visits are covered under Panther HMO even if outside the service area.

Concordia Plus Managed Care (PA Only):

This plan requires the selection of a primary dental office (PDO) in Western Pennsylvania, with no out-of-network coverage. All services—including emergency dental care—must be coordinated through your assigned Primary Dental Office to be covered. If you live outside of the Western PA region, you will not have access to covered dental services.

• Open Enrollment announcement email
• Pitt Worx Benefits Enrollment Guides (via Pitt Passport):
  • Before You Enroll
  • Uploading Documentation in Document Records
  • Benefits Enrollment Process

UPMC Medical Plans
Schedule of Benefits

• Advantage Panther HMO (Pittsburgh and Titusville)
• Panther HMO (Bradford, Johnstown, and Greensburg)
• Panther PPO
• Panther HDHP
• University of Pittsburgh PA Child Welfare Resource (Mechanicsburg)

United Concordia Dental Plans
Certificate of Coverage

• Flex I PPO
• Flex II PPO
• DHMO

Benefit Summary

• Flex I Dental Plan Summary
• Flex II Dental Plan Summary
• Faculty and Staff DHMO Dental Plan Summary

Vision Plans
Certificate of Coverage (valid until 6/30/2028)

• Fashion Excellence Plan
• Designer Gold Plan