State employees in Florida have until 6:00 p.m. Eastern time today to finalize their enrollment in the State Group Insurance Program. This is the last opportunity to select or modify health, dental, vision, and other benefits for the year 2027.
Open enrollment began on October 12 at 8:00 a.m. and wraps up this evening with no extensions available.
Both Florida State University (FSU) and the University of Central Florida (UCF) have issued final reminders urging their employees to make necessary changes before the deadline.
"This is your annual opportunity to change your State of Florida insurance (health, dental, vision, etc.)," stated an announcement from FSU, approved by Renisha Gibbs, Associate Vice President of Human Resources.
Any decisions made during this period will take effect on January 1, 2027.
Employees must access the People First portal at peoplefirst.myflorida.com to manage their benefits. Those who haven't logged in within the last 90 days will need to update their password due to high system demand expected in the final hours.
Key Changes for 2027 Plans
Among the notable changes for the 2027 plan, according to UCF's open enrollment page, are increases in the annual deductibles for High Deductible Health Plans (HDHP, both HMO and PPO). The individual deductible rises by $50 to $1,750, and the family deductible increases by $100 to $3,500.
Contribution limits for Health Savings Accounts (HSA) have also been raised: $4,500 for individual coverage and $9,000 for family coverage, including employer contributions.
In dental coverage, the Ameritas (Preventive and Standard) and MetLife (Preventive, Standard, and Indemnity) plans have seen monthly premium increases. For example, the monthly premium for the Ameritas Preventive plan for an individual employee is now $23.84, while family coverage costs $70.60.
Post-Enrollment Adjustments
Once enrollment closes, employees may only alter their benefits if they experience a qualifying status change (QSC), such as marriage, divorce, the birth of a child, or loss of other coverage. In such cases, they have 60 days from the event to report it to People First.
Other Personal Services (OPS) employees who averaged 30 hours or more per week between October 3, 2025, and October 2, 2026, are eligible to participate.
Those who do not meet the threshold and currently have active coverage will lose it on December 31, 2026, but may continue via COBRA starting January 1, 2027.
It is important to note that this program differs from Medicaid, Medicare, and the Affordable Care Act (ACA) individual market, which have separate enrollment periods and regulations.
For assistance, the People First Service Center can be reached at (866) 663-4735, Monday through Friday, from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Eastern time.
Once today's deadline passes, the next chance to review and adjust coverage without a qualifying event will not arrive until fall 2027.
Frequently Asked Questions About Florida State Employee Benefits
What is the deadline for Florida state employees to change their insurance for 2027?
Florida state employees must complete their insurance changes by 6:00 p.m. Eastern time on the deadline day.
What happens if I miss the open enrollment deadline?
If you miss the deadline, you will not be able to make changes to your benefits unless you experience a qualifying status change, such as marriage or birth of a child.
How can I access the People First portal?
Employees can access the People First portal by visiting peoplefirst.myflorida.com. Those who haven't logged in recently will need to update their password.