Heads up state employees, enrollment in State Health Plan is open through Oct. 31

For active members in North Carolina’s State Health Plan — including educators — enrollment is open through Oct. 31, 2025.

“It’s your chance to review your health insurance coverage,” says a video on the plan’s website.

If members want to enroll in the Plus PPO Plan or need to make a change to dependents, you need to sign into eBenefits and take action. Deductibles and co-pays have both changed since last year.

The choices active members make during open enrollment will be for benefits between Jan. 1-Dec. 31, 2026.

“Once you choose your benefit plan,” says the website, “you may not switch plans until the next open enrollment period” — unless you have a qualifying life event.

The State Health Plan offers two Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) plans: 

• The Standard PPO Plan (formerly known as the Base PPO 70/30 Plan)
• The Plus PPO Plan (formerly known as the Enhanced PPO 80/20 Plan)

All members are automatically enrolled into the Standard PPO Plan. Preventive services remain covered at 100% — with no co-pay or deductible — on either plan, according to the website.

New this year, the plan is implementing salary-based premiums for 2026. Rates are based on your current, total salary at the time of open enrollment.

Here is the decision guide, which you should have received by mail.

Other things to note:

• If you would like to change your selected Primary Care Provider (PCP) to a Preferred Provider, you will need to wait until after Jan. 1, 2026, to make that change.
• If you need a planned, nonemergency procedure, there will be no cost for the surgery — no deductibles and no co-pays — if members use a Lantern provider.
• Completing a tobacco attestation is no longer required to lower your monthly premium.

Here is where you can start enrollment. Watch this video if you need help enrolling through eBenefits, which will walk you through how to elect the Plus PPO plan. Here are step-by-step printed instructions.

If you have questions about changes to the State Health Plan this year, Treasurer Brad Briner breaks downs why the changes were made in the video below.

The State Health Plan Board of Trustees was facing a $507 million deficit, according to this press release, and Briner has led a three-pronged effort to provide financial stability going forward, including asking for additional funding from the legislature, negotiating with doctors and health care systems to reduce rates, and the premium increases.