WELS VEBA Enrollment
2027 Limited Open Enrollment
The WELS VEBA Commission is pleased to offer a limited open enrollment for the WELS VEBA Group Health Care Plan for the 2027 plan year.
Enrollment will be held from November 2 through November 30, 2026.
What is a limited open enrollment?
Limited open enrollment means that enrollment is only available to eligible workers who serve at organizations with at least one active worker enrolled in WELS VEBA Medical Benefits.
If at least one active worker at your organization was enrolled in WELS VEBA Medical Benefits on October 1, 2026, the 2027 limited open enrollment is available to your organization and its workers and the following information on this page is applicable.
During this limited open enrollment, eligible workers will have the opportunity to make the following elections:
- Enroll for new WELS VEBA Medical and/or Dental Benefits;
- Add or remove any eligible family members under existing WELS VEBA Medical and/or Dental Benefits;
- Change to a different deductible option under existing WELS VEBA Medical Benefits; and
- Apply for Group Term Life Insurance and/or Voluntary Long-Term Disability Insurance.
Supporting your workers
As a sponsoring organization representative, you play an important role in engaging eligible workers with the benefits of WELS VEBA and supporting them through the decisions they have to make. As a result, we encourage you to be proactive with your workers and support them at this important time. We hope this website supports your organization in making your benefit funding decisions for 2027 and provides a useful reference when communicating enrollment to your workers.
Please remember that any open enrollment is held solely at the discretion of the WELS VEBA Commission and is not held every year–encourage your eligible workers to carefully consider this opportunity.
What has changed for 2027?
The following summarizes the most significant changes effective January 1, 2027.
WELS VEBA Medical Benefits
- The 2027 rate change for WELS VEBA Medical Benefits will vary by plan option and organization and will range from a 4.1% decrease to a 20.7% increase. The rate change is comprised of a 5.0% increase for health care cost inflation, updated cost-sharing amounts for the 2027 WELS VEBA plan design, and updated geographic rate regions for all areas of the country. Details regarding the 2027 rate change are available on this page.
- The deductibles, coinsurance percentages, and out-of-pocket maximums for all plan options will change effective 1/1/2027. Details regarding the 2027 plan design update are available on this page.
- The medical provider network for Florida residents will change to Anthem’s “NetworkBlue.” Florida members will receive new ID cards after this fall’s open enrollment showing NetworkBlue. Nearly all Florida providers used by Florida members over the past year are in the new network, and Florida members will receive a letter from Anthem this fall with additional information about the change.
- The Express Scripts SaveOnSP program will be effective 1/1/2027. This program allows members to obtain eligible specialty drugs filled through the pharmacy benefit at no cost after enrolling in the program.
- The Rx Savings Solutions program will be effective 1/1/2027. This program will help members save money on prescription drugs by identifying the lowest-cost treatments for their conditions.
- No new enrollees in WELS VEBA’s continuation coverage for early retirees, surviving spouses, and totally disabled workers will be permitted after January 1, 2030.
- A new website is available at express-scripts.com/welsveba for pharmacy benefit information, medication pricing, and an in-network pharmacy locator. Eligible workers and their family members can use this website even if they are not yet WELS VEBA members.
Long-Term Disability
- Workers who are serving at a sponsoring organization that participates in WELS VEBA and are covered as dependents under the WELS VEBA Medical Benefit plan of a spouse or parent will automatically be covered under Basic Long-Term Disability (LTD) Insurance with premiums paid by WELS VEBA.
- Such workers with Voluntary LTD coverage as of December 31, 2026 will be transitioned to Basic LTD coverage as of January 1, 2027.
- Monthly premium rates for Voluntary LTD will decrease by 15% for 2027. Please note that the premium amount due for a covered worker’s Voluntary LTD may change in 2027 if the worker’s covered compensation changes.
Dental Benefits
Monthly premium rates for Dental Benefits will not change for 2027. The 2026 rates for Dental Benefits will remain in effect for 2027.
Group Term Life
Monthly premium rates for Group Term Life Insurance will not change for 2027. The 2026 rates for Group Term Life Insurance will remain in effect for 2027. Please note that the premium amount due for a covered worker’s Group Term Life Insurance may change in 2027 if the worker or worker’s spouse attains a new age band, or if the coverage amount changes for a worker, spouse, or child.
2027 Rates for WELS Benefit Plans
What do I need to do?
We encourage you to support your workers during this limited open enrollment period. The checklist below lists a number of important things to consider over the next few weeks:
Important! If your organization pairs a Health Reimbursement Arrangement Plan (HRA) with WELS VEBA, note that your organization’s HRA plan design may need to change for 2027 to align with the 2027 WELS VEBA cost-sharing amounts. Contact your HRA administrator for details on how to update the HRA plan design.
How do my workers enroll?
All benefit elections must be made by eligible workers through the WELS Benefits Service Center, either by telephone at 1-800-487-8322 (option 1) or online at wels.bswift.com. The WELS Benefits Service Center will begin accepting elections as part of the open enrollment on November 2.
Important Notes
- As a sponsoring organization representative, you cannot elect benefits or make changes on behalf of your workers.
- If no changes are desired, no action is required as 2026 benefit elections will automatically be carried over to 2027.
- A worker does not need to be enrolled in WELS VEBA Medical Benefits to enroll for Dental Benefits or apply for Group Term Life or Long-Term Disability Insurance.
- Enrollment is for the 2027 plan year; any changes made will become effective January 1, 2027.
What happens next?
Eligible workers at your organization will be mailed a packet of enrollment materials between October 20 and October 31. This packet will include an enrollment guide and additional information regarding the open enrollment period.