Updates and reminders for 2026

Default Elections

If you don’t take action during this year’s Annual Enrollment, most of your current benefits will carry forward to 2026. However, we encourage you to review this resource carefully, consider your health and financial priorities, and elect the coverage that makes the most sense for you and your family.

Increase to Health Savings Account (HSA) contribution limits ​for those enrolled in the HDHP/HSA Medical Plan Option​

The HSA annual contribution limit is increasing in 2026. You are eligible to contribute to an HSA ​only ​if you choose to enroll in the HDHP/HSA plan.

  • Employee only coverage: $4,400
  • Employee plus one or more coverage: $8,750

If you are age 55 and older, you can make a $1,000 catch-up contribution to the HSA.

Increase to Flexible Spending Account (FSA) contribution limits and automatic increase option​

The Health Care FSA (HCFSA) and Limited Purpose FSA (LPFSA) contribution limits for 2026 have not been released by the IRS​ as of the date this resource was produced.

If the IRS has not announced a new limit before the Annual Enrollment period, and if you choose to enroll in the HCFSA or LPFSA with an annual contribution level equal to the current maximum allowable amount of $3,300, you will have the option to have your election automatically increased to the maximum amount for 2026 if the IRS announces an increase after you make your election. During the enrollment process, you will choose whether to maintain your elected amount or opt for the automatic increase.

Increase to Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account (DCFSA)​

For the first time in many years, the DCFSA annual contribution limit ​allowed by the IRS ​is increasing to $7,500​ for 2026​. This account can be used to pay for eligible dependent care expenses such as:

  • Child daycare
  • Adult daycare
  • In-home care
  • After-school programs
  • Summer day camps

The DCFSA can only be used for expenses for dependents who are under the age of 13; mentally or physically unable to care for themselves and listed as dependents on your federal income tax return; or adults who depend on you for more than half of their financial support for the year. ​The DCFSA is an account that can only be used for the type of dependent care expenses noted above​​.​​​ It ​cannot​ be used for health care expenses.

Cost for ​Employee ​Supplemental Life Insurance

Employee ​Supplemental Life Insurance premiums are determined by your age and increase as the insured individual gets older. The costs change every five years, beginning at age 30. For example, if you turn 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, and so on in 2026, you will see an increase in cost at those ages.

Medical ID Cards

If your Medical Plan enrollment for 2026 differs from 2025, you will receive a new Medical Plan ID card sometime around January 1. Electronic ID cards are always available on the Sydney mobile app or on anthem.com. If your enrollment is changing from 2025 to 2026, the new ID card is available online on January 1.

A​​ note about LiveHealth Online ​​

Through LiveHealth Online, you can meet via video with a board-certified doctor for non-emergency health concerns 24/7 without an appointment (this option can be a convenient alternative to a visit to an urgent care center), or with a licensed therapist, psychologist, or board-certified psychiatrist.

Employees and eligible dependents enrolled in ANY Colgate Medical Plan option – i.e., the EPO, PPO or the HDHP/HSA* – can use LiveHealth Online with no out-of-pocket cost.

* At the beginning of 2025, federal regulations required individuals enrolled in high deductible health plans—such as the HDHP/HSA plan—to pay their deductible before they could use telemedicine services (e.g., LiveHealth Online) at no cost. However, this changed when the 2025 Budget Reconciliation Bill was signed into law in July 2025, making it possible for members to access telemedicine services at no cost even if they haven’t met their deductible.