Key Takeaways
- Open Enrollment: Nov. 2-20 for 2027 employee benefits.
- Medical premiums: A 5.9% overall increase, with employees paying an additional $12 to $38 per month depending on their plan and coverage level.
- Benefits changes: Copayments for certain preventive prescription medications will increase, while dental, vision and other benefits plans remain unchanged.
Good news for Metropolitan State University of Denver employees heading into Open Enrollment this month: Health insurance costs will rise relatively modestly in 2027, and most benefits will remain unchanged.
Open enrollment runs Nov. 2-20, giving eligible employees an opportunity to review their coverage and make changes for the coming year.
This year’s open enrollment is passive, meaning that if employees take no action, their current medical, dental, vision and voluntary coverage selections will automatically roll over into 2027. However, employees who wish to participate in flexible spending accounts must re-enroll annually.
Medical insurance premiums will increase 5.9% overall, down from a 9.8% increase in 2026 and well below increases reported by several other Colorado employers.
MSU Denver will continue covering 75% of medical premiums, with employees paying the remaining 25%. Depending on the plan and coverage level, employees will see overall premium increases ranging from $12 to $38 a month.
“This is a best case, especially when we talk about a couple other plans in the state of Colorado and what’s going on across our country with medical plans,” said Amanda Berry, executive director of Total Rewards, to the University Planning and Budget Advisory Committee.
2027 monthly medical premium increases for employees
| Coverage level | POS/PPO plans | High-deductible plan |
| Employee only | +$14 | +$12 |
| Employee + spouse | +$33 | +$28 |
| Employee + children | +$30 | +$26 |
| Employee + family | +$38 | +$32 |
Amounts reflect increases in employees’ monthly premium contributions compared with 2026.
The relatively small increase comes as health insurance costs are climbing sharply elsewhere. Some local school districts, for example, have projected increases as high as 26%.
Berry credited the Colorado Higher Education Insurance Benefits Alliance, a consortium of eight higher education institutions that includes MSU Denver, with helping participating universities manage healthcare costs through shared purchasing power and long-term planning.
Minimal plan changes
In addition to modest premium increases, employees will see few changes to their benefits in 2027. The only change to medical coverage is an increase in copayments for certain preventive prescription medications.
All other benefits, including dental, vision, life insurance and disability coverage, will remain unchanged, with no increases in premiums.
What employees should do
Employees should watch for Open Enrollment emails from the Total Rewards team beginning this week and review their plan options, costs and coverage carefully.
Employees can make changes directly in Workday, where a benefits task should already appear in their inboxes. A Workday job aid provides step-by-step guidance for completing the process. All elections made during this period will take effect Jan. 1, and any changes in payroll deductions will be reflected in December paychecks.
Employees can also view their Total Rewards Statement in Workday to see the full value of their MSU Denver compensation and benefits package. Available to benefits-eligible professional staff and full-time faculty, the statement provides a breakdown of compensation, University-sponsored benefits, retirement contributions and other employer-paid programs that support employees and their families.
