On Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2026, the NJ Treasury’s Division of Pension and Benefits announced that the School Employees’ Health Benefits Program (SEHBP) Open Enrollment period will be held this year from Oct. 26, 2026, through Oct. 31, 2026.
Background
On Friday, Sept. 25, 2026, the School Employees’ Health Benefits Commission (SEHBC) voted 4-2 to approve the 34.4 percent proposed Plan Year 2027 premium rate increases for active employees in the State Employees’ Health Benefits Program (SEHBP). A majority vote of those members present was required. The SEHBC previously postponed an approval vote on July 27 and deadlocked 4-4 in votes on Aug. 19 and Sept. 3.
The approval vote on Sept. 25 came one week after the New Jersey Division of Pensions & Benefits (NJDPB) notified districts on Sept. 18 that the SEHBP would not be an option for providing health benefits starting Jan. 1, 2027 if the SEHBC once again failed to approve the proposed premium increases.
NJDPB’s notice on Sept. 18 also told SEHBP employers that regardless of the outcome of the SEHBC’s vote, it would not have the necessary information to make rates and member premium share calculations available for the Oct. 1, 2026 start of Open Enrollment.
