2026 Annual Enrollment – What to Expect

If you have questions or would like to discuss changes or walk through Phase 1 together, please contact your HR Business Partner.

Phase 1

Employer Elections Starting: Oct. 13, 2025

Employer elects which benefits will be offered to employees for the new plan year.

Deadline to Complete Employer Elections: Nov. 14, 2025

Phase 2

Employee Elections Deadline: Dec. 15, 2025

Employees elect, confirm and/or waive coverage for 2026 – All employees must take action.

Note: The Phase 2 Employee election portal opens for employees within 24 hours of the employer's Phase 1 submission.

Phase 3

Review Elections Deadline: Dec. 31, 2025

Health and Benefits elections are reviewed by employer and/or their employees for Paychex administrative errors.

Employers submit Paychex administrative errors to [email protected] or by contacting the PEO Health & Benefits Service Team at 800-741-6277, Option 4, then Option 2.

Pre-Phase 1 – Preparing for Annual Enrollment

  • About Annual Enrollment

    About Annual Enrollment

    Per IRS regulations, Annual Enrollment is the only time of year that companies can make changes to their benefit plans and employer contributions for their new benefit plan year. 

  • Resources

    Resources

    Join one of our webinar training sessions, where you will learn about basic terminology, key dates and timelines, best practices for annual enrollment, how to request a quote, and the required documentation. Click the link below to join an available session.

    Live Webinars: Paychex Flex Annual Enrollment – What to Expect

    Recorded Session: https://px.wistia.com/medias/o03osnc38f

  • Have Questions?

    Have Questions?

    Schedule a meeting to review your current benefit offerings, relevant updates for your business, review the process, and address any questions you may have with your HR Business Partner.

Phase 1 – Employer Elections

  • About Employer Elections

    About Employer Elections

    Clients elect which benefits will be offered to employees for the new plan year.All employers are required to complete Phase 1 if they offer medical, dental, and/or vision through the Paychex PEO.

  • Instructions

    Instructions

    Complete the entire employer election process online, anytime, 24/7.

    • The Client Phase 1 Instructions will walk you through choosing your benefit offerings for the new plan year, making class code updates, updating employer contributions, etc. Remember, once you submit the employer Phase 1 elections, this will open Phase 2, for employees to start working on their elections.

    If you would like to discuss any questions, changes or walk through Phase 1, reach out to your HR Business Partner.

    The last day for you to enroll your company is November 14th, 2025.

Phase 2 – Employee Elections

  • About Employee Elections

    About Employee Elections

    Employees elect, confirm, and/or waive coverage for the new plan year – All employees must take action.

    Once you have completed your Phase 1 elections, encourage your employees to start working on their Employee Elections (Phase 2), by sending the Phase 2 email template to all your eligible employees. All employees must take action, electing, confirming, and/or waiving coverage for the new plan year.

  • Employee Communication

    Employee Communication

    Include the Enrollment Poster / Enrollment Poster (Spanish) or post it in the office to remind the employees of their election deadline.

    Additionally, provide them with the My Benefits Enrollment Process Employee Phase 2 Instructions. This outlines step-by-step instructions to your employees and walks them through viewing benefit options, plan summaries, cost, and electing/waiving benefits.

  • If You Are Offering An FSA Account

    If You Are Offering An FSA Account

    If you are offering a Flexible Spending Account (FSA) to your employees, they will need to make an active election for the FSA. If they fail to update their FSA elections, the 2025 election will roll over to 2026. Employees must make an active election to change it. 

    Note: This is for FSA only. All other benefits will not rollover to 2026. 

  • For New Employees Hired During Annual Enrollment

    For New Employees Hired During Annual Enrollment

    Any new employees hired during Annual Enrollment will need to complete both their New Eligibility enrollment, as well as their Annual Enrollment elections, for the new benefit plan year.

  • For Employees That Are On A Leave During Annual Enrollment

    For Employees That Are On A Leave During Annual Enrollment

    If you have any employees that are on leave during Annual Enrollment, please note that they will need to be sent a paper enrollment packet to fill out as they will not have access to Flex enrollment while on leave status. Contact the Health and Benefits Service Team:
    Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. – 8 p.m. ET at 800-741-6277, Option 4, then Option 2 or [email protected].

  • If An Employee Fails To Complete Phase 2

    If An Employee Fails To Complete Phase 2

    If an employee fails to go online and complete Phase 2 – Employee Elections changes cannot be made until Annual Enrollment next year or if they experience a qualifying event. 

  • How to View Phase 2 Progress Report

    How to View Phase 2 Progress Report

    To view your company’s Phase 2 progress report and review employee elections, follow the steps below: 

    1. Log in to Paychex Flex®
    2. Click the "Health & Benefits" tab
    3. On the overview page, the Annual Enrollment box will give you a summary of the "Completed" "In Progress" and "Not Started"

    4. To view employee-specific information, click "View Details" at the bottom of this box
       

      Paychex Flex Annual Enrollment

    5. Once you click the "view details", you can review all your employee’s annual enrollment status submission, and track if they are Not Started, In Progress, or Completed.
       

      Paychex Flex Annual Enrollment View of Employees

Phase 3 – Review Elections

  • About Reviewing Elections

    About Reviewing Elections

    Review all benefit elections for the new plan year. Clients are encouraged to visit Paychex Flex® to review benefit class codes and contributions, as well as employee elections for accuracy. 

  • Remind Employee To Review Benefit Elections

    Remind Employee To Review Benefit Elections

    Remind employees to log into their Paychex Flex® portal (www.paychexflex.com) to review their health and benefit elections and ensure all their elections are reflected correctly in the system, whether they enrolled or declined benefits.  

    Send employees, the Employee Phase 3 Reminder email and encourage them to review and designate beneficiaries, if applicable. 

    Encourage employees to review their first payroll in January for accuracy. 

  • How Client Administrators Can Review Enrollments

    How Client Administrators Can Review Enrollments

    Review enrollments:

    1. Log in to http://www.paychexflex.com.
    2. Select the Health & Benefits option on the dashboard or left navigation panel to review and audit employee elections.
    3. Select the Employees tab at the top of the screen.
    4. On the Employees page click the drop down that says “All Employees” and change this to “Future Enrollment”.
    5. By selecting “Download” you will be able to download the full report in PDF or Excel format.
    6. Verify the accuracy of employee deductions that will take effect with the first payroll after your annual enrollment effective date. (Any new changes are not allowed once the new plan year starts).

    If you identify any errors for any plans, please contact our benefits Department right away at (800) 741 – 6277, Option 4, Option 2 or [email protected]

Annual Enrollment Resources

Overview of Additional PEO Benefits

  • Part-Time Benefits Information

    Part-Time Benefits Information

    Part-time employees and their families now have access to more benefits, including virtual doctor visits, discount dental and vision offerings, and supplemental insurance solutions.

    These services are provided directly through Smart Solution Plus™ Marketplace at no cost to you, the employer. Employees work directly with Smart Solution Plus Marketplace to register, select and pay for these benefits (no payroll deductions).

  • Flexible Spending Account (FSA)

    Flexible Spending Account (FSA)

    A Flexible Spending Account (FSA) is a pretax benefit that enables eligible employees to set aside a specific pretax dollar amount for out-of-pocket, eligible unreimbursed medical, dental, vision, orthodontia, and dependent care expenses.

    • For questions regarding the setup of your FSA plan, please contact your HRP.
    • Employee enrollment
    • Deadline for FSA enrollment: Dec. 31, 2025.
  • Health Savings Account (HSA)

    Health Savings Account (HSA)

    A Health Savings Account (HSA) is an employee-funded account created in the employee’s name. It requires enrollment in a qualifying High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP) and allows employees to pay for current/future medical expenses tax-free.

    • For questions regarding the setup of your HSA plan, please contact your HRP.
    • Employee enrollment
  • 401(k)

    401(k)

    A 401(k) plan is a qualified retirement plan that allows you and your employees to save and invest for retirement on a tax-deferred (pre-tax) basis. (A Roth 401(k) offers after-tax savings.) Employees are eligible to enter your company-sponsored plan on the first entry date after fulfilling the plan’s eligibility requirements as outlined in the plan Adoption Agreement.

    • Eligible employees can enroll through Paychex Flex or the Paychex Flex app.
      • Log into Paychex Flex and select Retirement to access the plan details.
      • A Start Your Retirement Plan or Enroll Now notification will appear if you’re eligible.
        • Once enrolled, employees can log in and update their plan elections and beneficiary information at any time.
    • Employee Enrollment
      • Send an email to newly eligible employees to encourage them to enroll online (be sure to attach the Summary Plan Description, General Information Sheet, and Participant Fee Disclosure), or build and distribute your own enrollment kit.
      • Remind newly enrolled employees to enter their beneficiary information online at http://www.paychexflex.com.
      • Remind enrolled employees of their annual automatic deferral increase (if applicable).

    For questions about their 401(k) plan, employees can call 877-244-1771.

  • Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

    Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

    NexGen Employee Assistance Program is an enhanced work and family life benefit provided through Employee Network, Inc. (eni). This is a prepaid, confidential service that provides quick online or telephonic support to help employees with day-to-day issues, improve work/life balance, and enhance well-being. The EAP benefit includes:

    • 24/7 access to a NexGen EAP intake specialist
    • Three free counseling sessions
    • Dedicated personal assistants
    • Wellness program
    • Legal referral
    • Mindfulness training
    • Virtual concierge services
    • NexGen EAP mobile app

    For questions regarding this benefit, please contact our Health and Benefits Service Team at [email protected] or call 800-741-6277, Option 4, then Option 2, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. - 8 p.m. ET.

  • Working Advantage (Employee Discount Reward Program)

    Working Advantage (Employee Discount Reward Program)

    Paychex has partnered with Working Advantage, LLC, to provide you and your employees with discounted products and services such as Broadway theater tickets, theme parks, movie rentals, and more.

    This is a cost-free benefit that provides employees with access to thousands of exclusive travel and entertainment discounts, so they can make the most of their time away from work.

    For questions regarding this benefit, please contact our Health and Benefits Service Team at [email protected] or call 800-741-6277, Option 4, then Option 2, Monday through Friday 8 a.m. - 8 p.m. ET.

  • FinFit Financial Fitness Program for Employees

    FinFit Financial Fitness Program for Employees

    Help employees take control of their finances with helpful financial planning resources, including an online personal wellness assessment, calculators, apps, and other educational tools.

    FinFit is a free service that you can offer employees with a wide variety of financial tools and resources. This program can be accessed through Paychex Flex® login or the FinFit mobile app.

    For questions regarding this benefit, please contact your HRP.

  • Martin Insurance (Medicare Supplement Support)

    Martin Insurance (Medicare Supplement Support)

    For employees 64.5 years or older, navigating Medicare can potentially be an overwhelming process. Martin Insurance provides medical supplemental plans at a competitive cost that helps cover the gaps left by traditional Medicare to ensure they get the care they need without unexpected expenses. Martin also has licensed agents to assist members in navigating Medicare Supplement Plans by helping them gain a better understanding of their coverage options so they can make informed decisions that align with their individual circumstances and needs. Martin also offers the following support services to their members:

    • Personalized Consultations – Agents provided one-on-one consultations with the member to help them choose the best plan for their needs.
    • Claims Assistance – Martin Insurance offers dedicated support to members to help them navigate claims.
    • Educational Resources – A library of extensive medical related resources is made available to members to help them stay informed. 

    For more information, Martin Insurance can be contacted at 609-542-9380 or [email protected].

  • GotZoom (Student Loan Assistance)

    GotZoom (Student Loan Assistance)

    GotZoom is a financial wellness benefit that helps employees reduce or eliminate their federal student loan debt by enrolling them in federal repayment and forgiveness programs. This benefit is designed to maximize savings while preserving all federal loan protections. GotZoom handles all administrative tasks, including annual re-certifications and monitoring for DOE program changes that could increase your savings. There are no credit checks and Gotzoom does not refinance federal student loans. Unlimited support is provided by U.S.-based call center for help with enrollment, annual recertification, and life events.  

    Got Zoom saves employees an average of 63% on their federal student loans!  To obtain pricing and enroll go to https://gzenroll.com/paychex or call at 833-468-9666 or email at [email protected]

  • BalanceCare (Health Advocacy)

    BalanceCare (Health Advocacy)

    BalanceCare is a free service available to all employees enrolled in a Paychex medical insurance plan, their dependent children, parents, and parents-in-law.

    BalanceCare helps you:

    • Resolve insurance claims
    • Find doctors and hospitals
    • Secure second opinions
    • Schedule appointments with hard-to-reach specialists
    • Learn about medical conditions
    • Get help understanding your Explanation of Benefits (EOB) statement
    • For more information and assistance, you can call BalanceCare at 877-598-8617 or email them at [email protected]  
  • Ancillary Benefits

    Ancillary Benefits

    There's no cost to you, as these voluntary benefits don’t require an employer contribution.

    You can review all our ancillary benefit offerings once Phase 1 Annual Enrollment begins on October 13th.

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