Starting Soon: Open Enrollment for New Benefits Year
Get ready to enroll for the 2026-2027 benefits year by exploring your options for medical plans and many more benefits available to you and your family members.
Open enrollment runs from Aug. 3-21. The benefits you select will be effective Oct. 1, 2026, through Sept. 30, 2027.
The comprehensive Employee Benefits Guide provides details about eligibility, plan rates and options including dental, vision, pharmacy, time away from work, leave, disability, retirement, lifestyle benefits and financial wellness. Use the guide, arriving in your mailbox next week and attached to this article, to learn about the variety of benefits and changes new this year. Choose the coverage that fits your life best. The benefits guides are located in the downloads section to the upper right side of this page.
“At Cook Children’s, we want every team member to thrive at work, at home, and in every stage of life,” said Merridth Simpson, Senior Vice President, Chief Human Resources Officer. “That’s why we continue to invest in high-quality, affordable benefits that support your physical, emotional and financial well-being.”
Current elections will roll over automatically with the exceptions of flexible spending accounts, health savings account contributions and PTO sellback. These three elections are required to be made annually. If you want any of these for next year, you must actively make those elections. If you don't take action, you'll have to wait until the next open enrollment period unless you have a major life change, such as having a baby.
We’re excited to announce that our medical insurance carrier is switching to Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas (BCBSTX), a change designed to give you access to a larger network of providers and more resources, including a 24/7 nurseline. BCBSTX’s Health Advocacy Solutions can help you find in-network providers. understand your coverage and navigate next steps.
Also new this year:
- Administration of flexible spending accounts and COBRA is moving to HealthEquity. Your benefits and how you use them will remain the same.
- Capital Rx is now Judi Rx. No changes to your pharmacy benefits.
- Disabled dependents over age 26 may now remain covered, as long as the disability occurred before age 26 and eligibility requirements are met.
- FitOn Health, a digital wellness platform that offers on-demand workouts, nutrition support, mindfulness practices and more, at your convenience.
- Enrich, a tool for financial wellness
After Sept. 30, 2026, we no longer offer Transform Weight Management or Responder Health. However, we’ll continue to offer the Noom weight management program and the Uprise Health Employee Assistance Program to support the well-being journey of our team members.
At Cook Children's we invest more than $200 million annually in benefits, reflecting our ongoing commitment to a thriving team.
You can enroll in Workday by going to Workday Benefits, accessing the Benefits and Pay app, and submitting the elections you make. Another option is to call the Benefits Center at 833-938-4154, weekdays from 7 a.m.-7 p.m.
Questions? Contact the Benefits team at AskBenefits@cookchildrens.org
Benefits Fairs and Information Sessions
Get in-person help at Benefits Fairs:
- Aug. 5 from 1-6 p.m., Medical Center-Fort Worth Atrium
- Aug. 6 from 7 a.m.-2 p.m., Medical Center-Fort Worth Atrium
- Aug. 7 from 10:30 a.m.-2 p.m., Medical Center-Prosper
Benefits information sessions at the Medical Center - Fort Worth in the Family Support Meeting Center
- Aug. 10 -- 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
- Aug. 12 -- 7-10 a.m.
- Aug. 13 -- 10 p.m.-12 a.m.
- Aug. 17 -- 10 p.m.-12 a.m.
- Aug. 18 -- 9 a.m.-12 p.m.
- Aug. 18 -- 3-6 p.m.
- Aug. 21 – 1-4 p.m.
Medical Center-Prosper
- Aug. 11 -- 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
- Aug. 20 -- 12-3 p.m.
Child Study Center
- Aug. 12 -- 3-4:30 p.m.
Hurst Multispecialty
- Aug. 13 -- 10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.
Walsh Ranch
- Aug. 14 -- 9:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
Calmont
- Aug. 17 -- 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Mansfield Multispecialty
- Aug. 19 -- 10 a.m.-2 p.m.