Open Enrollment
med-level alert: 2026 Annual Open Enrollment - Plan With Purpose | Enroll With Confidence
Open Enrollment is your one time of the year to verify your personal benefits information, make any changes you wish to your plan elections, enroll in a flexible spending account (FSA) and add or remove dependents.
Enrollment requires using Employee Self-Service (ESS).You may also log in to ESS from a computer outside of the County's network. Required documentation must be scanned and uploaded to ESS in order to complete enrollment for dependents. For assistance with logging into ESS, please contact your agency's Help Desk.
Enrollment Resource Links
REMEMBER: Any changes you make to plan elections during the Open Enrollment period go into effect the start of the new plan years (December 1st for all benefits except FSA, which is January 1st). If you enroll in the health care or dependent care FSA, deductions will begin with the first pay check of the calendar year.
Important Documents
Here is a list of important documents with helpful information on enrollment: (Coming Soon)
- 2026 Open Enrollment Letter
- 2026 Open Enrollment Guide
- 2026 Open Enrollment Changes
- 2026 Employee Benefits Overview*
- 2026 Open Enrollment Poster
- 2026 Monthly Insurance Rates
- 2026 Monthly COBRA Rates
- Dependent Supporting Documentation
*This benefit overview is intended for informational purposes only and does not constitute a contract or guarantee of coverage. Benefits may change at any time, and employees should always refer to the official plan documents for the most up-to-date information regarding their eligibility and coverage details.
Open Enrollment: Information Sessions
Employee Benefits staff will be conducting Information Sessions both virtually and onsite this year.
Virtual Sessions
Virtual sessions will be hosted on Wednesdays October 1, 2025 and October 8, 2025 and will provide you with an overview of your benefit plan options, the Open Enrollment schedule and new plan features. Click on the tabs below to view more details about the presenters for each session and to find a link to join the live session. Links to the recorded session will be added here after each session.
Presented By: Department of Risk Management (Employee Benefits)
Topics Covered: 2026 Open Enrollment
Presented By: Nationwide Retirement Solutions
Topics Covered: 2026 Open Enrollment
Presented By: ComPsych
Topics Covered: Mental Health Awareness
Presented By: Voya Financial
Topics Covered: Voluntary Benefits - Accident, Critical Illness, and Hospital Indemnity Insurance
Presented By: Pet Benefits Solutions
Topics Covered: Total Pet and Wishbone Pet Solutions
Presented By: Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois
Topics Covered: TBD
Presented By: Department of Risk Management (Employee Benefits Division)
Topics Covered: 2026 Open Enrollment
Onsite Events
Staff will also be onsite at 4 Cook County locations during Open Enrollment to answer your benefits enrollment questions and provide you with more information around the process and what is new in 2026.
Tuesday 09/30/2025
10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Criminal Courts Building, 2nd Floor Cafeteria
Thursday 10/02/2025
10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Stroger Hospital, Lower Level Cafeteria
Tuesday 10/07/2025
10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Juvenile Temporary Detention Center, Auditorium
Thursday 10/09/2025
10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
County Building, 7 Floor lobby
More Information on Benefits
In addition to providing employees with a challenging, rewarding environment for career and personal growth, we are proud to also offer some of the best benefits in the public sphere, including:
Employees and their dependents can use confidential EAP services at no cost, copayments or deductibles. Trained mental health professionals are available 24/7 to counsel you and household members with many of life’s challenges.