Open Enrollment

med-level alert: 2026 Annual Open Enrollment - Plan With Purpose | Enroll With Confidence

Coming Soon! October 14-31, 2025
Service Information

 

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)

*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

    Click here to join

    Presented By: Nationwide Retirement Solutions

    Topics Covered: 2026 Open Enrollment

    Click here to join

    Presented By: ComPsych

    Topics Covered: Mental Health Awareness

    Click here to join

    Presented By: Voya Financial

    Topics Covered: Voluntary Benefits - Accident, Critical Illness, and Hospital Indemnity Insurance

    Click here to join

    Presented By: Pet Benefits Solutions

    Topics Covered: Total Pet and Wishbone Pet Solutions

    Click here to join

    Presented By: Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois

    Topics Covered: TBD

    Click here to join

    Presented By: Department of Risk Management (Employee Benefits Division)

    Topics Covered: 2026 Open Enrollment

    Click here to join


    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: