Open Enrollment

Service Information

 

Coming Soon: 2026 Cook County Annunal Open Enrollment 

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 guide 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: To be announced

    Topics Covered: 2026 Open Enrollment

    Presented By: To be announced

    Topics Covered: 2026 Open Enrollment

    Presented By: To be announced

    Topics Covered: 2026 Open Enrollment

    Presented By: To be announced

    Topics Covered: 2026 Open Enrollment

    Presented By: To be announced

    Topics Covered: 2026 Open Enrollment

    Presented By: To be announced

    Topics Covered: 2026 Open Enrollment

    Presented By: To be announced

    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: