Open Enrollment
As you reach new points in your life, your benefits needs may change.
Open Enrollment is your one-time opportunity to make benefit changes during the year, unless you have a qualifying life status change. Get ready to make your 2027 benefit elections by reviewing the information below. If you’re a new hire or someone experiencing a life event, learn where to enroll in your 2026 and 2027 benefits.
ASK THE EXPERTS
Gear up for enrollment by joining “Ask the Experts” sessions featuring benefit specialists and the Abbott Benefits team. Learn about each benefit offering so you can choose what’s best for you and your family.
JOIN A SESSION
REAL STORIES
Behind every benefit is a moment that matters. We invite you to explore real employee experiences that show how Abbott benefits helped to support their health, families, and well-being.
READ THE STORIESWebinars
How to Enroll
2027 Open Enrollment: October 19 – 30, 2026
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Enroll online through Abbott Health Benefits.
GO TO ABBOTT HEALTH BENEFITS- New users should select “Register” and follow the prompts to create an account
Important: For future logins, you can access your account using the username and password you created during registration.
- Follow the on-screen prompts to review or select:
- Eligible family members you wish to cover
- Health plan options, including medical, dental and vision
- Optional spending accounts (health and dependent care)
- Additional vacation days
- Life Insurance options and beneficiaries
- After enrollment, you’ll receive a Confirmation of Benefits. Review it and if you notice an error or need to make a change, you can do so during the correction period from November 2 – 20 by contacting Abbott Health Benefits at 844-306-9222, Monday-Friday, 7 a.m. – 7 p.m. CT and select Saturdays from 8 a.m. – 2 p.m. CT (10/24 and 10/31).
Note: Busy call periods are all day on Mondays, during lunchtime on other days, and toward the end of Open Enrollment.
IF YOU DON’T TAKE ACTION DURING OPEN ENROLLMENT
If you don’t enroll, your 2026 elections for medical, dental, vision, life and AD&D (basic and supplemental) – and your covered dependents – will continue in 2027. This includes your Health Savings Account (HSA) contributions. However, you will miss your opportunity to enroll in the Flexible Spending Account (FSA) and to buy additional vacation days for 2027.
Also, when covering your spouse or domestic partner, a $1,800 spousal surcharge is automatically applied. To waive the spousal surcharge, you must attest during Benefits Open Enrollment that they don’t have access to other employer coverage in 2027.
Open Enrollment is your one-time opportunity to make benefit changes during the year (unless you have a qualifying life status change).
DEPENDENT VERIFICATION AND SPOUSAL SURCHARGE
If adding a new dependent to Abbott benefits for the first time you must submit documentation to verify eligibility for coverage. You can upload the required verification documentation when making your elections. This will help expedite approval and ensure your dependent is added to coverage without delay.
Examples of documentation: a government issued marriage certificate or birth certificate, a recent federal tax return or a notarized affidavit of domestic partnership. Log into your Abbott Health Benefits account for the full list.
If you elect coverage for a spouse or domestic partner, you must attest that they do not have coverage from another source, such as their employer. If they do, a $150 per month surcharge will be applied to your account.
Important! Dependent Eligibility Review
In early 2027, Abbott will conduct a dependent eligibility review. During Open Enrollment, please review your covered dependents and ensure that only eligible family members are enrolled in your medical coverage.
WHEN TO ENROLL
Enroll by the deadlines shown below for your given situation. Even if you currently have Abbott coverage, you must reenroll in these benefits during Open Enrollment. If you don’t take action, your selections will default to your current options for medical, dental, vision, and life.
| Your Situation | When to Enroll | When Benefits Begin | When Benefits End | Where to Enroll |
|---|---|---|---|---|
New Hire |
Within 31 days after your start date |
On your hire date (retroactive) |
December 31 of the current year |
|
Open Enrollment Period (Oct. 19-30) |
During the Open Enrollment window |
January 1 of the following year |
December 31 of the following year |
|
Qualifying Life Changes |
Within 31 days after the qualifying life event |
On the date of your status change |
December 31 of the current year |
HOW TO MAKE CHANGES
Life happens! You can make midyear changes to your benefits if you experience a qualifying life event. In those cases, changes must be made within 31 days of the event, or you will have to wait until the next Open Enrollment period. To make changes to your 2026 benefits, visit Abbott Health Benefits.
Examples of qualifying life events include:
- You get married or satisfy the criteria for a domestic partnership
- You become legally separated, divorced, your marriage is annulled or you dissolve a domestic partnership
- You have a child by birth or a child placed for adoption
- You gain or lose custody of a child
- You experience the death of a spouse/domestic partner or child
- There is a change in your or your spouse’s/domestic partner’s employment
- You or your spouse/domestic partner become eligible for Medicare