April 2026 Employee Benefits Spotlight

From: Human Resources

Below is a list of important announcements from the Benefits Team.

2026-27 benefits open enrollment update

The state has announced that open enrollment for health benefits and flexible spending accounts (FSAs) will be held from Friday, May 15 – Friday, May 29.  At this time, only the dates have been provided; additional details and plan information will be shared as they become available.

In anticipation of open enrollment, employees should confirm that their information in Cardinal is correct. This includes: Home address (and mailing address, if different), phone number, and email address.

Cardinal Multi-factor authentication

If you have not registered in Cardinal or set up multi-factor authentication for your Cardinal login, please do so now before April 27. Employees are encouraged to adhere to this deadline to avoid any issues for the upcoming benefits open enrollment period.

Employees should use either Duo or Okta Verify for multi-factor authentication with the Cardinal system. Both options require a smart phone for setting up. In addition, Cardinal passwords reset every 90 days. If employees have not reset their password recently, they will be prompted to do so the next time they log into Cardinal. More information, including instructions for setting up multi-factor authentication, can be found on HR’s Cardinal web page. 

Retirement Benefits

Retirement Workshop: Lunch and Learn (in-person)

Faculty and staff are invited to attend an in-person workshop on retirement hosted by TIAA, one of Virginia Tech’s retirement account providers, on Thursday, April 9 at 11:30 a.m. in room 2420, North End Center. This event will explore the steps to setting a retirement date and explain the factors necessary to reach specific retirement goals. Lunch will be provided, and seating is limited. Registration is required. 

Spring Social Security information sessions

Human Resources is hosting two free virtual workshops in April to provide employees with the opportunity to learn more about Social Security benefits. 

Social Security representative Jacqueline Weisgarber will deliver the information and be available to answer questions such as:

• When are you eligible to receive retirement benefits?
• How does early retirement affect your benefits?
• Do you qualify for disability, survivors, and spouse benefits?
• How do you get the most from your benefits?
• What is the future of Social Security?
• When should you file for Medicare?

Employees may register to attend workshops, which will be held on Tuesday, April 28 from 2-4 p.m. and Thursday, April 30 from 10 a.m.-12 p.m. Note: If you receive a prompt to sign into Teams, follow these instructions and log in with your Virginia Tech account. 

Fidelity Investments latest available program

Fidelity Investments participants have access to a range of services that can help them tackle the many challenges life delivers, at you, from saving for college, to managing debt and doing taxes.

One of these benefits is Wellthy. With Wellthy, employees always have a care expert in their corner. Fidelity handles the hard stuff like managing logistics, solving problems, and easing stress with services that help with: 

• College
• Finances and debt
• Home
• Legal
• Protection
• Taxes

No care challenge is too big or too small. Log in to NetBenefits®  and into the Work Perks section to learn more.

Additional retirement preparedness resources for all employees

Join Fidelity and the Association of Retirement Organizations in Higher Education (AROHE) for four virtual sessions through May 6 that explore how to align your financial plan with purpose, identity, and emotional well-being. 

• April 8, 12-1:15 p.m.; 3-4:15 p.m.: Discovering Your Purpose in Retirement: Through heartfelt stories and actionable strategies, Jordan Grumet—physician, hospice doctor, and acclaimed author of The Purpose Code—leads an inspiring conversation about finding meaning beyond career, redefining success for life after work, and creating a legacy. Registration required.
• April 22, 3-4:15 p.m.: Time Well Spent: Shaping Your Days with Intention: In this insightful session, Cassie Holmes,  chaired professor at UCLA’s Anderson School of Management, explores the powerful connection between time and happiness, offering research-backed strategies designed especially for those transitioning from academic careers. Registration required. 
• May 6, 3-4:15 p.m.: Cultivating Social Connections and Support Systems in Retirement: Join Marc Schulz, co-author of The Good Life, for an engaging and uplifting conversation about how to stay connected and supported in retirement. Registration required.  

Visit the AROHE site to register and learn more.   

Health Insurance 

Community Connected Care is your advocate for support

Employees with Anthem’s COVA Care and COVA HDHP health plans now have access to GroundGame.Health, Anthem's Community Connected Care program that includes a trained network of local community-based care coordinators. GroundGame coordinators can connect employees to nearby resources to help with family matters and other physical and mental health concerns such as:

• Housing insecurity
• Transportation challenges
• Access to food
• Concerns about money
• Social isolation
• Caregiving support
• Medical and medication costs
• Behavioral health needs

A Care Coordinator from GroundGame.Health may contact employees to assess various health needs, then serve as the member advocate, connecting employees to nearby services and organizations to bring the most effective support. Participation in the program is completely voluntary, free, and confidential. Employees can contact their local Anthem Health Guide at 1-800-552-2682 or visit groundgame.health/anthem to learn more and connect with someone who can help.