Dear Grand Valley State University Community,
At GVSU, we believe that high-quality health benefits are fundamental to your peace of mind and the well-being of you and your families. Maintaining a robust, competitive benefits package is a core part of our commitment to you as a university. At the same time, we are navigating an incredibly challenging national economic landscape. Healthcare and prescription drug costs across the country are rising at an unsustainable pace. Over the past five years, GVSU’s medical and pharmacy costs have increased by 35%, driven heavily by the soaring costs of specialty medications.
To date, the university has worked hard to shield our faculty and staff from these compounding increases. However, to ensure that we can preserve the high quality of our coverage and keep our plans sustainable for the long term, we must make some adjustments to our cost-sharing structure for 2027.
We recognize that any increase in your monthly expenses is deeply felt, particularly in a year of modest merit increases. Please know that these recommendations were not made lightly. They were developed through an exhaustive, collaborative review process involving the Human Resources Total Rewards team, the University Benefits Committee, and our Senior Leadership Team.
Our decisions were guided by five core principles:
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- Protect Quality: Maintain comprehensive, high-quality coverage for you and your families.
- Retain Value: Ensure GVSU continues to pay the vast majority of your overall premium costs.
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Share Costs Equitably: Distribute adjustments thoughtfully across premiums.
- Prioritize Essential Care: Ensure coverage remains strong for necessary, evidence-based treatments.
- Engage Our Community: Build these changes with direct input from faculty and staff representatives.
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Effective January 1, 2027 |
The rate and co-pay adjustments below are currently estimated to aid and give you ample time to plan and evaluate your options for the upcoming year. Historically, our final numbers are largely close to the estimate, so these are a good gauge for planning but know there may be some difference to the final numbers.
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We are adjusting monthly premium contributions and updating our prescription drug cost-sharing structure to keep pace with rising pharmacy costs.
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Monthly Premium Contributions
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| | 2026 | 2027 (Estimated) | Monthly Change |
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| Single | $142.23 | $172.17 | +$29.94 | | Dual | $275.92 | $334.02 | +$58.10 | | Family | $426.68 | $516.52 | +$89.84 |
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Prescription Drug Cost-Sharing
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| | 2026 | 2027 (Estimated) |
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| Generic | $4 | $10 | | Preferred Brand Name | $20 | $40 | | Non-preferred Brand Name | $40 | $80 | | Preferred Specialty | $20 | 20%, $100 max | | Non-preferred Specialty | $40 | 20%, $200 max |
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High-Deductible Health Plan (HDHP) with HSA |
To keep the HDHP sustainable, we are introducing a monthly premium contribution. We are also aligning the prescription drug cost-sharing structure with the PPO plan once your deductible has been met.
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Monthly Premium Contributions
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| | 2026 | 2027 (Estimated) | Monthly Change |
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Single | $0 | $28.34 | +$28.34 | | Dual | $0 | $54.98 | +$54.98 | | Family | $0 | $85.03 | +$85.03 |
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Prescription Drug Cost-Sharing
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| | 2026 | 2027 (Estimated) |
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| Generic | $4 | $10 | | Preferred Brand Name | $20 | $40 | | Non-preferred Brand Name | $40 | $80 | | Preferred Specialty | $20 | 20%, $100 max | | Non-preferred Specialty | $40 | 20%, $200 max |
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Expanded Behavioral Health and Well-Being Resources |
While we have had to adjust cost-sharing on our medical plans, we are continuously looking for ways to add high-value, specialized care options that support your holistic well-being which are available to use now, including:
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- Backpack Health: Pediatric and adolescent behavioral health support for children, teens, and families.
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Folx: Specialized, virtual healthcare and mental health services tailored for LGBTQIA+ individuals.
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Ayble: Personalized, clinical support for digestive health and GI conditions.
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Flowly: Virtual reality-backed therapy and support for chronic pain and anxiety management. Login to your member account for more information.
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Boulder Care: Compassionate, virtual support and treatment for opioid and alcohol use disorders.
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Open Enrollment & Support |
The annual Open Enrollment period will run from October 20 through November 4, 2026. Approved changes will take effect on January 1, 2027.
Because we are introducing new premium structures, we wanted to get this information to you as early as possible. We want to ensure you have the time and space to review your options, calculate your household impact, and get answers to your questions. Additionally, to help you navigate these updates during Open Enrollment, the Human Resources Benefits team will host dedicated, virtual and in-person town halls to walk through the changes.
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Thank you for your continued dedication to our students and to the mission of Grand Valley. Caring for our people remains our most important work, and we remain committed to supporting you and your family with a benefits program that is comprehensive, competitive, and sustainable for years to come.
Sincerely,
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Robert Shorty, Ph.D.
Vice President for People, Equity, and Culture,
Chief People and Inclusion & Equity Officer
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1 Campus Drive
1000 James H. Zumberge Hall
Allendale, MI 49401
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