Your 2026 Benefits
Information
At JPL, we’re committed to supporting you personally and professionally at every stage of your journey. Our Total Rewards program is designed to help you explore options, shape your future, and grow in meaningful ways.
We cover an average of 78% of health benefit costs, ensuring access to quality care.
Beyond medical, dental, and vision coverage, your benefits include time off and parental leave, retirement contributions, mental health resources, professional development, and much more. Click here for a snapshot of our benefts. We’re proud to invest in you—today and for what’s next.
Outside of Southern California? View Plan Details
What's New for 2026
Medical Premiums and
Deductibles
Healthcare costs are a sensitive issue. While we work hard to negotiate with partners to control costs, there will be premium increases across all medical plans. Also, per IRS guidelines, the Anthem HDHP PPO will have a $100 individual and $200 family deductible increase.
HSA, HFSA, and DCFSA
HSA limits will increase to $4,400 for individuals, $8,750 for families, plus an extra $1,000 catch-up for those 55 and older. Health FSA limit will increase to $3,300. Dependent Day Care FSA limit will increase to $7,500.*
*There will be a contribution limit of $3,500 for Highly Compensated Employees (HCEs). In 2026, an HCE is an Institute employee who earned $160,000 or more in 2025 and an Institute employee hired in 2026 with an anticipated 2026 annual salary of $160,000 or more. This is required by Section 129 of the IRS Code.
Retirement
Starting January 1, 2026, employees age 50+ with 2025 wages over $150,000 who want to make age-based "catch-up" retirement contributions, must do so on a Roth after-tax basis. Contact TIAA for more information about his change.
Vision Plan
There will be a slight increase in vision premiums of $0.08 to $0.20 per month.
Program Enhancements
Telemedicine: Anthem HDHP members will have access to telemedicine services through LiveHealth Online at no cost.
Fertility HMOs: Anthem HMO and Kaiser CA HMO will offer expanded coverage for the diagnosis and treatment of certain fertility and infertility issues.
New to JPL?
Here's How to Enroll.
To enroll within 31 days of being benefits eligible, during Open Enrollment, or within 31 days of a Qualifying Life Event:
- Go to Workday through JPL Space and click on the "JPL Benefits" application to submit your changes
Add a Dependent to Your Coverage
If you add a dependent, you must submit supporting documentation, such as a marriage and/or birth certificate, to show your dependent’s relationship to you. If you do not upload the required document(s) during your enrollment period, your dependent(s) will not be covered in JPL’s plans in 2026.
Certify Your Current Dependents
Each year, you must certify your current dependent(s)—spouse and/or child(ren)—are still eligible for coverage under JPL’s plans.
Note: If you do not take action, your dependents will not be covered for any medical, dental, and/or vision benefits for the new plan year.
Review and Update Beneficiary Information
Once a year, please take a moment to ensure your beneficiary information is up-to-date for:
- Life insurance and Accidental Death and Dismemberment (if enrolled) in Workday.
- Retirement plan(s) on the TIAA website, which can be accessed via Workday.
Enroll in HSA, FSA, and DCFSA Plans Each Year
If you wish to participate in a Flexible Spending Account (FSA) and/or Dependent Day Care FSA (DCFSA) plan for the new plan year, you must enroll in these benefits each year. Your participation in these plans does not rollover to the following year.
If you wish to participate in the Health Savings Account (HSA), and are eligible to do so by having an Anthem High Deductible PPO Plan, you can enroll or make changes to your HSA contributions anytime via Workday.
Resources
Compare
Medical Plans
Documents
Non-Plan Summaries
2026 Required Legal Benefit Notices
Medical
Anthem High Deductible PPO Plan Summary
Anthem HMO Plan Summary
Kaiser (CA) HMO Plan Summary
Outside Southern California
Kaiser (WA) HMO Plan Summary
Anthem Owens Valley PPO Plan Summary
Anthem BlueCard PPO Plan Summary
HMSA PPO Plan Summary
Dental
2026 MetLife DHMO Dental Plan
Delta Dental Plan Summary (English)
Delta Dental Plan Summary (Spanish)
Voluntary Benefits
Accident Plan Summary (English)
Accident Plan Summary (Spanish)
Hospital Indemnity Plan Summary (English)
Hospital Indemnity Plan Summary (Spanish)
Critical Illness Plan Summary (English)
Critical Illness Plan Summary (Spanish)
Caltech Be Well flyer (English)
Legal Services (English)
Legal Services (Spanish)
Identity Theft Protection (English)
Identity Theft Protection (Spanish)
Need Assistance?
Submit an AskHR Inquiry or contact AskHR at (818) 354-4447
View contact information for our Benefit Vendors on pages 38-39 in the Benefits Guide.
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