Managing Platform Usage for 2025 and 2026: Transitions and Dual-Platform Processes
Understanding platform usage during the transition between the 2025 and 2026 plan years is essential for ensuring proper enrollment and benefits administration. This guide provides a comprehensive overview of when to use the legacy platform and when to use the new HRA Hub, along with essential steps for seamless management of transitions.
Platform Usage by Plan Year
2025 Plan Year: - Tasks related to the 2025 plan year, including reimbursements and end-of-year activities, should be completed using the legacy platform.
2026 Plan Year: - All enrollment and plan review activities for the 2026 plan year will be conducted on the new HRA Hub platform. Employees will receive invitations to access the HRA Hub before Open Enrollment for 2026 begins.
Dual-Platform Actions for New Hires
If a new hire requires benefits for the current year (2025) and also needs to participate in the 2026 Open Enrollment, both platforms must be used:
2025 Enrollment: Add the employee to the legacy platform to enable them to purchase coverage for the remaining months of 2025 (e.g., November and December).
2026 Enrollment: Add the same employee separately to the new HRA Hub platform for 2026 Open Enrollment to ensure their coverage continues into the new plan year. This step is manual and will not occur automatically.
Annual Enrollment Requirements
Employees must enroll each plan year, as enrollment does not carry over automatically:
For 2026, employees need to access the HRA Hub and select a plan. Coverage chosen in 2025 lasts only until the end of that calendar year.
Login and Credential Management
Platform-Specific Logins: Login credentials for the legacy platform and HRA Hub are managed independently. Ensure passwords are set up separately for each platform, as they are not linked.
Employees will be informed about platform access upon activation of their HRA for a given plan year.
Summary of Platform Roles
| Platform | Year | Activities | |-----------------|----------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------| | Legacy Platform | 2025 | Reimbursements, remaining 2025 activities | | HRA Hub | 2026 | Plan design review, Open Enrollment, ongoing administration | By efficiently managing these platforms according to the outlined process, you can ensure a smooth transition between 2025 and 2026, reducing confusion for employees and administrators alike.