Online open enrollment

During Open Enrollment, employees have the opportunity to make benefit changes through an online system via Southern Administrators and other online tools available for the entire month of October.

This webpage is designed to make Online Open Enrollment as easy as possible by providing:

• Access to information about insurance plans
• Instructions for completing the online enrollment process for the Dental, Vision, Flexible Spending Accounts, and Cafeteria Plan (Pre-Tax and Non-Pretax Premium Deductions)
• Supplemental Insurances and Retirement Representative Contact Information
• Electronic HR Forms to Change Address, Name, and Tax Forms.

Benefits Premium Changes for 2026

State and School Health Insurance Premiums are increasing for both employees and employer.

Please Click Here to View the New Insurance Rate

The Annual Benefits Enrollment Period is October 1-31, 2025.
All Elections must be submitted no later than October 31, 2025, at 5:00 PM
Changes are effective January 1, 2026.

What is Annual Benefits Enrollment?

• The Annual Benefits Enrollment (ABE) period is an annual opportunity for eligible employees to enroll in or make changes to select benefit plans for the upcoming year.
• This is the only time during the year when you are eligible to make benefit plans changes to most plans unless you have a qualifying life event (e.g. family or employment change) that allows you to change your benefits.
• Changes made during this period will be effective January 1, 2026.

What If I Don’t Want To Make Any Changes?

Your benefits will automatically roll over for 2025, if you do not make changes during the open enrollment period. The next opportunity to change your coverage is during next year’s open enrollment period – unless you experience a family status change. If you experience a family status change (such as birth, a change in marital status, or new employment), you have 60 days from the date of the family status change to make benefits changes.

To View Current Benefits/Coverage?

1. Go to www.jsums.edu
2. Click on Thee Portal (Located at the top of the Page or under University Resources if using mobile app)
3. Click “Faculty/Staff PAWS”
4. Click “Employee Profile”
5. Login to Jackson State Portal (Use Instructions Provided on Page) You will have to use DUO Security to Sign-on
6. Click the Benefits Section on the Employee Dashboard
7. Click on “Current Summary”
8. Click the appropriate links at bottom of page (Retirement Plans, Health Benefits, Flexible Spending Accounts, and Miscellaneous)

Employee Personal Information Changes and Updates

1. Change of Personal Information (Change Name, Address, and Emergency Contact)
2. Change of 2025 W-4 Federal Tax Form
3. MS Withholding Certificate Form (MS State Tax)
4. PERS of MS Beneficiary Information Change/Update

Dental, Vision, Flexible Accounts, and Cafeteria Plan

1. Dental Rates and Plan Information
2. Flexible Spending Accounts/Cafeteria Plan
3. Flexible Accounts and Cafeteria Plan
4. Enrollment Changes
5. Flex Card Enrollment

Group Health Insurance and Life Insurance

• Health Insurance Rates and Plan Information
• Group Health Insurance Enrollment/Change Application
• Group Life Insurance Enrollment/Change Application
• Group Life Insurance Beneficiary Change/Updates

Supplemental Insurances

Supplemental insurance providers are available to discuss plan benefits and to answer personal questions via individual consultation. Plan representatives will be available via phone or email. Please use the Contact Information Listed Below.

Supplemental Retirement Plans

Supplemental retirement plans include the Mississippi Deferred Compensation Plan and Trust 457 for all benefits-eligible employees. In addition, all employees are eligible to enroll in a Tax Deferred Annuity 403(b). Contributions for these plans are made by the employee only and deducted with pre-tax dollars. There are limits to the amount of contributions employees can make each year, and other restrictions apply.

If you have any questions, please contact the Division of Human Resources at 601-979-2015.