What’s Changing for 2027

Expanded Medical Services Under the GW Health Savings Plan (HSP).

Beginning January 1, 2027, several services currently covered only under the GW PPO medical plan will also be covered under the GW Health Savings Plan (HSP), including:

• Bariatric surgery
• Hearing aids and cochlear implants
• Fertility services through Progyny

These enhancements give employees greater flexibility when selecting medical coverage.  By expanding benefits under the GW HSP, employees can access more covered services and evaluate plan options based on their anticipated health care needs and overall health care spending preferences.

For more information, please join us for an upcoming webinar with Aetna.

2027 Health Plan Contribution Increases

Employee contributions for the faculty and staff Medical Plans will increase by 9.5% in 2027 (across all salary bands and plans).  The monthly employee contribution increase will range from less than $4 to about $95, depending on your coverage level and salary band. Approximately 64% of full-time medical plan participants will see an increase of less than $20 per month.  The GW PPO and GW HSP will continue to be administered by Aetna.

Below are three examples of the monthly medical contribution increase for full-time benefits-eligible employees. Please note: Contribution details for all pay frequencies will soon be available in the Open Enrollment Guide.

• If the employee enrolls in the GW HSP or PPO for individual coverage, the average medical contribution increase will be about $4 or $15 per month, respectively, for 2027.
• If the employee enrolls in the GW HSP with family coverage, the average medical contribution increase will be about $36 per month for 2027.
• If the employee enrolls in the GW PPO with family coverage, the average medical contribution increase will be about $77 per month for 2027.

Note: There will be no changes to the current salary bands.

Our commitment and shared responsibility:
Medical and prescription drug costs continue to rise. Increasing health care costs due to many factors, including higher provider costs, greater utilization of services such as cancer treatment and behavioral health care and the growing use of high-cost prescription drugs, specialty medications and advanced treatments.

GW remains committed to offering competitive health benefits that provide value to you and your family. While medical plan costs have increased at higher levels in recent years than previously experienced, GW has worked to help manage overall program costs and limit the impact on employee contributions.

Importantly, GW's approach to sharing medical plan costs with employees remains unchanged. The university will continue to cover approximately 79% of overall medical plan costs, while employees will contribute approximately 21%, on average.