2026 F5 Benefits Open Enrollment Thoughts
F5 issued its latest benefits document for the short plan year. I anticipate the full plan year costs and benefits, starting 1/1/27, will be similar. I reviewed it and have some feedback and opinions that may be helpful. As always, do your own math and consult your financial or tax advisor before making any decisions!
This post is specifically about the healthcare insurance options.
Healthcare Insurance Thoughts:
F5 continues to offer great insurance. In a world where ACA premiums are going through the roof and medical expenses can be surprisingly high, don’t lose sight of the benefits of a solid insurance plan paid for mostly by your employer! For a family of four, the total annual cost of the PPO insurance is $39,268, of which F5 covers $31,416. Similarly, the total annual cost of the HDHP insurance is $32,753, of which F5 covers $31,443. Awesome.
In the past, the HDHP almost always made more sense than the PPO plan, no matter your status. However, the higher deductibles have changed the calculus a bit. If you’re single or a couple with no children, and you plan to have only routine doctor’s visits, it may be slightly cheaper to go with the PPO. But everyone who ends up with large expenses such as hospital visit(s) is going to incur lower overall costs with the HDHP.
I’ve provided a simplified decision rubric on how to decide which plan to choose for the short plan year. There are infinite permutations, and I don’t know your exact situation, so these are rules of thumb that work most of the time, but your case may be unique. Do your research.
To determine which plan will deliver the lowest total out-of-pocket over a full 12 months, you need to know:
What is your status (single, couple, single w/children, or couple w/children)?
What is your likely expected medical expense range for the year?
Are you expecting to have to go out of network or not? This is an important question because it changes the ideal choice substantially.
I made a spreadsheet (third year running now) where I show the total out-of-pocket costs, including premiums for various scenarios. Look for the tab that applies to your situation. If you want to edit or customize it, just make a copy and proceed.
The Short Plan Year
In any case, these numbers make sense for a full year. But what about this weird little 1-quarter short plan year from October 1st, 2026, to December 31st, 2026? This is a separate decision from what you choose on Jan 1, 2027.
The math depends on your Q3 deductibles and your anticipated Q4 medical expenses. Because nobody knows for sure their future expenses, there's no obvious right answer. See the breakeven chart below. If your anticipated Q4 medical expenses are below the breakeven level at any given Q3 deductible amount, then the HDHP is going to be the overall lower-cost option. For example, if you anticipate no medical expenses in Q4, then the HDHP is the lower-cost option for both single and family medical insurance. Likewise, if you're a family with <$500 of deductibles met during Q3, the HDHP is the lower-cost option no matter what your Q4 anticipated expenses are.
I hope this is helpful. The decision doesn’t need to be massively complex. Either way, you're getting great insurance at a great cost. Good luck!
Disclaimer
This post and any accompanying spreadsheets and charts are for educational and informational purposes only and do not constitute financial, tax, legal, or health benefits advice.
The calculations and scenarios presented rely on general assumptions and may not reflect your specific medical needs, coverage tier, or tax situation. Benefit options, pricing, and IRS regulations are subject to change.
You are solely responsible for independently verifying all figures against official plan documents (such as your employer's Summary Plan Descriptions) and consulting with HR, a tax advisor, or a certified financial planner before making benefit elections. The author assumes no responsibility or liability for any choices made, expenses incurred, or financial outcomes resulting from the use of this content.