Health Connect Plan discontinued

Health Connect Plan discontinuation

Eastside Health Network, the provider group that staffs the Health Connect Plan (HCP), available to Puget Sound employees only, is dissolving preventing us from being able to continue this plan. As a result, we will no longer offer the HCP option starting in January 2026.

Additional OE resources

Open Enrollment 2026

Open Enrollment FAQs

Enroll Nov. 3rd - Nov. 21st

New dental coverage

MyChoice mobile app

FSA contribution limit increase

Dependent verification

Medical plan options for interns

SECURE 2.0 changes to the Microsoft 401(k)

27 paychecks for hourly employees in 2026

If you're currently enrolled in the Health Connect Plan, review your 2026 medical plan options—including the Surest Plan, a copay-based plan; the Health Savings Plan, a qualified high deductible health plan that comes with a Health Savings Account; and the Kaiser Health Maintenance Organization Plan—and select the plan that best fits you and your family's needs during Open Enrollment. If you do not take action during Open Enrollment, you will default into the Health Savings Plan for 2026 and will not be able to change your health plan (unless you have a qualifying life event) until Open Enrollment 2027.

Even though the HCP is going away, your current providers may still be available through other plans. As you review your options, you can use the Businessolver Find a Provider tool at aka.ms/BenefitsEnroll to check whether your preferred providers are in-network with the other available plans.

To learn more about the discontinuation of the Health Connect Plan and your 2026 medical plan options, see the comparison on the next tab.

All Microsoft medical plans offer quality, value, and comprehensive coverage, but the plans do have important differences—including the way you pay for services, in some cases. Below is a comparison of the key plan features. Note that the features of the Surest option (introduced last year) are most similar, but not identical to, the Health Connect Plan, including:

No deductible
Copays for care and prescription drugs
Eligible for a General Purpose FSA but not an HSA or Limited Purpose FSA

Health plan	Surest	Premera Health Savings Plan (HSP)	Kaiser Health Maintenance Organization (HMO)*
Availability	Nationwide (except Hawaii)	Nationwide	Washington and California only
Highlights	Lower copays indicate higher-quality care. Shop for lowest copays among high-quality providers and locations using the Surest mobile app or website.  Gain visibility into your actual health care costs. Accurately budget for health costs.	Have flexibility in choice of providers. Gain tax and savings advantages via a Health Savings Account (HSA): No tax on funds added to your HSA, up to the annual contribution limit. No federal taxes on HSA funds used to pay for qualified medical expenses. Microsoft contributes to the HSA up to set limits.**	Coordinated care through one health system. Make out-of-pocket expenses more predictable. Navigate your care simply.
Deductible	$0	$1,750–$4,375 based on coverage tier	$0
Out-of-pocket maximums Embedded/Aggregate	$2,750–$6,875 based on coverage tier Embedded: Family members must each meet their own out-of-pocket maximum until the overall family out-of-pocket maximum has been met.	$2,750–$6,875 based on coverage tier Aggregate: Familly members' combined health care expenses must reach the overall family out-of-pocket maximum.	$1,500–$4,500 based on coverage tier Embedded: Family members must each meet their own out-of-pocket maximum until the overall family out-of-pocket maximum has been met.
Copays	Yes. Copays are viewable before a medical visit on Surest member site/app. Costs related to a single health care event (doctor visit, maternity care, knee replacement surgery, etc.) are bundled into a single copay. No coinsurance.	No. Meet your deductible, then coinsurance applies, up to your out-of-pocket maximum.	Yes, for most outpatient services.
Eligible health accounts	General Purpose Healthcare FSA	Health Savings Account & Limited Purpose Healthcare FSA	General Purpose Healthcare FSA
Provider network	United Healthcare Choice Plus Network CA residents: United Healthcare Select Plus Network	Blue Cross Blue Shield National Network	Kaiser Network
Out-of-network coverage	Choose any provider you like. Pay less when you use a provider in the UnitedHealthcare network.	Choose any provider you like. Pay less when you use a provider in the Blue Cross Blue Shield network.	Limited coverage for emergencies only.
Pharmacy provider & copays	Optum Rx Retail: $10 generic (90-day supply) $50 brand (30-day supply) $90 non-preferred brand (30-day supply)	Express Scripts (ESI) 10% after deductible	Kaiser 30-day supply: $10 generic $25 brand $50 non-preferred brand
Complete plan details	View Summary Plan Description	View Summary Plan Description	View Summary Plan Description

*The Kaiser HMO Plan is only available to employees in Washington & California. Interns and researchers are not eligible for the Kaiser HMO Plan.

**Microsoft contributes between $850 and $4,375 tax-free to HSAs.

Why won’t the HCP be available for 2026 and beyond?

What happens if I take no action during Open Enrollment to select a new medical plan?

If you’re currently enrolled in the HCP, your existing coverage will continue through the rest of this calendar year. If you are currently enrolled in the HCP and take no action during Open Enrollment, you will automatically be enrolled in the Health Savings Plan for 2026. Visit the benefits portal to view a Health Plan Comparison chart available to you to help you understand how coverage is provided under the various plan options.

Will I receive a new ID card if I elect the Health Savings Plan for 2026?

What plan is most similar to the HCP?

There isn’t an exact replacement plan, but there are some similarities depending on the plan. You still have access to the Health Savings Plan (HSP) through Premera, which uses the same provider network. You also have access to the Surest Plan, which offers a similar copay experience but with a different provider network. If you are located in Washington or California, you also have access to Kaiser, a HMO plan. Visit the benefits portal to view a Health Plan Comparisons.

For additional clarification regarding specific benefit coverage, please contact the plan administrators using the contact information below.

Premera Customer Service: 1-800-676-1411, microsoft@premera.com

Surest Customer Service: 1-866-222-1298

Kaiser Washington: 1-888-901-4636

Kaiser California: 1-800-464-4000

How do I ensure my current HCP doctors, specialists and hospitals are in-network under the other available health plans?

If you enroll in the Health Savings Plan through Premera, you'll continue to have access to the same provider network. If you choose a different Microsoft plan, be sure to check whether your provider is in-network under that plan.

For Premera plans, please visit the Premera medical directory at https://Premera.com or call (800) 676-1411.

For the Surest plan, visit the online Surest provider directory at https://benefits.surest.com access code: Microsoft2026 or call (866) 222-1298.

Additionally, all enrollees in Premera and Surest plans (including active employees, dependents, and COBRA beneficiaries) also have access to the Embold Health Provider Guide, a tool that helps you find highly rated healthcare providers in your area and insurance network. Embold uses healthcare claims data to score how well a doctor historically has performed in diagnosing patients, prescribing treatment plans, and delivering health outcomes. These scores are developed using common and accepted measures in the medical community. Embold has also recently launched an advanced chatbot powered by Microsoft Conversational AI, designed to streamline the process of locating high-quality providers. This intelligent solution delivers faster, more personalized support—making it easier than ever to connect and find trusted care.

This provider lookup tool displays in-network provider information for Microsoft’s Premera and Surest plans only. For information about Kaiser in-network providers, please contact Kaiser directly at:

Kaiser Washington: 1-888-901-4636

Kaiser California: 1-800-464-4000

I’m mid-treatment, how will my medical treatment be covered in the new year?

If you select the Premera Health Savings Plan (HSP) for 2026, any prior authorization previously approved by Premera for an upcoming treatment will carry over to the HSP and you will not need to submit a new one.

If you select the Surest or a Kaiser plan for 2026, you will need to contact Surest or Kaiser directly to confirm your benefit options. For additional clarification regarding specific benefit coverage, please contact the plan administrators using the contact information below.

Premera Customer Service: 1-800-676-1411, microsoft@premera.com

Surest Customer Service: 1-866-222-1298

Kaiser Washington: 1-888-901-4636

Kaiser California: 1-800-464-4000

I’m pregnant and due in early 2026. Does the Premera HSP or Surest plans offer a maternity bundle? If not, how will my delivery be handled?

As of January 1, 2026, the maternity bundle under the Health Connect Plan will end. If you enroll in the Health Savings Plan, standard maternity cost shares will apply. Under the Health Savings Plan, maternity care is covered 90% after the deductible when using an in-network provider and facility.

Under the Surest plan, routine prenatal and postnatal office visits, including labs and tests have a $0 copay. Inpatient delivery copays vary from $500-$1,300 depending on the provider you choose.

Go to the Benefits home page to review the Summary Plan Description for additional coverage details.

I’m pregnant and planning on using a doula. Is doula coverage available under the other Microsoft health plans?

Will my prescriptions be covered if I remain enrolled in a Premera (Health Savings Plan)? What if I change to Surest or Kaiser?

Yes, your prescription coverage will continue if you enroll in the Health Savings Plan. If you're using medications that require prior authorization (such as certain brand-name or specialty drugs), your existing approvals will carry over into 2026. Preventive drugs will continue to be covered at 100%, and other prescriptions are covered at 90% after the deductible is met.

If you switch to the Surest or Kaiser plans, your prescription coverage will change. Prior authorization does not transfer between plans. You'll need to go through the new plan's prior authorization process for any medications that require it. Each has its own drug formulary, pharmacy network, and cost structure, please review the Summary Plan Description at aka.ms/benefits to learn more.

If you have specific drug coverage questions and want to talk to a customer service representative to learn more, you can contact Surest at 1-866-222-1298 or Kaiser Washington at 1-888-901-4636.

I’m currently working with an Eastside Health Network (EHN) Navigator, will similar support be available via Premera, Surest or Kaiser?

If you enroll on the Health Savings Plan for 2026, you will have access to Premera Personal Health Support Clinicians. Premera will reach out to assist those members with the transition.

Additionally, all enrollees in the Health Savings Plan and Surest Plan will also have access to the Embold Health Provider Guide, a tool that helps you find highly rated healthcare providers in your area and insurance network.

To learn more about what's new and changing for 2026, visit our Open Enrollment home page.

Active US employees can go to aka.ms/BenefitsEnroll during the Open Enrollment period, November 3rd-21st.