What’s New in 2026

What’s New and Changing for 2026

• Employee contributions are increasing slightly for 2026 and will vary based on your annual salary range. As a reminder, employee contributions for healthcare are designed to support our commitment to fair and equitable pay across the organization with tiered contributions based on income level. Although healthcare costs in the U.S. continue to rise, Mattel is committed to keeping these increases reasonable for employees.
• Deductibles are increasing slightly for the Anthem High-Deductible Health Plan in accordance with updated IRS rules, increasing by $50/year for employee-only coverage and by $100/year for family coverage.
• Spousal surcharge is increasing in 2026 from $70/month to $100/month. This surcharge applies to spouses and domestic partners who are eligible for medical coverage through their own employer, but who elect to enroll in a Mattel medical plan.
• The annual contribution limit for certain spending accounts is increasing:
  • The Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account (FSA) limit is increasing to $7,500/year. Employees classified as “highly compensated” by the IRS (with annual salary of $160,000 or above) have a contribution limit of $2,500/year.
  • The Health Savings Account (HSA) limit is increasing to $4,400/year for employee-only coverage and $8,750/year for family coverage.
• The Aetna DMO dental plan is being replaced by DeltaCare DMO to improve overall access and coverage.
• New benefit coming soon: Cancer screening with Color. In 2026, eligible Mattel employees and their adult dependents will have access to convenient, at-home cancer screening tests through Color. This new service is paid for by Mattel, at no cost to you. Employees need to be enrolled in a Mattel medical plan to be eligible for this benefit. Stay tuned for more details on Color and how to access.
• Enhancements to Maven: This year, Mattel launched Maven, a fertility and family-building resource available to all benefits-eligible employees globally. Stay tuned for additional enhancements coming in March 2026.
• Eligibility for retiree benefits is changing from age 55 with 5 years of service to age 55 with 10 years of service, so our program remains current and in line with industry practices.