These new benefits apply to ALL teammates as we harmonize across the enterprise, including IL and WI Division teammates. Teammates will not be able to access these benefits or the InStride portal to begin applications until January 15, 2026. This is a preview of the upcoming new Education Assistance Benefits for teammates.
Advocate Health is excited to introduce InStride as our new education assistance benefits vendor—bringing a fresh, unified approach to supporting your personal and professional growth. Starting in 2026, teammates will benefit from a more flexible, accessible and empowering suite of education programs designed to meet you where you are in your career journey.
This includes:
We are currently in a blackout period until Thursday, January 15, 2026. During this time, teammates will not have access to the previous vendor, Bright Horizons EdAssist, or the new vendor, InStride. If you have an open application with Bright Horizons, please wait until Jan. 15 to submit or restart applications on the new vendor platform with InStride.
Teammates should not reach out to Bright Horizons EdAssist for appeals regarding the missed Oct. 31 deadline.
Starting Thursday, January 15, these new Education Assistance Benefits will be available for all eligible teammates across the enterprise. Advocate Health’s Education Assistance Benefit gives teammates access to a range of flexible learning programs designed to remove financial barriers, expand access to education and support growth at every stage of your career.
Visit the education assistance eligibility page for more information.
| Maximum Benefit Amount |
Eligibility | Covered Expenses | |
| InStride Upfront Tuition | $5,250 Full-Time / $2,625 Part-Time | All active Full-Time and Part-Time teammates; PRN not eligible | Tuition |
| Tuition Reimbursement | $5,250 Full-Time / $2,625 Part-Time | All active Full-Time and Part-Time teammates; PRN not eligible |
Tuition, exams, books, course-related fees |
| Continuing Education Program | $1,500 annually | All active teammates, including PRN | CEU course fees, exam fees and registration |
| Direct Pay Program* (New Prepaid Tuition Assistance Program + InStride Network Schools) |
$5,250 Full-Time / $2,625 Part-Time | All active Full-Time and Part-Time teammates; PRN not eligible | Tuition, books, fees |
| Workforce Development Program* |
$5,250 Full-Time and Part-Time |
All active Full-Time, Part-Time and PRN. Eligible teammates must be in a Workforce Development program. |
Tuition, books, fees |
| Nursing Preferred Partner Program* |
$7,500 Full-Time / $3,750 Part-Time (gross-up provided) |
Full-Time and Part-Time RNs; PRN not eligible | Tuition, books, fees |
| Nursing Voucher Program* |
$5,250 Full-Time / $2,625 Part-Time |
All active RNs, including PRN teammates |
Certification exam fees, prep courses, required study materials |
| Loan Support |
Up to $5,250 Full-Time (lifetime max $21,000) / Up to $2,625 Part-Time (lifetime max $10, 500) per year |
Med Surg nursing, Imaging and Respiratory Therapy roles are eligible. Non-Med Surg nursing roles and leaders who were previously enrolled as of Oct. 31, 2025, will be grandfathered into the program. |
Existing student loan debt |
As part of ongoing efforts to streamline benefit programs and enhance teammate experience, certain legacy workforce development initiatives will be consolidated under new InStride programs. Not every previous program has an exact equivalent in the new benefit structure. Although names may change, the majority of benefit amounts will remain unchanged or increase.
| Previous Program (EdAssist) | New Program with InStride |
|
Education Assistance Program |
Tuition Reimbursement Tuition Reimbursement InStride Upfront Tuition or Tuition Reimbursement Tuition Reimbursement Advocate Health Direct Pay Network Advocate Health Direct Pay Network Advocate Health Direct Pay Network Legacy Direct Pay Workforce Development Upskilling Pathways Nursing Preferred Partner Workforce Development Upskilling Pathways Workforce Development Upskilling Pathways Workforce Development Upskilling Pathways Nursing Preferred Partner Nursing Voucher Nursing Voucher Nursing Voucher Continuing Education Reimbursement Continuing Education Reimbursement |
Still have questions? Review these FAQs. More tools and resources, including webinars, will be available in the coming weeks to help teammates transition to their exciting new education benefits. Please email EdAssistHR@advocatehealth.org for urgent matters.
