Ownership Submission
FORM 4
Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).
UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES

Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Section 17(a) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940
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(Print or Type Responses)
1. Name and Address of Reporting Person *
Jenkins Shawn A
  2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
Benefitfocus,Inc. [BNFT]
5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)
__X__ Director _____ 10% Owner
_____ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below)
(Last)
(First)
(Middle)
100 BENEFITFOCUS WAY
3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year)
01/01/2018
(Street)

CHARLESTON, SC 29492
4. If Amendment, Date Original Filed(Month/Day/Year)
6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing(Check Applicable Line)
_X_ Form filed by One Reporting Person
___ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person
(City)
(State)
(Zip)
Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
1.Title of Security
(Instr. 3)
2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 3. Transaction Code
(Instr. 8)
4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D)
(Instr. 3, 4 and 5)
5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s)
(Instr. 3 and 4)
6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 4)
7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 4)
Code V Amount (A) or (D) Price
Common Stock 01/01/2018   A   1,872 (1) A $ 0 2,784,555 D  

Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.
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Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
(e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivative Security
(Instr. 3)
2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security 3. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 4. Transaction Code
(Instr. 8)
5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D)
(Instr. 3, 4, and 5)
6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date
(Month/Day/Year)
7. Title and Amount of Underlying Securities
(Instr. 3 and 4)
8. Price of Derivative Security
(Instr. 5)
9. Number of Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s)
(Instr. 4)
10. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 4)
11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 4)
Code V (A) (D) Date Exercisable Expiration Date Title Amount or Number of Shares
Performance Restricted Stock Units (2)               (2) 12/31/2017 Common Stock 40,000   40,000 D  
Performance Restricted Stock Units (3)               (3) 04/01/2018 Common Stock 11,120   11,120 D  
Performance Restricted Stock Units (4)               (4) 04/01/2021 Common Stock 50,043   50,043 D  

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address Relationships
 Director  10% Owner  Officer  Other
Jenkins Shawn A
100 BENEFITFOCUS WAY
CHARLESTON, SC 29492
  X      

Signatures

 /s/ S. Halle Vakani, Attorney-in-Fact   01/03/2018
**Signature of Reporting Person Date

Explanation of Responses:

* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4(b)(v).
** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations. See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
(1) Represents an award of Issuer common stock granted pursuant to the Reporting Person's employment agreement with the Issuer effective January 1, 2018.
(2) Each performance restricted stock unit ("PRSU") represents a contingent right to receive one share of Issuer common stock. The maximum number of PRSUs is presented in the table. PRSUs vest upon the achievement of adjusted EBITDA and compounded annual revenue growth rate goals during the period of January 1, 2015 through December 31, 2017. Vesting of the target level PRSUs will accelerate upon death or disability in an amount equal to the proportion of days in the performance period worked. Vesting of the target PRSUs may also accelerate in certain circumstances if there is a change in control of the Issuer during the performance period.
(3) Each PRSU represents a contingent right to receive one share of Issuer common stock. The maximum number of PRSUs is presented in the table. A percentage of the PRSUs will vest upon the achievement of annual revenue goals and free cash flow goals, all subject to a minimum adjusted EBITDA level, during the period of January 1, 2017 through December 31, 2017. Vesting of the target level PRSUs will accelerate upon death or disability in an amount equal to the proportion of days in the performance period worked. Vesting of the target PRSUs may also accelerate in certain circumstances if there is a change in control of the Issuer during the performance period.
(4) Each PRSU represents a contingent right to receive one share of Issuer common stock. The maximum number of PRSUs is presented in the table. The PRSUs will vest upon the achievement of annual recurring revenue bookings percentage growth goals during the period of January 1, 2017 through December 31, 2017, such vesting to occur in four equal annual installments beginning on April 1, 2018, if the performance metrics are met. Vesting of the target level PRSUs will accelerate upon death or disability in an amount equal to the proportion of days in the performance period worked. Vesting of the target PRSUs may also accelerate in certain circumstances if there is a change in control of the Issuer during the performance period.

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