Life Events

Benefit Changes & Enrollment

If you pay your medical, dental and vision premiums with pre-tax dollars, you can only make benefits changes during open enrollment or within 31 days of a qualifying life event.

Qualifying life events include birth/adoption, divorce/legal separation, marriage, changes in employment status (going to part-time/full-time), termination of employment, becoming age 65 (Medicare-eligible), retiring, death, loss of eligibility for other coverage or employer contributions for other coverage ending, a dependent reaching age 26, or a Qualified Medical Child Support Order (from a court of law) indicating you must provide coverage for a dependent.

If you have any of these qualifying life events, you can:

• Add or remove dependents from medical, dental or vision coverage; and/or
• Increase or decrease your Healthcare and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account elections.

Update your coverage by completing the applicable benefit change form.

Dependents

Employment Status Changes

Generally, if you change from full-time to part-time, part-time to full-time, or end employment due to retirement, termination or a leave of absence, you can change your benefit elections. If any of these qualifying life events occur, you can:

• Add or remove medical, dental and vision coverage. (Note: If you remove benefits coverage during a leave of absence, coverage can be reinstated when you return to work);
• Continue benefits through retiree coverage, if eligible; or
• Transfer coverage to a spouse if he or she also works for the University.

Termination of Employment

If you are covered by the University’s medical, dental and/or vision plans when you end your employment with the University, including resignation, retirement or termination, you may continue coverage at your own expense under the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA).

If your employment ends, you will be contacted by WageWorks about your COBRA rights and the cost of COBRA coverage.

Certain other benefits, including life and disability insurance, can be continued by paying premiums directly to the provider or by converting your coverage to a private policy.

Effective Date of Coverage Changes

As long as you meet the 31-day enrollment deadline, medical, dental and vision coverage changes will be effective as follows:

• If you are removing coverage for your spouse and dependents due to divorce or legal separation, changes are effective the later of the date of divorce/separation or the date benefit change forms are received by your campus Human Resources Department.
• If you are adding coverage for your spouse and dependents, it begins the first day of the month following the date your campus Human Resources Department receives your completed benefit change forms and any additional required documentation.

For more information about life events, making changes to your coverage, and required documentation, contact your campus Human Resources Department.