Benefits

Changing Benefit Elections

You may change your benefit elections during the annual Open Enrollment period or during the year if you experience a Qualifying Life Event. A Life Event change permits employees to make certain mid-year benefit changes consistent with the qualifying event.

You must consult your Benefits Administrator within 30 calendar days from the date of the event to make changes.

Qualifying Life Events include, but are not limited to:

• Changes in employee's marital status; marriage, divorce, legal separation, annulment, death of spouse.
• Changes in dependent status; birth, adoption, placement for adoption, death or dependent eligibility due to age, marriage or student status.
• Changes in employment status or work schedule that affect benefits eligibility; employee, spouse, dependent.
• Changes in residence that affect available plan options; employee, spouse, dependent.

Please click on the event below for further information on a Life Event and to see what documentation is required to make changes.

Qualifying Life Events

Marriage
Within 31 days of the date of marriage, you may add your spouse to your existing medical, dental, or vision coverage, or drop your coverage to go on your spouse's plan. You may also elect to change your medical FSA amount, and elect spouse coverage under our various life and elect spouse coverage under our various life insurance plans. You will need to complete the appropriate forms and provide a copy of your certified marriage certificate. You should also review your beneficiary designations for life insurance, retirement savings, and pension plans.

Divorce
Within 31 days of the date the divorce decree is signed, or in the event of a legal separation, you may elect any coverage you are losing under your spouse's plan. If you currently cover your spouse, you must drop his or her coverage for medical, dental, vision, and group term life, although you may continue to cover your children. You may also elect to change your medical FSA amount. You will need to complete the appropriate forms and provide a copy of the first and last pages of your certified divorce decree. You should also review your beneficiary designations for life insurance, retirement savings, and pension plans. Prior to the final decree, you may not drop a spouse except during Open Enrollment.

Birth or adoption of a child, or having a child placed in your custody or guardianship through the court
Within 31 days of the birth, adoption (official placement or final decree), or court order, you may add the child to your existing medical, dental, or vision coverage, or drop your coverage to go on your spouse's plan. You may elect to change your medical FSA amount, and start or change a dependent care FSA. You may also elect child life insurance. You will need to complete the appropriate forms and provide a copy of the certified birth certificate, adoption placement order or decree, or court order.

Death of a spouse or covered dependent
Within 31 days of the death, you may elect any coverage you are losing under your spouse's plan. If you currently cover your deceased dependent, you must drop his or her coverage for medical, dental, or vision although you may continue to cover the rest of your family. You may also elect to change your medical and dependent care FSA amounts. Again, you should review your beneficiary designations for life insurance, retirement savings, and pension plans. You will need to complete the appropriate forms and provide a copy of the certified death certificate.

Becoming eligible (or losing eligipility) for Medicare or Medicaid
Within 31 days of the eligibility change, you may add or drop medical, dental, or vision coverage for yourself or the applicable family member. You may also elect to change your medical FSA amount. You will need to complete the appropriate forms and provide a copy of the notification letter from Medicare or Medicaid.

If your spouse's employment status changes causing a gain or loss of eligibility for coverage
Within 31 days of the date of the status change, you may elect medical, dental, or vision coverage, or drop your coverage to go on your spouse's plan. You may also elect to change your medical FSA amount. You will need to complete the appropriate forms and provide a letter from your spouse's employer on their letterhead verifying the effective date of the change, listing all coverage being gained or lost, and listing all covered individuals.

Change in a spouses employer causing gain or loss of coverage
Within 31 days of the separation or the new hire date, you may elect medical, dental, or vision coverage, or drop your coverage to go on your spouse's plan. You may also elect to change your medical FSA amount. You will need to complete the appropriate forms and provide a letter from your spouse's employer on their letterhead verifying the effective date of the change, listing all coverage being gained or lost, and listing all covered individuals.

A change in residence to an area not covered by your current option
Within 31 days of the move, you may change your Option only to a plan that covers the area to which you moved.

If your spouse changes coverage during his/her employer's Open Enrollment period
Within 31 days of the Open Enrollment, you may elect medical, dental, or vision coverage, or drop your coverage to go on your spouse's plan. You will need to complete the appropriate forms and provide a letter from your spouse's employer on their letterhead verifying the effective date of the change, listing all coverage being gained or lost, and listing all covered individuals.

If a Qualified Medical Child Support Order is established for a dependent
Within 31 days of the order, you may add the child to your existing medical, dental, or vision coverage. You will need to complete the appropriate forms and provide a copy of the Qualified Medical Child Support Order.