life happens
“The only constant in life is change.”
- HERACLITUS
There are times when life changes unexpectedly. And when it does, those changes may occur outside the yearly open enrollment period. To accommodate expected and unexpected life events, special enrollment periods ensure you always receive essential health insurance coverage during qualifying life events.
What are qualifying life events?
Certain changes in your life situation are known as qualifying life events, like becoming newly married, divorced or legally separated, having a baby or adopting a child, involuntarily losing other insurance coverage, etc. These qualifying events give you the opportunity to make changes to your enrollment and adding or dropping dependents.
What changes can I make?
Changes you can make depend the actual event. Here are some examples:
MARRIAGE
Option to enroll your spouse and his/her dependent children within 30 days of marriage and option to change medical plan.
divorce / legal separation
You MUST terminate coverage for your spouse and his/her dependent children within 30 days of divorce, legal separation, or annulment.
BIRTH / ADOPTION
Option to enroll your child(ren) within 60 days of birth, adoption, or placement for adoption and option to change medical plan.
iNVOLUNTARY LOSS OF OTHER COVERAGE
Option to enroll your spouse and/or dependents within 30 days of loss of coverage.
we need to hear from you!
It’s important you contact HR if you experience a life event as soon as possible. Timely notification will ensure that your loved ones are covered or, in the event of a divorce or legal separation, your ex-spouse is terminated and is offered continuation rights under COBRA. If we don’t hear from you, you may delay health care coverage for new dependents until next open enrollment, or in the event of a divorce or legal separation, you may become responsible for your ex-spouse’s health care claims.