Life Events
If you have a life change, such as getting married or having a baby, you should make sure your benefit coverage continues to match your needs. In most cases, you cannot change your benefit elections until the next annual Open Enrollment period. If the event occurs during the year, special rules apply to changing coverage.
There are generally two categories of life event changes:
Changes in your / your spouses employment status of benefits
Such as:
- Gain/loss of full time status affecting level of benefit coverage
- Spouse gaining/losing employment
Such as:
- Marriage
- Divorce
- Birth/Adoption
- Death
Examples of Events
You may change your elections during the year if you experience one of the following qualified life event changes:
Legal Marital Status – Events that change your legal marital status, including marriage, death, divorce, legal separation (according to state law) or annulment
Number of Dependents – Events that change the number of your eligible dependents, including birth, adoption, foster care, placement for adoption or death of a dependent
Employment Status – Events that change your employment status, or the employment status of your spouse/domestic partner or dependent, including termination of employment; a change in worksite; or any other employment status change that results in a gain or loss of eligibility under the relevant employer plan (for example, a switch from non-benefited to benefited). If your status changes from non-benefited to benefited or vice versa, your benefit costs will change
Dependent Eligibility – An event that causes the gain or loss of a dependent's eligibility for benefits
Residence – A change in where you, your spouse/domestic partner or dependent lives
To see a more comprehensive overview of the types of events and their effects on coverage, access the Qualified Life Experience Table here.
Consistency Rule
Any election change you make must satisfy the "consistency rule", and you may be asked to provide supporting documentation for all life event changes.
The consistency rule means that you can only change benefits that are directly linked to the qualified change you experience. For example, if you have or adopt a child you can add a new dependent to your coverage. However, you cannot change your medical plan election when you have or adopt a child since the life event does not have a direct impact on your coverage choice.
The following table lists some common life event changes and the types of benefit adjustments you may request in each situation.
If you have a Qualified Event or Family Status Change and want to make benefit changes during the year:
- You must make any benefit changes within 30 days of the qualified event.
- Most life event changes can be made online using the PlanSource Enrollment System within 30 days following the date of the event. There are a few life event changes (for example, divorce) which will require the help of your HR Manager.
- You may be required to provide proof of eligibility for any qualified life event to substantiate your changes. This may include marriage license, death certificate, birth certificate or other documentation.
