What are Qualifying Life Events?
Changes in benefits are usually only allowed during the annual enrollment period. However, during the plan year, if you have a qualified change in status that affects you or your dependents’ eligibility under your employer’s plans, you may make certain changes your benefit coverage.
If you’re eligible to make coverage changes, your changes must be consistent with the change in status. They must also match any changes your spouse or child makes to his or her coverage under another employer’s plans. You must log onto MYPortal site within 30 days of a qualifying life event.
Important: It is your responsibility to initiate and follow through with the change in benefits. You may change your benefits midyear due to any of the events listed below. If you miss the 30 day window, you will have to wait until the next open enrollment period to make a change. Changes include adding new dependents to your existing plans or dropping your coverage if you will be covered under your spouses plan.
Here are the situations that qualify as a change in status.
Your legal marital status changes:
- Marriage
- Divorce, legal separation, or annulment
- Death of your spouse
The number of your eligible children changes:
- Birth or adoption of a child
- Child gains or loses eligibility for coverage under the plan
- Death of a child
Your benefits eligibility changes because of:
- Taking or returning from a leave of absence
- A change in work schedule or status that causes you to gain or lose eligibility
Your family member’s benefits eligibility changes because of:
- A change in his or her eligibility or coverage under another employer’s plans
- A change in work schedule or status that causes him or her to gain or lose eligibility
- He or she gains a benefit option or loses coverage
- He or she makes new coverage choices during his or her employer’s annual enrollment
- You or your family member’s COBRA coverage from another employer expires
- You or your family member becomes eligible for or loses Medicare or Medicaid
- You or your family member loses coverage under a government’s or educational institution’s plan