Enrolling in Benefits
You are eligible if you are a part-time employee working 0.6 – 0.8 FTE or a full-time employee working 0.9 – 1.0 FTE. New hire coverage begins on the first of the month following 60 days from date of hire. You must enroll within 60 days of becoming eligible.
Employees with status change from ineligible (0.1 – 0.5 FTE) to benefit eligible status (0.6 – 1.0 FTE) must enroll for coverage within 30 days from the date of status change. For coverage to be effective, the online enrollment must be completed within the 30-day period.
You have 30 days to make changes after a Qualified Life Event.
Eligible Dependents
When you enroll yourself in medical, dental, and/or vision coverage, you may also cover your eligible dependents, including:
- Legally married spouse.
- Registered Domestic Partner (RDP), where applicable by state law, is eligible for coverage if you have filed a Certificate of Domestic Partner Affidavit. Review the Affidavit carefully because it will include important information regarding the guidelines for adding, ending, or changing your domestic partner.
- Natural, adopted, or stepchildren, or children of a domestic partner, up to age 26.
- Children over age 26 who are disabled and depend on you for support.
- Children named in a Qualified Medical Child Support Order (QMCSO).
Making Changes After Open Enrollment
After Open Enrollment ends, you cannot change your benefits and will have to wait until the next Open Enrollment—unless you experience a Qualified Life Event (such as marriage, birth, or loss of coverage).
Common Qualified Life Events Include
- Change in legal marital status
- Change in number of dependents or dependent eligibility status
- Change in employment status that affects eligibility for you, your spouse, or dependent child(ren)
- Change in residence that affects access to network providers
- Change in your health coverage or your spouse’s coverage due to your spouse’s employment
- Change in an individual’s eligibility for Medicare or Medicaid
- Court order requiring coverage for your child
- “Special enrollment event” under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), including a new dependent by marriage, birth or adoption, or loss of coverage under another health insurance plan
- Event allowed under the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) Reauthorization Act (you have 60 days to request enrollment due to events allowed under CHIP).