Since all benefits are paid for with pre-tax dollars, you may only make changes under limited circumstances according to plan rules and IRS regulations. These changes must be made within 30 days from the qualifying event date.

Examples of qualified events may include:

• Marriage, divorce or death of a spouse.
• Birth, adoption or death of a child.
• Spouse’s employment or termination of a spouse’s employment.
• An unpaid leave of absence for either the employee or the spouse.
• The employee or spouse changes work status from part time to full time, or full time to part time.
• Medical Reimbursement - Significant changes made to your health care plan or your spouse’s health care plan.
• Dependent Care Reimbursement - The rate charged by your care provider changes or your dependent no longer requires care.
• Annual enrollment under another employer’s plan

Please note that qualifying events allow you to make changes to your existing coverage, however it does not allow you to change your current insurance plans. 

If you experience a qualifying event, within 30 days of the event, log onto the Employee Benefits Center and navigate to the Qualifying event section. You will be asked to complete a simple questionnaire and may be required to furnish supporting documentation to the Employee Benefits Department.

Upon approval and completion of processing your election change request, your existing benefit election will be stopped or modified accordingly.

Additions due to a qualifying event become effective on the first of the month following the date of the event.  (Example – An employee is married on August 8, 2008, and adds the spouse.  The spouse’s effective date will be September 1, 2008).  Exception – Newborns**, adoption, court ordered placements are retroactive to the date. 
** Newborns are not automatically enrolled.  You must enroll the dependent within 30 days, even if your current coverage includes family.

If you elect to drop coverage, the effective date of the termination will be the last day of the month that the change occurred.  (Example – An employee is divorced on September 12, 2008 and drops the spouse from coverage.  The date of termination for the spouse will be September 30, 2008).

If your election change(s) is denied, you do have the option to file an appeal.  Appeals must also be received within 30 days of the time you are notified of the denial.  Your appeal will be reviewed by a third party.  If approved you will be notified of the decision and if applicable, arrangements must be made to pay any past due premiums.  Appeals should include:  the employee’s name, copy of the denied request, the denial letter you received, the reason you think it should not be denied, and any additional documents, information and comments you think will have bearing on your appeal.  PLEASE NOTE: APPEALS ARE APPROVED ONLY IF EXTENUATING CIRCUMSTANCES AND SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION ARE WITHIN IRS REGULATIONS GOVERNING THE PLAN. 

For any employee with a job termination for certain reasons, the following applies:

• Termination followed by re-hire within 30 days - you may resume same benefits you had prior to termination.
• Termination followed by rehire after 30 days - you may make new benefit elections.

Employee Benefits Center

Employee Benefits Booklet 2009-2010
is in PDF format.
Click on picture below to download Acrobat.