You must complete enrollment within 30 days of date of hire. If you miss the 30 day window, you must wait for open enrollment period to enroll in health coverage.  

Open Enrollment is the one time during each year that benefit-eligible employees may change their benefit plan choices and re-enroll in a different plan. This occurs once each year, and changes may not be made at any other time unless there is a “qualifying life event.” New employees do not have to wait for the annual Open Enrollment period, as they enroll shortly after the start of employment.

A qualifying life event is a change in your situation that can make you eligible for a Special Enrollment Period, allowing you to enroll in health insurance outside the yearly Open Enrollment Period.

Examples of these changes include; changes in family size due to marriage, divorce, having a baby, adoption, or death. Other examples of qualifying life events are; loss of health coverage, moving out of state, or certain changes in your income.

It is the employee’s responsibility to notify the Benefits department within 30 days of a qualifying life event. If the employee misses the 30 day window, they must wait for open enrollment period to enroll in health coverage. 

You have 30 days from the date of birth of a newborn (or during open enrollment)  to add your baby to your plans. Please call the Benefits Department to add your baby within this timeframe. A certificated copy of the birth certificate will be required. 

Child dependents will be covered through the end of the month in which they turn 26. Effective the first day of the following month, they will no longer be covered.