Most individuals go through a number of life events that affect their health benefit needs and the choices they make. There are several important federal laws that affect their benefits under a job-based health plan. While employees, in general, are only allowed to change their benefits elections during the open enrollment period, certain life events provide an exception or a Qualified Life Event. Those life events allow employees to change their benefits elections in the middle of the plan year as long as certain requirements are met. The following are examples of types of life events that may allow an employee to change their benefit elections during a plan year:
- Birth/Adoption
- Change in Insurance Coverage
- Change of Address
- Change in Employment Status
- Death in the Family
- Dependent Child Reaches Limiting Age
- Divorce/Annulment
- FMLA-related Leave
- Legal Separation
- Marriage
- Spouse Loss of Other Coverage
The provided infographic can be used to help educate employees on how benefits can be amended mid-year through qualified life events.