Employees need to know the answers to the following three questions:
- As a new employee, when do I have to get enrolled for benefits?
- When do I need to contact the benefits office because of a status change?
- Why is the number 31 so important to remember?
The answer to the third question will cover the first two as well.
First — 31 is the number of days new employees have to enroll for benefits (31 days from their hire date or the date they are in a benefits eligible position, NOT the effective date of their insurance);
The 31-day deadline is an IRS regulation, therefore, if the deadline is missed you cannot enroll, or make changes to your benefits, until the next re-enrollment period (mid-November to early December each year).
It’s also the number of days employees have to contact the benefits office in case of a status change. The completed benefits forms associated with the change must be received in the benefits office no later than 31 days from the actual date of the status change.
A status change includes:
- Marriage;
- Divorce, legal separation or annulment;
- Birth of a child (you must complete benefits forms for a new baby, even if you already have family coverage);
- Adoption or legal guardianship of a child;
- Change in employment status or work schedulem, which results in a gain or loss of coverage eligibility for you or your spouse;
- Change in coverage under spouse’s employers’ benefits plan, if substantial (This will be reviewed on a case by case basis; documentation of the change in coverage must be submitted with the completed benefits forms.); and/or
- Spouse has a different enrollment period at their place of employment.
Please remember that you must complete the required form(s) and get them to the benefits office within 31 days from the status change in order for the changes to be effective. In most cases, documentation of the status change must also be provided. Please contact the benefits office for more information.
If you have questions contact one of the benefits staff listed below.
- Jo Watkins at 559-4340
- Dana Teeters at 559-5911
- Jan Ortmann at 559-7403
- Jayme Nekuda, Ph.D., at 559-8962