My Spouse/Dependent is Changing or Losing Coverage
A Qualified Life Event - Information and Support for Faculty and Staff
A spouse or dependent gaining, changing, or losing coverage allows you to make changes to your insurance plans as it is a qualified life event.
Health, Dental, and Vision Insurance
You can make changes to your health, dental, or vision insurance within 30 days of a spouse or dependent gaining or losing eligibility for insurance. You also have the option to change from one plan option to another, or change plans all together. If you do complete a midyear change in plans, any deductible amount or amount towards your maximum out-of-pocket will transfer to your new plan. Coverage will be effective the first of the month after the effective change of coverage. Any other changes to your plan must be made during the open enrollment period.
Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) – Health Care and Dependent Care
You can change your contributions or enroll in an FSA due to a qualifying life event. Your deductions will start the month after the election is made and you are eligible to use health care FSA contributions as of the effective date of coverage. You are able to use dependent care contributions as they accrue.
Voluntary Term Life (VTL) Insurance
Eligible employees can elect/increase/decrease or de-enroll from voluntary term life for themselves, their spouse or their children due to a spouse or dependent’s change in coverage.. The premium for VTL includes accidental death and dismemberment insurance and can be calculated for each coverage amount by viewing page four of the Group Voluntary Term Life Coverage document.
Beneficiaries
- If you need to update your life insurance beneficiaries due to a qualifying life event, please use the Benefits Self-Service System.
- For IPERS beneficiaries, please log into the IPERS website to update.
- To update your TIAA beneficiaries, please log onto the TIAA website to update.
Documentation
If you decide to make changes to your benefits you will need to provide the following documentation:
- Spouse/dependent coverage status change (enrollment or termination notice, etc), or
- Spouse/dependent employment status documents (offer letter, COBRA notice, etc), or
- Letter from other employer documenting gain/loss of coverage
Benefit Enrollment
When You Can Make Changes to Your Benefits
Annual Open Enrollment
If you do not make any changes during open enrollment your coverage selection will remain the same.
Qualifying Life Event
You may also enroll, waive, or change your coverage selection based on a qualifying life event.
How to Make Changes to Your Benefits
UNI Employee Benefits Self-Service
Benefits Self-Service System is designed to help you enroll, make changes, and view your current benefit elections all in one location. For additional support, visit the Benefits Self-Service Help site.
Frequently Asked Questions
- 1Q: Can my spouse's human resources department provide a letter of the loss/gain of coverage for documentation?
1A: Yes, as long as the document states the legal name and official date of loss/gain of coverage.
- 2Q: If my spouse is changing jobs, can I add them to my coverage then remove when their new coverage becomes effective?
2A: Yes, a gain or loss of coverage is a qualified life event.