Life Events - Changing Benefits

The only time employees can make changes to benefits outside of Open Enrollment period is when they have a Qualifying Life Event. Employees have 31 days from the date of their qualifying life event to notify the City's benefits team, submit supporting documentation, and submit benefit changes online. 

Examples of Qualifying life events include:

• Marriage
• Divorce
• Birth or adoption of child
• Death of spouse or dependent child
• Employment status change for you or your spouse
• Change in a child’s dependent status
• Entitlement to Medicare or Medicaid

Early notification on any life event is encouraged to ensure timely processing with insurance carriers and notice of changes in benefit deductions to Payroll.

Our Plan contracts have a 31-day grace period to allow for employees to make benefit changes. All supporting documentation and benefit changes must be submitted within this period. If the grace period has passed, employees will have to wait to make changes at the next Open Enrollment or until they are within 31 days of another qualifying life event.

Life event benefit changes are typically effective the first of the month following the date of the life event change. However, if the life event is a birth of child, the change is effective from the child's date of birth forward. When employees send notice of their life event, our team will clarify the effective date of any benefits change based on the supporting documentation submitted.

Documents and Links Related to Life Events and Benefit Changes

• Life Events and Documentation Needed - Summary (PDF)
• Types of Supporting Documentation for Life Events (PDF)
• New Baby and Leave of Absence