Dependent Changes

Submitted by mgmarti on
Introduction
Dependent changes qualify as qualifying events. That means when you have one of these life changes you don’t have to wait until open enrollment to make benefits changes. You can make them any time throughout the year.
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Dependent changes include:

  • Adding a child (or children) from birth or adoption
  • Dropping a child so they can enroll on your spouse’s plan
  • Losing eligibility after a dependent turns a certain age
  • Death of a dependent

Dependent changes allow you to enroll yourself, your new child, and eligible dependents not already on your policy, specifically:

  • Medical, dental, and vision benefits
  • Health Flexible Spending Account (FSA) and Dependent FSA
  • Group supplemental life insurance and Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D) insurance

Any coverage changes must be consistent with the dependent change. For example, if adding a dependent, you may change your Employee Only coverage to Employee Plus Spouse or Family, but you many not switch from Basic to Comprehensive Dental plans.

What to Know and Do

  • Log into Workday to make changes to your benefits.
  • You have 31 days from the qualifying event date to make changes to your benefits.
  • Provide documentation confirming the eligibility of any dependents (.pdf) you enroll in the plan as a result of a qualifying event. You have 31 days from date of hire or date of qualifying event to provide the required documentation supporting the event. 
  • Submit the required documentation to Human Resources through Employee Center before changes are effective.
  • Documentation to support the qualifying event is required and benefit updates are not entered until the documentation has been received by Human Resources.
  • You will be required to confirm or update your tobacco-use status when you make benefit changes due to a qualifying event.
  • When you drop a dependent due to a qualifying event, this may make the dependent eligible for COBRA coverage.  Once the change has been made in Workday, a COBRA packet will be mailed to your home.  (Waiting until Open Enrollment to drop a dependent does not make them eligible for COBRA coverage.)