Eligibility & Qualifying Life Events
Learn who qualifies for coverage, when it begins, and how to make changes during the year.
Eligibility & Qualifying Life Events
When Coverage Begins
August 1, 2026 for Open Enrollment; 31st day of continuous employment for new hires (Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, AD&D); 91st day of continuous employment for STD and LTD
Eligible Dependents
- Spouse/Partner: Legal spouse (does not apply if legally separated or divorced). Includes spouse who is unemployed or employed but without healthcare benefits available through their employer.
- Children: Children from birth to age 26 for Medical, Vision, and Supplemental Life. For Dental, children to age 19; if a full-time student, then to age 26. Includes natural, legally adopted, stepchildren, and unmarried dependent children of any age who are mentally or physically disabled and dependent on the employee for support.
Qualifying Life Events
- Birth, legal adoption, or placement for adoption
- Marital status change
- Dependent child has their 26th birthday
- Spouse gains or loses employment or eligibility with current employer
- You or your spouse's employment status changes from full-time to part-time or vice versa
- You or your spouse takes an unpaid leave of absence
- Your spouse has a significant change in health coverage directly attributable to your spouse's employment
- Entitlement or loss of coverage under premium subsidies plans from a state (60 days)
- Death of a covered dependent
- Spouse or dependent becomes eligible or ineligible for Medicare/Medicaid or SCHIP
- Court-ordered change
Changes to your coverage due to a qualifying life event must be made within 30 days of that life event. Proof of the qualifying life event is required (marriage certificate, divorce decree, birth certificate, or loss of coverage letter). Any change must be consistent with the change in status.
Enrollment
- Enroll through UltiPro.
- Paper forms are required for FSA and HSA elections.
- New hires must enroll within 30 days.
- Qualifying life event changes must be made within 30 days.