Birth of Child(ren)
Certain qualifying life events allow you to make changes in benefits that otherwise are not possible until the annual Open Enrollment period. This summary outlines the benefit plan changes you may need to make as a result of your child(ren)'s birth. Please be sure to make your changes by completing and submitting the appropriate forms to Human Resources within 31 days of the birth of your child(ren). If you do not add your child(ren) within 31 days of the event, you will need to wait until the next Open Enrollment period.
Required Forms and Documentation
- Medical/Dental/Vision Insurance Enrollment Application
- Birth Certificate (Copy)
- Employee's Evidence of Insurability (If increasing Life Insurance coverage)
- Group Life, Dependent Life & Travel Accident Beneficiary Designation
Medical/Prescription Drug and Dental
If you are already enrolled in a University medical and/or dental plan, you may add your child(ren) to your current plan upon providing documentation indicating the date of your child(ren)'s birth. If you are not currently enrolled in a University medical and/or dental plan, you may elect coverage at this time for yourself and your family.
Life Insurance
This is a good time to reevaluate your life insurance coverage to ensure that you have proper coverage to accommodate the change in your family. You may elect to change your optional or dependent life insurance coverage(s) and/or change your life insurance beneficiary(ies) at this time. This change may require that you complete an Evidence of Insurability form.
Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)
You may want to reconsider your participation in Flexible Spending Accounts by either signing up now or changing the amount of your contributions. If you are already participating, you may want to increase your Health Care FSA contribution to pay for your child's out-of-pocket health care expenses and/or your Dependent Care FSA contribution should your child require day care.
Retirement Programs
This is a good time to review your retirement programs, investment elections, and contribution amounts to make sure they reflect your new financial goals. You may wish to update or change your beneficiary(ies) as well. This may be done by accessing the investment company's web site.
