Qualifying Events

Benefits Eligible Employees are able to make mid year changes, outside of open enrollment, if they experience a qualifying event. A qualifying event, as defined by the IRS is:

• Loss of health coverage

  • Losing existing health coverage, including job-based, individual, and student plans

  • Losing eligibility for Medicare, Medicaid, or CHIP

  • Turning 26 and losing coverage through a parent’s plan

• Changes in household

  • Getting married or divorced

  • Having a baby or adopting a child

  • Death in the family

• Changes in residence

  • Moving to a different ZIP code or county

  • A student moving to or from the place they attend school

  • A seasonal worker moving to or from the place they both live and work

  • Moving to or from a shelter or other transitional housing

• Other qualifying events

  • Changes in your income that affect the coverage you qualify for

  • Gaining membership in a federally recognized tribe or status as an Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA) Corporation shareholder

  • Becoming a U.S. citizen

  • Leaving incarceration (jail or prison)

  • AmeriCorps members starting or ending their service

• Status Change

  • Moving from a non benefits eligible position to a benefits eligible position

  • Moving from a benefits eligible position to a non benefits eligible position

When an employee experiences a life event, they must report that event, within 30 days of the event, to the benefits team in ESS. Once we receive the event, we will open their elections in ESS to allow for changes. We email the employee through their CCS email that the elections are open. Once the elections have been submitted, the benefits team processes the changes and communicates those changes to each vendor.

If an employee experiences a status change, the benefits team will proactively open benefits or terminate based on the change.