Benefits Administration

Our benefit plans are effective January 1st through December 31st of each year except for the flexible spending account (see FSA section on page 18). There is an annual open enrollment period each year, during which you can make new benefit elections for the following January 1st effective date. Once you make your benefit elections, you cannot change them during the year unless you experience a qualifying event as defined by the IRS. Examples include, but are not limited to the following:

• Marriage, divorce, legal separation or annulment
• Birth or adoption of a child
• A qualified medical child support order
• Death of a spouse or child
• A change in your dependent’s eligibility status
• Loss of coverage from another health plan
• Change in your residence or workplace (if your benefit options change)
• Loss of coverage through Medicaid or Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP)
• Becoming eligible for a state’s premium assistance program under Medicaid or CHIP

Coverage for a new dependent is not automatic. If you experience a qualifying event, you have 30 days to update your coverage. You may login to Ease portal to update your dependent information as needed. Ease login information is located on page 24 of this guide. If you do not update your coverage within 30 days from the qualifying event, you must wait until the next annual open enrollment period to update your coverage.
*Please note Short Term Disability benefit are excluded in statutory states (CA, HI, NJ, NY, RI).