Changing Medical/Dental Enrollment
for Faculty, Staff & Librarians
Special Open Enrollment - Divorce, Dissolution of a Qualified Domestic Partnership, or Legal Separation
Where subscriber's dependent no longer meets eligibility criteria due to the subscriber's divorce, dissolution of qualified domestic partnership, or legal separation (as documented by a court order).
| Options |
Required Actions |
| If you are the subscriber and you previously waived medical insurance coverage: |
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You must enroll yourself in medical insurance coverage if you do not have other group medical coverage.
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Within 60 days of the event, submit the following documentation to the Benefits Office:
- Employee Enrollment/Change Form
- Copy of court order documenting legal separation
- Proof of Loss is required if ending coverage was not noted in the Divorce Decree
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| If you are the subscriber and you are already enrolled: |
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You must:
Remove your ex-spouse or former qualified domestic partner* when a divorce or dissolution of a domestic partnership is finalized, even if a court order requires that you provide health insurance for the ex-spouse or former partner. Consequences for not removing the ex-spouse or former partner's coverage may include:
- Dependent's loss of eligibility to continue enrollment under one of the continuation options (i.e. COBRA)
- Subscriber may be billed for claims paid by the health plan for services after the dependent lost eligibility
- Subscriber is responsible for premiums paid by the employer for the dependent's health plan enrollment after the dependent lost eligibility.
You may:
- You may change your medical and/or dental plan.
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Within 60 days of the event, submit the following documentation to the Benefits Office:
- Employee Enrollment/Change Form
- Copy of court order documenting legal separation
- Proof of Loss is required if ending coverage was not noted in the Divorce Decree
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| Special Notes* |
- Subscribers may remove a lawful spouse in the event of a legal separation documented by the court order, provided the court order does not require the subscriber to maintain the spouse’s health coverage.
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| Coverage Begins |
- Coverage and/or Plan Change: Begins the first day of the month following the dependent's loss of eligibility from the plan.
- Ineligible Dependent : Enrollment ends the last day of the month in which they are no longer eligible to be on the plan.
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| Important Reminders |
- Evaluate your life insurance coverage and retirement plan to make sure your beneficiary designations are current. See Beneficiary Designations.
- Evaluate the optional period on your long-term disability insurance.
- You may enroll, change, or cancel your participation in these optional tax-savings programs:
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| Resources |
Flexible Spending Account
Dependent Care Assistance Program
COBRA (Continuing Insurance)
Loss of Coverage
Life Insurance
Long Term Disability Insurance
Beneficiary Designation/Change Forms:
Long Term Disability Change Form
Life Insurance Beneficiary Designation/Change Form
DRS Retirement Plan Beneficiary/Change Form
UWRP Beneficiary Designation/Change - Contact your fund sponsor(s) for the appropriate form. |
Disclaimer: The Qualifying Life Event(s) shown above highlights benefit options arising from a change in family status. It does not substitute for official plan documents. If there is a conflict between the information on this site and an official plan document, the official plan document will govern. Plan availability and eligibility may change depending on your employment status and/or actions of the Washington State Health Care Authority.