Making Changes to Your Benefits: Qualified Life Event Changes
Getting married. Becoming a parent. These and other life events may affect your team member benefits, so it’s important to know that you have a limited time to make changes by notifying your Benefits Coordinator (or Benefits office).
Qualifying Events for Changing Benefits
A Qualifying Life Event (QLE) is a change in your situation such as getting married, having a baby or losing health coverage. These events allow you to enroll in health insurance outside Turning Stone Enterprises Open Enrollment Period every fall.
The choices made by you during the annual Open Enrollment Period must remain in effect for the entire plan year (January 1 – December 31). Exceptions are permitted under IRS guidelines when an team member has a Qualifying Event. If you have an event and you wish to make a change, necessary documents are mandatory to have the changes implemented.
Please be aware that if you do not complete the appropriate forms within the 30 day window from the date of event, you will then have to wait until the next Open Enrollment Period to make any changes. This coverage will not become effective until January 1 of the following year.
Some examples of Qualifying Events include:
- Change in marital status (i.e. marriage or divorce)
- Birth; adoption of a child; placing a child for adoption
- Death of a spouse or other dependent.
- Loss of eligibility status by a covered dependent
- Change in employment status that affects eligibility for coverage (i.e., working less than 30 hours per week)
- Losing or gaining healthcare coverage eligibility under Medicare or Medicaid (60 days notifying period)
If you should have a Qualifying Event, please call or stop by the Benefits Office, Monday – Friday, 8:30am – 5:00pm, and ask to speak with a Benefits and Leave Specialist to complete forms for these life changes.
How to Make a Benefits Change
If you experience a Qualified Life Status Change, you must make your benefits changes within 30 days of the event. All benefits changes must comply with IRS regulations and be consistent with the nature of your Qualified Life Status Change.
Step 1
Fill out an Enrollment/Change form and return to the Benefits office.
Step 2
Provide the requested documentation for your change, such as a birth certificate, marriage certificate or divorce decree.
Need Help?
Please contact 315-361-8600.
Changes Permitted at Any Time
Certain benefits can be updated at any time throughout the year, regardless of whether or not you have had a Qualified Life Status Change.
- Health Savings Account (HSA): If you are enrolled in the Consumer High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP)* and the HSA and you are not enrolled in Medicare or any other non-qualified medical plan, you can update your HSA contribution at any time during the year. The change will always be effective the next pay period.
- 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan: You can enroll in or change your elections for the VRSP at any time during the year. More information on the VRSP, including investment options, educational information and planning resources is available in the Retirement section on the Voluntary Retirement Savings Program webpage.
*Note: You must be eligible for the Consumer HDHP to enroll—and update your HSA contribution.
