Enrollment
Am I required to enroll in benefits?
The federal government no longer requires individuals to enroll in medical benefits. However, a handful of states and DC have instituted a health insurance coverage mandate, and most carry a penalty for not doing so.
If you live in California, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Rhode Island, or Washington D.C, you must have health insurance or pay a penalty. Vermont also has a mandate, but it does not include a penalty for noncompliance.
What happens if I miss my enrollment window?
If you miss your enrollment window, reach out to your HR Representative as soon as possible. Occasionally, they will make an exception and reopen your enrollment windows if able. However, it is up to their discretion. Make sure that you are paying attention to enrollment deadlines and submitting elections in a timely manner.
Can I make changes to my benefits at any time throughout the year?
After your Open Enrollment or New Hire Enrollment period, you may only change your benefits if you encounter a Qualifying Life Event. Changes must be made within 30 days of the QLE.
What is a Qualifying Life Event (QLE)?
Qualified life events, or QLEs, are significant life status changes that can trigger changes to your health insurance benefits. These event typically involve changes in your personal or family circumstances, such as:
Marital Status Change: Marriage, divorce, or annulment
Family Addition: Birth or adoption of a child
Employment Changes: Job loss, job gain, or change in hours
Legal Guardianship: Obtaining or losing legal guardianship of a child
Loss of Coverage: Losing coverage under another person's plan
You generally have 30 days from the date of the qualifying life event to make changes to your benefits. You may be required to provide documentation (ex. birth certificate, marriage certificate, divorce decree, etc.) to verify the event and eligibility for any changes.
Changes must be directly related to the qualifying life status event. For example, if you have a child, you can add them to your plan, but you cannot change your plan type or coverage level.
Who are considered eligible dependents?
Eligible dependents typically include:
Your legal spouse or domestic partner
Your disabled dependent children of any age
Your dependent children up to the age of 26 for medical, dental, and vision coverage
Children for whom you have legal guardianship
What information is needed to enroll a dependent onto my benefit plans?
When adding dependents to coverage, you must provide the following information:
Legal name
Date of birth
Social security number
Supporting documentation, such as a marriage certificate, birth certificate, adoption papers, and tax documents
How is primary coverage determined when enrolled in two different plans?
If enrolled in two different benefit plans, the employee's company benefits will be considered primary, and all other coverage will be considered secondary.
When a dependent child is covered by two health insurance plans, the birthday rule applies. The birthday rule determines the order the insurance companies will pay benefits. The parent whose birth month and day occurs earlier in the calendar year is the primary coverage provider.
How much can I contribute to my HSA, FSAs, and Savings Plans?
Savings plan contribution limits are set by the federal government each year.
For 2026 contribution limits, please see here.
Can I elect dependent only coverage?
Dependents are typically not eligible for coverage unless an employee is also enrolled.
Separation
What happens to my benefits if I leave my company?
Your benefit coverage ends on the date you terminate, retire, or are no longer eligible for coverage. Your dependents' coverage will end if your coverage ends, or when they no longer meet the eligibility requirements under the plan.
In most cases, you may be eligible to continue medical, dental, vision, and EAP benefits pursuant to the provisions of the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA).
What happens to my Healthcare, Limited Purpose, and/or Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account (FSA) when I terminate?
Your FSA account(s) will terminate as of the date your employment terminates.
An employee who terminates mid-year may exhaust any remaining balance in their account through the reimbursement of pre-termination expenses or elect COBRA to exhaust the balance with post-termination expenses incurred later in the same plan year.
What happens to my Transportation Management Account when I terminate?
You lose access to your commuter benefits account and any remaining funds on the official date of your termination.
Leave of Absences
Who are considered FMLA eligible family members?
The Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) is a US labor law requiring covered employers to provide eligible employees with job-protected, unpaid leave for qualified medical and family reasons.
Under FMLA, eligible family members include:
Spouse: A legally married partner
Child: A biological, adopted, foster, or step-child
Parent: A biological, adopted, foster, step-parent, or someone who stood in loco parentis to the employee when they were a child
Covered Servicemember: In certain cases, employees may take leave to care for a servicemember with serious injury or illness