The elections you make are for the entire calendar year and generally cannot be changed outside of the  Open Enrollment period.  However, if you have a qualified life event as defined by the IRS, you will be able to make benefit changes that are consistent with your life event. 

Qualified life events include:

• Marriage or divorce
• Birth or adoption of a child
• Death of your spouse or dependent child
• A dependent becoming ineligible for coverage
• Your spouse gaining or losing coverage at his/her job
• You transferring between full-time and part-time status
• You moving from a non-benefit eligible position to a benefit eligible position

 

Benefit changes must be consistent with your event. For example, if you have a baby, you may add the baby to your medical coverage. You cannot, however, drop dental coverage for other family members at this time.

 

To make a mid-year change due to a qualifying life event:

You must complete the steps below within 30 days of the qualified life event to make changes to your benefit elections:

1. Fill out a benefits enrollment form
2. Provide supporting documentation* of the life event
3. Return both the form and documentation to the Benefits Administration Department

 

*If you have any questions regarding what type of documentation is sufficient or  whether your situation is a qualified life event, please contact us at benefits@gwu.edu.