Life or Career Events

Benefits Deadline Extensions due to COVID-19

As a result of the current national emergency surrounding COVID-19, the Department of Labor is allowing extensions on deadlines pertaining to making changes to or enrolling in health and dental plans. Details are available on the HR website.

Introduction

The contributions you make from your paycheck for the benefit plans listed below are made on a before-tax basis. Because of this favorable tax status there are restrictions on when you can join, cancel or make changes to these plans.

  • Health Plans:
    • Blue Cross Blue Shield PPO
    • BU Health Savings Plan with Health Savings Account
  • Dental Plans:
    • BU Dental Health Center Plan
    • Dental Blue Freedom Plan
  • Flexible Spending Account – Health Care
  • Flexible Spending Account – Dependent Care
  • Personal and Family Accident Insurance

When can I make a change to or enroll in these benefit plans?

  • During the New Hire Enrollment period which is 30 days following your hire date,
  • During the Annual Open Enrollment which occurs in the Fall each year, or
  • If you have a Life or Career Event (sometimes called a “Qualified Life Event”).
    • This includes events such as marriage, divorce, birth of a child, changes in spouse’s employment, etc.

How do I make a change when I have a Life or Career Event?

  1. You must experience one of the Life or Career events listed in the table below.
  2. You must submit your Life or Career Event within 30 days following the date of the Life or Career Event to complete your request. You may also submit the change up to 90 days in advance of the event as long as you have the proper documentation.
  3. Request the change through Employee Self Service at BUworks Central by selecting the option “Manage my Benefits – Life or Career Events”.
  4. You are required to upload written proof of the Life or Career Event as described in the table below. You are also required to upload Proof of Relationship documentation if you are covering any new dependents under health and/or dental plans.
  5. An email confirmation will be sent when you successfully submit your life or career event. If your event requires documentation and approval, an email confirmation will also be sent once HR has reviewed your documentation.
  6. If approved, all benefit changes are effective as of the date of the Life or Career Event.  In the case in which you are losing coverage as a result of the Event and the loss of coverage date differs from the Event date, any benefit changes will be effective as of the date you are losing coverage.

Documentation You Will Need to Provide

You are required to upload documentation in support of most Life or Career Events.

Letters from employers must be provided on the employer’s letterhead. The letter must clearly state the Life or Career Event, the date of the event, the date on which coverage is beginning or ending and the benefits that are beginning or ending. Letters from insurance carriers showing loss/start of coverage are not acceptable forms of documentation.

Documents should be uploaded to the online application through Employee Self Service at BUworks Central.

The following table shows the various Life or Career Events as well as documents required for each.

Type of Life or Career Event

Document Type

Myself – Marriage
Marriage Certificate (Government Issued)
Myself – Child’s birth or adoption
Birth Certificate or Adoption Certificate
Myself – Divorce
Judgment of Divorce Nisi

Myself – Change in percent time employment
No documentation is required from you
Myself – Start of unpaid leave of absence
No documentation is required from you
Myself – Return from unpaid leave of absence
No documentation is required from you
Myself – Change in employment status
No documentation is required from you
Myself – Turning age 26
Letter from parent’s employer with loss of coverage date
Spouse – Start or End of employment
Letter from employer with start/loss date of employment,  start/end date of insurance coverage, and covered dependents, if applicable
Spouse – Change in percent time employment
Letter from employer with date of employment status change, date of insurance change and covered dependents, if applicable.
Spouse – Start of or Return from unpaid leave of absence
Letter from employer with start/end date of unpaid leave, date of insurance change and covered dependents, if applicable.
Spouse – Open Enrollment
Letter from employer with effective date of coverage change and covered dependents, if applicable.
Spouse – Death
Death Certificate
Dependent – Legal Guardianship
Court Appointment of Legal Guardianship
Dependent – Start of coverage
Letter stating reason for and start date of coverage
Dependent – Loss of coverage
Letter stating reason for and date of loss of coverage
Dependent – Change of Daycare cost or Provider change
Letter from childcare provider detailing change in cost or provider
Dependent – Death
Death Certificate

You are also required to upload Proof of Relationship documentation if you are electing to cover any new dependents under the health and/or dental plans.

Dependent

Type of Document

Spouse
Marriage certificate (government issued)
Common Law Spouse
Common law marriage certificate (only for those married in a state that accepts common law marriage)
Child
Birth certificate, adoption certificate or certificate of live birth
Stepchild
Birth certificate of child plus marriage certificate of current spouse
Ward
Court ordered document of legal custody