Certain major life events — like getting married, having a child or losing other health coverage — qualify you to update your benefits elections outside of the regular open enrollment period. If you experience a qualifying event, you must notify the Office of Human Resources and submit the necessary forms within 30 days to make changes to your benefits.

What Counts as a Qualifying Event?

Only specific events qualify employees to make mid-year changes to their benefits. Below are examples of qualifying events:

  • Legal marriage, legal separation, divorce or death
  • Change in domestic partner status
  • Gain or loss of an eligible dependent for reasons such as birth, legal adoption, placement for adoption, foster or death
  • Dependent satisfies or no longer satisfies eligibility requirements for reasons such as reaching the dependent child age limit
  • Changes in the legal spouse’s or domestic partner’s employment affecting benefits eligibility
  • Changes in the legal spouse’s or domestic partner’s benefits coverage with another employer that affects benefits eligibility
  • Change in employee work status affecting benefits eligibility
  • The employee enters and/or is discharged from military service
  • Eligibility for enrollment in Medicare/Medicaid
  • Children’s Health Insurance Plan (CHIP) eligible

How to Make a Life Status Change

If you experience a qualifying event, follow these steps to update your benefits:

  • Notify the Office of Human Resources within 30 days of the event by contacting Human Resources at hr@elon.edu to request a life status change.
  • Provide all required supporting documentation, such as marriage or birth certificates, by uploading to Elon Benefits Hub or submitting to the Office of Human Resources.

Forms and Documents

Need Help?

If you have questions about what qualifies as a life event, how to complete your paperwork, or need forms in an accessible format, please contact the Office of Human Resources.