College of Chemical and Life Science

Health Benefits FAQS

1. Where can I get information about the benefits offered by the University?
2. What is Open Enrollment?  
  • Open enrollment is held once/year and is a period which allows all eligible employees to change, cancel or add to their existing health coverage. This is the only time you can make a change to your coverage unless you have a qualifying event.
3. What is a qualifying event?
  • A qualifying event is a change in your family status such as the birth of a child, loss of a dependent, marriage or divorce. Loss of a spouse's employment may also qualify. You have 60 days from the occurrence of the event to make changes, which must be consistent with the change in status that has occurred.
4. What if I make a mistake in my coverage or change my mind?
  • Under Internal Revenue Service rules, we cannot correct mistakes made by the employees at the time of enrollment. Please be very careful with selecting your coverage.
5. When will my coverage become effective?
  • Your coverage will become effective either the first or the sixteenth of the month, depending upon the pay period for which a deduction is taken from your paycheck. The state payroll system usually takes three (3) pay cycles to begin premium deductions from your paycheck.
6. My child is turning 19 and is not enrolled in school, can I continue them on my health benefits policy? What are my options?
  • The child may continue as a covered dependent through the end of the year in which the child turns age 19. If your child is no longer eligible for coverage under the State plan, your child can be covered under COBRA benefits for up to 36 months.
7. If I become legally separated, can I remove my spouse from my coverage?
  • A spouse can be removed for your plan if you are legally separated. Once removed, your spouse cannot be re-enrolled until the next open enrollment period. You must file a form within 60 days of the date of the legal separation to remove your spouse from your plan.
8. My spouse's open enrollment period is different from the State's Is this a qualifying event?
  • The benefits available through your spouse's employer must change significantly to be considered an qualifying event. To be considered you must provide documentation of the benefits available to your spouse before and during their open enrollment period.
9. If I take a Leave of Absence, may I continue my benefits?
  • Yes, under certain circumstances, you may be able to continue your coverage. Please contact the Office of Employee Benefits for more information.
10. If I leave State service or one of my dependents becomes ineligible to continue on my benefits, what benefits are available?