Benefits Coverage Changes and Termination
Changes During the Annual Open Enrollment Period
During Open Enrollment each fall, you may:
- Begin medical, dental, and vision insurance coverage
- Choose a different medical plan
- Add or terminate dependents from your plan(s)
- Terminate coverage
Changes made in medical, dental, and vision insurance during Open Enrollment will be effective the following January 1. Your current medical, dental, and vision coverage will continue during the next calendar year unless you change coverage during Open Enrollment. If you wish to continue your Flexible Spending Account (MERA or dependent care) or your Health Savings Account contributions, you must re-enroll during each Open Enrollment period.
Qualifying Life Events
You may make changes to your benefits following certain life events. Changes must be made within 31 days of the event, and proof of the event must be provided. Examples of a qualifying life event (QLE) with the documents required are:
Change | Documents Required |
Marriage | Marriage certificate |
Divorce or legal separation | Divorce decree |
Birth or adoption of a child, gaining or losing a dependent | Birth certificate |
Adoption of a Child | Adoption decree |
Legal Placement of a Child | Court order document outlining legal custody |
Loss of a dependent | Death certificate |
Loss or gain of coverage through a spouse’s or domestic partner’s employment | Proof of loss or gain of coverage from spouse/domestic partner's employer |
Losing eligibility for Medicare, Medicaid, or CHIP | Loss of coverage notice from Medicare, Medicaid, or CHIP |
Death of a family member resulting in your loss of coverage | Death certificate and proof of loss of coverage |
Change in residence—if coverage isn’t offered in your area | Proof of change of address and proof of loss of coverage |
COBRA coverage ends | Proof of COBRA coverage ending |
Employees or dependents who lose eligibility for coverage under a state Medicaid or CHIP program, or who become eligible for state premium assistance under Medicaid or CHIP, must request coverage within 60 days of being terminated from Medicaid or CHIP coverage or within 60 days of being determined to be eligible for premium assistance.
You can begin your Qualifying Life Event change through Workday under "Benefits and Pay", by selecting "Change Benefits".
Life Insurance
You may enroll in or cancel your (and/or a spouse/domestic partner's) supplemental life insurance plan at any time during the plan year. In Workday, under "Benefits and Pay", select "Change Benefits".
An evidence of insurability (EOI) application is required for enrollment and re-enrollment.
Your Benefits: Age-Related Considerations
Please see the attached chart that outlines how your benefits change as your age increases. Most benefits are affected, so it is important to know these changes in advance.
Terminating Your Coverage
There are many benefits-related questions to be answered when your employment at Wesleyan is ending. Employment related questions are addressed on the Leaving Employment page. Important Benefits Information for Employees Terminating from Wesleyan University.
If medical, dental, and vision insurance plans terminate due to a qualifying life event or termination of employment, your benefit(s) will end based on the following schedule:
- Events occurring between the 1st or 15th of the month — coverage ends on the 15th of the month
- Events occurring between the 16th and last day of the month — coverage ends on the last day of the month
Life insurance, short-term and long-term disability plans, and the Cardinal Fit Incentive Points Program will terminate on the effective date of the event. Eligibility for educational assistance, the dependent tuition scholarship program, the employee discount program, and the mortgage assistance program also terminate when your status changes to an ineligible category or your employment terminates.
- Can I continue receiving my existing health benefits after I leave?
Yes. You can continue to receive medical, dental, vision, and MERA plan benefits through COBRA continuation coverage. Once you have spoken with your supervisor about your departure from Wesleyan, you can initiate your resignation in Workday (on your job profile, select "Actions", then "Job Change" and "Resign"). You will automatically receive notification from Flores & Associates, our COBRA carrier, about how to enroll in COBRA insurance. Through COBRA you will have access to the medical, dental, vision, and MERA plans in which you are currently enrolled. The rates for these plans, however, will be higher because the Wesleyan contribution is no longer available to you. Remember that if you are enrolled in an HSA plan, your HDHP medical plan will fall under COBRA but your actual Health Savings Account belongs to you as is.
- Are there other health insurance options besides COBRA?
Yes. You do not have to accept COBRA insurance. You can find more information about other insurance options on the Access Health CT website, our state-based health insurance marketplace. If you live out of state, then you should use the health insurance marketplace in your state.
- Your Retirement Account(s)
Whether you are leaving Wesleyan University prior to retirement or upon retirement, there are a few things you should know about your retirement accounts. To find out more, visit the Retirement page.
- Vacation, Sick, Personal, and Floating Holiday Balances
Upon termination, Wesleyan will pay your unused, accrued vacation time hours to you in one lump sum. Generally, sick, personal, and floating holiday balances are not payable upon termination. Employees subject to a bargaining unit agreement should refer to the terms of their contract.
Questions
Please contact benefits@wesleyan.edu with questions regarding coverage changes or termination.