Life-Changing Events
What happens to my benefits when. . .
I get married? I get a divorce? I alter my work schedule in such a way that it affects my Benefit eligibility? My spouse loses benefits coverage due to termination of employment? My child turns 19, or is no longer a full-time student between the ages of 19 to 25? My physician informs me that I can no longer work due to a medical condition that has caused me to become disabled? A family member dies? I, or my spouse and I, give birth or adopt a child?
I get married?
When you get married, it is considered a Qualified Family Status Change (QFSC), and you will have 30 days to make changes to your benefit plans. Administering that process is quick and easy. Simply call the Caremark Benefits Center (CBC) at 1-888-769-1717, and let the CBC Rep know that you have gotten married. He/she will ask you for the marriage date, and then process the change in the Benefit Administration program within Peoplesoft. The representative will verbally communicate your enrollment dates. Within 1 business day, you will be able to access your personal information on http://www.mybenefitshighway.com and make your new elections. Within 5 - 7 days after making your changes, you should receive a Confirmation Statement outlining your new choices. • Some things to consider: |
| •Changing your Beneficiaries (e.g., 401k, Life Insurances, Business Travel Accident Insurance, AD&D) |
| •Adding Medical/Dental Coverage for your spouse |
| •Adding Spouse Life Insurance |
| •Increasing your Life Insurance |
| •Adding any Dependent Coverages |
Back to Top I get a divorce? When your divorce becomes final, it is considered a Qualified Family Status Change (QFSC), and you will have 30 days to make changes to your benefit plans. Administering that process is quick and easy. Simply call the Caremark Benefits Center (CBC) at 1-888-769-1717, and let the CBC Rep know that your marital status has changed. He/she will ask you for the divorce date, and then process the change in the Benefit Administration program within Peoplesoft. The representative will verbally communicate your enrollment dates. Within 1 business day, you will be able to access your personal information on http://www.mybenefitshighway.com and make your new elections. Within 5-7 days after making your changes, you should receive a Confirmation Statement outlining your new choices. | •Some things to consider: |
| •Changing your Beneficiaries |
| •Dropping Medical/Dental Coverage for your former spouse |
| •Dropping Spouse Life Insurance |
| •Adding/Dropping any Dependent Coverages |
Back to Top I alter my work schedule in such a way that it affects my Benefit eligibility? When your work schedule changes in such a way that you lose benefit eligibility, it is considered a Qualified Family Status Change (QFSC), and you will have 30 days to make changes to your benefit plans. Your local Human Resources Representative will enter the change into the PeopleSoft database, and it will automatically flow over to the Benefit Administration program within PeopleSoft. Within 5-6 business days, you should receive a QFSC enrollment form, on which, you will be notified of how the change of status affected your benefit eligibility. Once you receive the QFSC form you will be able to access your personal information on http://www.mybenefitshighway.com and make your new elections. Within 5-7 days after making your changes, you should receive a Confirmation Statement outlining your new choices. | •Some things to consider: |
| •30 + hours entitles you to all Health & Welfare Benefits (subject to elimination periods). |
| •20 + hours entitles you to all Health & Welfare Benefits, except for LTD & STD (subject to elimination periods). You may be eligible to port or convert your Life Insurance, and LTD (if you have been covered for the last 12 months). |
| •20 or less hours forfeits your benefit eligibility, however you may be eligible to port or convert your Life Insurance, LTD (if you have been covered for the last 12 months), and to elect COBRA continuation for medical, dental, and health care reimbursement account. |
Back to Top My spouse loses benefits coverage due to termination of employment? When your spouse loses coverage, this is considered a Qualified Family Status Change (QFSC), and you will have 30 days to make changes to your benefit plans from the time your spouse's coverage ends. Administering that process is quick and easy. Simply call the Caremark Benefits Center (CBC) at 1-888-769-1717, and let the CBC Rep know that your spouse has lost coverage. He/she will ask you for the effective date of the loss of coverage, and then process the change in the Benefit Administration program within Peoplesoft. The representative will verbally communicate your enrollment dates. Within 1 business day, you will be able to access your personal information on http://www.mybenefitshighway.com and make your new elections. Within 5-7 days after making your changes, you should receive a Confirmation Statement outlining your new choices. Some things to consider: | •You may not call until the 1st day of lost coverage |
| •Adding Medical/Dental Coverage for all uncovered dependents |
| •Adding Spouse/Dependent Life Insurance |
| •Increasing your Life Insurance |
•Decreasing your Dependent Care Reimbursement Account, if your spouse will not be returning to work immediately.
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Back to Top My child turns 19, or is no longer a full-time student between the ages of 19 to 25? When your dependent child turns 19, and/or is no longer a full-time student between the ages of 19 to 25, that dependent child loses eligibility for coverage under your health & welfare plans. Corporate Benefits will run monthly listings that identify dependent children that will be turning age 19 or above. If your child is no longer eligible for coverage he/she will receive an enrollment kit for COBRA continuation. Some things to consider: •If your child is over 19, but under the age of 25, and is still a full-time student, you should request a Full-Time Student Verification Form from the Caremark Benefits Center by calling 1-888-769-1717. Once completed & returned, your child will remain covered (subject to your eligibility) until he/she either is no longer a full-time student, or turns age 25.
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Back to Top My physician informs me that I can no longer work due to a medical condition that has caused me to become disabled? You should contact your local Human Resource Representative and request the STD/LTD Paperwork. All appropriate paperwork, including FMLA notification, will be forwarded/given to you at that time with complete instructions. Your STD and/or LTD benefits are insured through UNUM. They approve claims and make all applicable payments directly to you during your disability. You will be required to have your physician complete the Attending Physician's Portion. You will be notified of your approval/denial for STD/LTD directly from UNUM. Some things to consider: | •STD/LTD leaves work in conjunction towards your Family & Medical Leave Act (FMLA) accrual. |
| •If enrolled in STD, you will be subject to either a 14-day, or 30-day, elimination period, depending on what you chose at the time of enrollment. The elimination period also accumulates towards your FMLA. |
•LTD has a 90 day elimination period.
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Back to Top A family member dies? In the unfortunate situation that a family member, or a beneficiary of one of your insurance plans or 401(k) plan, dies, contact the Caremark Benefits Center at 1-888-769-1717 as soon as possible to inform them of the deceased family member's name and date of death. Your individual case will be forwarded to a team member of the Corporate Benefits group who will provide you with an "all encompassing" checklist that will assist you through this difficult decision making period. They will also provide you with the paperwork necessary to make changes to your health & welfare plans, and collect any/all life insurance proceeds due to you. Some things to consider: | •Dropping Medical/Dental Coverage for the deceased |
| •Dropping the applicable Spouse/Dependent Life Insurance |
| •Increasing/Decreasing your own Life Insurance |
| •Caremark offers Survivor Services that will assist with financial and emotional decisions you may be facing. |
| •Calling the Employee Assistance Program (24 hours a day/7 days a week) "LifePhases" at 1-800-854-1446. |
•Change Beneficiary Designations for Life Insurance, 401(k) Plans, etc.
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Back to Top I, or my spouse and I, give birth or adopt a child? When you give birth or adopt a child, this is considered a Qualified Family Status Change (QFSC), and you will have 30 days to make changes to your benefit plans. Administering that process is quick and easy. Simply call the Caremark Benefits Center (CBC) at 1-888-769-1717, and let the CBC Rep know that you have either adopted a child or given birth. He/she will ask you for the birth/adoption date, and then process the change in the Benefit Administration program within Peoplesoft. The representative will verbally communicate your enrollment dates. Within 1 business day, you will be able to access your personal information on http://www.mybenefitshighway.com and make your new elections. Within 5-7 days after making your changes, you should receive a Confirmation Statement outlining your new choices. Some things to consider: | •Changing/Adding Beneficiaries |
| •Adding Medical/Dental Coverage for your spouse |
| •Adding Spouse Life Insurance |
| •Increasing your Life Insurance |
| •Adding any Dependent Coverages |
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