Once your dependent child reaches age 26, they are no longer eligible for coverage under your health/dental/vision plans*. The child will be removed from your health/dental/vision coverage automatically at the end of the month in which the child turns 26. In addition, if removing the child from your health/dental/vision coverage results in a change in coverage level (e.g., from Family to Individual + Spouse/Domestic Partner), your contributions will automatically be adjusted. You will not need to submit any paperwork to remove the child in that situation.
If you have child life insurance, coverage for your dependent child will end once they reach age 25*. When your last dependent child reaches age 25, you will need to remove your child life insurance coverage by logging into Workday and dropping coverage using the Change Anytime life event reason. Child life insurance coverage is not automatically removed.
When your dependent child reaches the maximum age for coverage, you should also:
- Review and consider making changes to your flexible spending accounts and/or health savings account elections.
- Review and consider updating your optional life insurance and AD&D elections (employee, spouse/domestic partner and/or child). If you elect to increase or enroll in optional employee and/or spouse/domestic partner life insurance, MetLife may require a Statement of Health (also referred to as evidence of insurability).
- Review your current life insurance, health savings account and Retirement Savings Plan (403(b)) beneficiary designations and make any necessary updates. Your life insurance beneficiary can be changed through Workday. Your health savings account beneficiary can be changed by logging onto your Optum Financial account. Retirement Savings Plan (403(b)) beneficiaries must be updated through your account at TIAA. Note: if you are married, the Retirement Savings Plan requires that your spouse be listed as your primary beneficiary unless this right is waived by your spouse.
*If your dependent child is disabled, coverage may continue past age 26 (25 in the case of child life). In this situation, contact the WashU Benefits Team at 314-935-2332, option #1, or via email at hr-benefitsmail@wustl.edu.
Notes
Changes to your health savings account, optional life insurance (employee, spouse/domestic partner and child) and retirement medical savings account coverage may be made at any time by using the Change Anytime life event reason in Workday.
When your child loses health/dental/vision coverage due to attaining the maximum age for coverage, your child will be eligible for up to 36 months of coverage through COBRA.