If:
- Your spouse/domestic partner or dependent child has a change in employment outside of WashU that results in them becoming eligible for health benefits, or
- You, your spouse/domestic, or dependent child become enrolled in Medicare coverage,
you may, within 31 days of the date you, your spouse/domestic partner or dependent child became eligible for coverage, drop your current health/dental/vision coverage or remove covered dependents. You may also elect to decrease your healthcare flexible spending account contributions and/or increase your dependent care flexible spending account contributions.
If you are eligible for full-time health contribution rates and do not drop your spouse/domestic partner from your WashU health coverage and your spouse/domestic partner has a change in employment outside of WashU that results in them becoming eligible for health benefits at full-time rates through their employer, you must follow the instructions below to update your spousal surcharge election.
Changes to your health/dental/vision and flexible spending accounts will be effective as of the first of the month following the date you, your spouse/domestic partner or dependent child became eligible for other coverage. (One exception: If you, your spouse/domestic partner or dependent child became eligible for other coverage on the first day of the month, coverage will end on that date.)
In addition to making changes to your health/dental/vision coverage and/or flexible spending accounts when you, your spouse/domestic partner or dependent child gains other coverage, you should also:
- Review and consider making changes to your 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.
You can make changes online through Workday. Please reference the Change Benefit Election tutorial for help.
Notes
If you are eligible for full-time health and dental contribution rates and are covering your spouse/domestic partner under your health and/or dental coverage, be sure to select the “Health Care and Accounts – Spousal Surcharge” benefit and select the appropriate option. If your annual salary is $50,000 or more and your new spouse/domestic partner is (1) employed outside of WashU; (2) is eligible for health insurance through their own employer; and (3) is eligible for full-time health premiums under their own employer’s plan, you will be subject to the spousal surcharge.
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.
Required Documentation
You will need to upload a document showing the effective date of your, your spouse/domestic partner or dependent child’s coverage under Medicare or another employer-sponsored health plan to the Workday Change Benefit Elections page before making any benefit changes.