Birth/Adoption
Note: If you are a graduate student, refer to the Grad Student Birth/Adoption
web page.
Birth and adoption are qualifying status changes and create an opportunity for making changes to your benefit plans outside the annual open enrollment period.
Health Plan
If you add dependent children to your coverage within 60 days of birth or adoption, the coverage effective date is the date of birth or adoption.
If you add a dependent after 60 days from the day he or she becomes eligible, coverage will begin on the first day of the fifth pay period from the date your enrollment is completed, unless a special enrollment right applies (see the Benefits Handbook or Postdoctoral Benefits Handbook).
To change your coverage level, please enroll via Self Service. If you are unable to use Self Service, you may submit a completed Benefits Enrollment Form, to your campus Benefits Office.
An HMO Enrollment form can be obtained from your campus Benefits Office. When the applicable form(s) is/are complete, please send to your campus Benefits Office.
Dental Plan
If you add dependent children to your coverage within 60 days of birth or adoption, the coverage effective date is the date of birth or adoption.
If you add a dependent after 60 days from the day he or she becomes eligible, coverage will begin on the day your enrollment via Self Service is completed. If you are unable to use Self Service, coverage will begin the day your completed Benefits Enrollment Form is received by your campus Benefits Office.
Vision Plan
If you add dependent children to your coverage within 60 days of birth or adoption, the coverage effective date is the date of birth or adoption.
If you add a dependent after 60 days from the day he or she becomes eligible, coverage will begin on the day your enrollment via Self Service is completed. If you are unable to use Self Service, coverage will begin the day your completed Benefits Enrollment Form is received by your campus Benefits Office.
Dependent Life Insurance
Dependent Life Insurance coverage is available for newly acquired dependent children in amounts of $2,000, $4,000, $6,000, $8,000 or $10,000. The employee is automatically designated as the beneficiary.
If you add dependent children to your coverage within 60 days of birth or adoption, the coverage effective date is the date of birth or adoption. You can make changes by logging on to Self Service. If you are unable to enroll via Self Service, complete the RF Benefits Enrollment form and, if applicable, the Optional Dependent Life Insurance Enrollment form and/or the Group Life Insurance Evidence of Insurability form.
All these forms can be found together in the Enrollment Kit available on the RF Benefits Website or from your campus Benefits Office.
Flexible Spending Accounts
Health and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts are excellent means of setting aside pre-tax dollars to help pay for qualified dependent care and out-of-pocket medical expenses.
Enroll by logging on to Self Service within 60 days of the birth or adoption. If you are unable to enroll via Self Service, complete the Flexible Spending Account Enrollment form available on the RF Benefits Website, or from your campus Benefits Office.
Beneficiary Designation
Keeping beneficiary information current is important. Birth and/or adoption may prompt beneficiary updates to your retirement and life insurance benefit plans.
You may change your beneficiary designation at any time for your Basic and/or Optional Life Insurance Plans by logging on to Self Service. If you are unable to use Self Service, you may complete a new Benefits Enrollment Form and submit it to your campus Benefits Office.
If you add dependent children within 60 days of birth or adoption, the coverage effective date is the date of birth or adoption.
To update your beneficiary for Basic and/or Optional Retirement Plans, please enter the TIAA-CREF Web site for RF Employees. Select 'Access My Account', log in, and select 'My Profile'.
Taxes
A change in family status may lead to a change in federal and/or state withholding exemptions. Contact your Payroll Department to change your withholding exemptions.
Financial Planning
A major life event may trigger a change in your financial planning. You may want to review your options with regard to the College Savings Program or the Optional Retirement Plan.