Divorce

Note: This information applies only to regular employees. If you are a graduate student, refer to the Grad Student Divorce Web page. 

If you and your spouse get divorced, you must notify your campus Benefits Office to remove your ex-spouse from coverage within 60 days of the divorce.

Your ex-spouse and your stepchildren cannot be continued on your RF benefits coverage.

Your ex-spouse's group health benefits stop on the date which the divorce is final. Spousal dependent life insurance terminates immediately as of the date of divorce. 

Health Plan

Divorce is considered a COBRA qualifying event. While the RF policy requires you to remove your ex-spouse from your benefits within 60 days of the divorce, federal regulations require the RF to provide your ex-spouse the opportunity to continue group health, dental, and vision coverage at their own cost under COBRA.

For information about COBRA continuation privileges, please refer to the Continuing Benefits section of the Benefits Handbook or Postdoctoral Employee Benefits Handbook.

If, as a result of a divorce, you and/or your dependents have lost coverage through your spouse’s plan, you will be allowed to change or add coverage through one of the RF’s health plans.

The special enrollment period following your loss of other coverage allows you to elect one of the RF’s health plans, within 60 days after the other coverage ends.

If elected, coverage begins on the first day of the calendar month that begins after the date that the completed request is received by the plan. 

Dental and Vision Care Plans

Divorce is considered a COBRA qualifying event. While the RF policy requires you to remove your ex-spouse from your benefits within 60 days of the divorce, federal regulations require the RF to provide your ex-spouse the opportunity to continue group health, dental, and vision coverage at their own cost under COBRA.

For information about COBRA continuation privileges, please refer to the COBRA section of the Benefits Handbook.

If you wish to change your coverage level, you must log on to Self Service. If you are unable to use Self Service, you may complete and submit a new RF Benefits Enrollment Form or Postdoctoral Employee Benefits Enrollment Form to your campus Benefits Office.

You may change coverage anytime during the year. Your new coverage will become effective on the day your campus Benefits Office receives your completed enrollment.

If the change involves a newly eligible dependent, dependent coverage becomes effective on the date the dependent became eligible, provided your enrollment is completed within 60 days of this date. 

Dependent Life Insurance

Your ex-spouse may convert the policy to an individual life insurance contract.  Please contact your campus Benefits Office for additional information. 

Beneficiary Designation

Keeping beneficiary information current is important. A divorce 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 RF Benefits Enrollment Form or Postdoctoral Employee Benefits Enrollment Form and submit it to your campus Benefits Office.

To update your beneficiary for Basic and/or Optional Retirement Plans, please visit www.tiaa.org/rfsuny. 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 Optional Retirement Plan.