Marriage
Note: This information applies only to regular employees. If you are a graduate student, refer to the Grad Students Marriage page.
Marriage is a qualifying status change that creates a 60-day window of opportunity during which many benefit plan changes can be made without waiting for annual enrollment.
Health Plan
If you add a dependent to your coverage within 60 days of the date of marriage, the coverage effective date is the date of marriage.
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 Employee Benefits Handbook).
To change your coverage level, please enroll via Self Service. If you are unable to use Self Service, submit a completed Benefits Enrollment form to your campus Benefits Office.
Dental and Vision Plans
Dependents should be added within 60 days of the date of marriage by logging on to Self Service. If you are unable to use Self Service, submit a completed Benefits Enrollment Form and to your campus Benefits Office.
Dependent Life Insurance
Dependent Life Insurance coverage is available for your spouse in amounts of $10,000, $20,000, $40,000, $60,000, $80,000, or $100,000.
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.
Newly eligible dependents must be added to your plan within 60 days of the date of marriage via Self Service. The coverage is effective on the date of marriage. If you are unable to use 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 marriage.
Beneficiary Designation
Keeping beneficiary information current is important. Marriage 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.
To update your beneficiary for Basic and/or Optional Retirement Plans, please enter the TIAA 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.