I am Experiencing a Life Event
Information and Support for Faculty and Staff
Verifying Dependents
Effective July 1, 2024, due to a recent audit, all employees having a qualified life event and making any changes to their family health and/or dental coverage must verify all dependent relationships by providing corresponding legal documentation.
Examples of documentation:
- Spouse - marriage certificate, common law spouse affidavit
- Domestic Partner - notarized domestic partner affidavit
- Child - birth certificate which includes parents' names, adoption paperwork, court order, or guardianship paperwork
Since this impacts all life events, including open enrollment, we are notifying employees now so documentation can be easily provided when required. At the time of your life event, you can securely upload to UNI Works or bring into the Human Resource Office at Gilchrist 027. All documentation needs to be viewed by HRS staff, but no documentation will be retained after the initial review (i.e., if provided electronically, it will be purged). Do not send any personal documents through email as this is not secure.
Benefit Information
After enrolling in benefits, your benefit elections remain in effect until the end of the plan year, which is the current calendar year. You will not be able to make any changes to your benefits until the next Open Enrollment period unless you experience a qualified life event. In most cases, unless otherwise noted, you have 30 days from the date of the event to make a change to your benefits.
Health and dental premiums are withheld from your pay as a pre-tax deduction, which reduces your taxable income and the amount of taxes you pay at the time of payroll. This is a default selection by the university.
If you would like to opt out of the pre-tax premium option, please complete the After-Tax Premium Option form and submit to the Human Resource Services Office.
The following is a list of qualifying life events that may enable you to change your benefit elections, as well as guidance of what other steps might be helpful when having such an event.
What I Need to Do When...
- I am Turning 65
- My Spouse is Turning 65
- I Need to Take a Leave of Absence
- I am Having a Baby
- I am Adopting a Child
- I am Getting Married, Declaring a Domestic Partnership or Common Law Union
- I am Getting Divorced or Dissolving My Domestic Partnership
- My Spouse or Dependent is Changing or Losing Coverage
- My Dependent Care Costs Change
- My Child is Turning 26 or Graduating College
- A UNI Employee Passes Away
- A Spouse or Dependent Passes Away
- I am Moving Out of the Plan Area
- During Open Enrollment
- I Have a Change in Employment Status
- I Need an Insurance Card Now
Benefit Enrollment
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When You Can Make Changes to Your Benefits
Annual Open Enrollment
If you do not make any changes during open enrollment your coverage selection will remain the same.
Qualifying Life Event
You may also enroll, waive, or change your coverage selection based on a qualifying life event.
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How to Make Changes to Your Benefits
UNI Works
UNI Works is designed to help you enroll, make changes, and view your current benefit elections, dependents and beneficiaries all in one location. When logging into UNI Works, select Benefits and Pay from the Main Menu.
Stress, Mental Health, and Grief Services
Many of us can face challenges every day that can be stressful, overwhelming, and cause strong emotions. Visit our Stress, Mental Health, and Grief Services webpage for services that may be useful to you and/or your family.