I Am Getting Divorced/Dissolving My Domestic Partnership
A Qualified Life Event - Information and Support for Faculty and Staff
A divorce and dissolution of a union allows you to make changes to your insurance plans as it is a qualified life event.
Health, Dental, and Vision Insurance
You can enroll in coverage or remove dependents to your health, dental, or vision insurance within 30 days of getting a divorce. You also have the option to change from one plan option to another, or change plans all together. If you do complete a midyear change in plans, any deductible amount or amount towards your maximum out-of-pocket will transfer to your new plan. Coverage will be effective the first of the month after the divorce is finalized. Any other changes to your plan must be made during the open enrollment period.
Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) – Health Care and Dependent Care
You can change your contributions or enroll in an FSA due to a qualifying life event. Your deductions will start the month after the election is made and you are eligible to use health care FSA contributions as of the effective date of coverage. You are able to use dependent care contributions as they accrue.
Voluntary Term Life (VTL) Insurance
Eligible employees can elect/increase/decrease or de-enroll from voluntary term life for themselves, their spouse or their children due to divorce. The premium for VTL includes accidental death and dismemberment insurance and can be calculated for each coverage amount by viewing page four of the Group Voluntary Term Life Coverage document.
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.
Beneficiaries
If you need to update your life insurance beneficiaries due to a qualifying life event, please use the UNI Works System.
For IPERS beneficiaries, please log into the IPERS website to update.
To update your TIAA beneficiaries, please log onto the TIAA website to update.
Documentation
If you decide to enroll into a plan, or add a dependent, through UNI you will need to provide the following documentation:
- Divorce of separation decree, or
- Legal separation agreement, or
- Dissolution of Domestic Partnership
Name Change
A divorce may mean a change in name. Legal name changes must be made in person by visiting Human Resource Services. For privacy protection, a photo ID will be requested before a change will be made.
Address Change
To change your address please log into UNI Works and click on ‘Personal Information' from the Menu. Locate the Contact Information button under 'Change'.
Tax Information
You may also need to update your tax information. This can be done by logging into UNI Works, selecting Benefits and Pay from the Menu, Pay, then Tax.
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
- 1Q: How long can my spouse stay on my plan after the divorce?
1A: Coverage will end on the last day of the month that is listed on the divorce decree/dissolution affidavit.
- 2Q: Can I keep my stepchildren on my plan?
2A: The employee must be the dependents legal guardian to continue covering them on the university health plans.