I Am Getting Divorced/Dissolving My Domestic Partnership
A divorce and dissolution of a union allows you to make changes to your insurance plans as it is a qualified life event.
Required Documentation
All documentation must be submitted by the life event deadline.
Supporting Documentation Required for Benefits Enrollment and Changes
When adding or removing family members from your benefit plans, you must provide supporting documentation to verify the qualifying life event.
Visit the Supporting Documentation Required for Benefits Enrollment and Changes webpage for examples of acceptable documentation.
Verifying Dependents
Adding new dependents to your health and/or dental plan?
You can verify your dependents by Uploading Dependent Verification Document(s) in UNI Works. Once the required documentation has been uploaded, click Submit to complete and clear the task.
Do not send personal documents by email. Email is not a secure method for submitting dependent verification documentation.
Examples of Acceptable Documentation
- Spouse – Marriage certificate or common law spouse affidavit
- Domestic Partner – Notarized domestic partner affidavit
- Child – Birth certificate that includes the parents' names, adoption paperwork, court order, or guardianship paperwork
Previously Verified Dependents
Once a dependent has been verified, you do not need to verify that dependent again unless there has been a change that affects their eligibility or the documentation previously provided.
Examples of changes that may require updated documentation include:
- Spouse – A change in marital status, such as divorce.
- Child – A change to a court order or guardianship arrangement.
If there have been no changes affecting your dependent's eligibility, no additional verification documentation is required.
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.
Health, Dental, and Vision Insurance
You can enroll in or remove dependents from your health, dental, or vision insurance within 30 days of getting a divorce. You also have the option to change plan options or enroll in a different plan. If you make a midyear plan change, any deductible and out-of-pocket amounts already accumulated will carry over to your new plan.
Coverage will be effective the first of the month after the divorce.
Any additional changes to your plan must be made during Open Enrollment.
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 log in to UNI Works to make your changes.
To update your IPERS beneficiaries, please log in to the IPERS website.
To update your TIAA beneficiaries, please log in to the TIAA website.
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 and navigating to Menu > Benefits and Pay > Pay > Tax.
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.
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.
Contact Information
HRS Benefits Team
319-273-2422
hrs-benefits@uni.edu
Wherever conflicts occur between the contents of this site and the contracts, rules, regulations, or laws governing the administration of the various programs, the terms set forth in the various program contracts, rules, regulations, or laws shall prevail. Space does not permit listing all limitations and exclusions that apply to each plan. Before using your benefits, review the plan's coverage manual. Benefits provided can be changed at any time without the consent of participants.