The choices you made during our previous annual enrollment period or when you were hired in 2009 will remain effective through December 31, 2009. You will not be able to change your elections during the year (including adding a dependent to the plan) unless you have a qualifying life status change. Qualifying life status changes include:
- - Your marriage, divorce, annulment, legal separation or gain of or loss of domestic partner relationship;
- - The death of your spouse/domestic partner or dependent;
- - The birth, adoption or placement for adoption of a child;
- - A change in your employment status that makes you eligible or causes you to lose eligibility under the ACS benefit program;
- - A change in your spouse/domestic partner’s or dependent’s employment that makes your spouse/domestic partner or dependent eligible for benefits or causes your spouse/domestic partner or dependent to lose eligibility for benefits through his or her employer;
- - An election change made by your spouse/domestic partner, former spouse or dependent under another employer-sponsored plan, including an annual enrollment election or a permissible change in status election under such plan;
- - Beginning of or return from an unpaid leave of absence by you, your spouse/domestic partner or dependent that makes you, your spouse/domestic partner or dependent eligible for benefits or causes loss of eligibility for benefits;
- - A change in place of residence or worksite for you, your spouse/domestic partner or dependent that causes a change in eligibility for any benefit;
- - An event that causes a dependent to meet or no longer meet the requirements for coverage due to age, student status or similar circumstance; or
- - For purposes of the dependent care spending account, a substantial change in the cost of dependent care or an event which causes a child to meet or no longer meet the definition of an eligible dependent under the plan.
You must notify ACS within 31 days following a qualifying life status change (60 days in case of birth, adoption or placement for adoption - rules may differ in insured plans and HMOs) to make any changes in your benefit elections. Changes received after the deadline will not be processed, and you will have to wait until the next annual enrollment period to make changes to your coverage. A benefit change can be made only if it is due to and consistent with the qualifying life status change. For example, if you have a child, you cannot drop medical coverage for yourself, but you may enroll your child.
You may also be able to enroll yourself and your dependents as a result of certain special enrollment events. If you decline coverage for yourself or your dependents because you have other health insurance coverage, you may be able to enroll yourself or your dependents in the ACS health plans (medical, dental and vision plans) if you lose coverage at a future date.
Also, if you gain a dependent as a result of marriage, birth, adoption or placement for adoption, you may be able to enroll yourself and your eligible dependents, if ACS receives notification in writing within the 31- or 60-day limit described earlier.
Any time you add medical coverage for yourself or a dependent who was already eligible, you may be subject to the pre-existing condition limitation.
If you and your spouse/domestic partner work for ACS
If both you and your spouse/domestic partner work for ACS, you have two enrollment options:
- You and your spouse/domestic partner may each enroll as an employee. Only one of you may cover your dependent children.
- One of you may waive coverage and enroll as a dependent under the other spouse/domestic partner’s coverage.
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Questions about your employee benefits or other Human Resources issues? Contact the Workplace Solutions Center at (888) 471-2271.