Life Events
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      All you need to know about Life Events!

      In this article, you will find everything you need to know about life events, including what qualifies as a Life Event & how to update your benefits due to a Life Event. To skip ahead to any of the following sections, click below.

      What is a Qualifying Life Event (QLE)?

      There are 4 main categories of qualifying life events: Loss of health coverage, changes in household, changes in residence, & other.

      Loss of Health Coverage

      If you (or a dependent) lose your health coverage, you can request to enroll in your employer's insurance policy. Some examples of how you or a dependent could lose coverage are:

      • Losing existing health coverage, including job-based, individual, and student plans
      • Losing eligibility for Medicare, Medicaid, or CHIP
      • Turning 26 and losing coverage through a parent’s plan

      Changes in Household

      • Having a baby or adopting a child

        • If you had a baby or adopted a child you're typically eligible to add that child to your insurance coverage. Most carriers will require that you add the child within 30 days of birth or adoption so be sure to log in to GoCo and add your dependent to coverage as soon as possible. 

      • Getting married or divorced
        • If you just got married or had a divorce, you can typically add your spouse, or remove your spouse from your coverage within 30 days of those events.
      • Death in the family

      Changes in Residence

      • Moving to a different ZIP code or county
      • A student moving to or from the place they attend school
      • A seasonal worker moving to or from the place they both live and work
      • Moving to or from a shelter or other transitional housing

      If your address, zip code, or state has changed, you may qualify to change your current plan to ensure you are still covered in your new region. Be sure to do this within 30 days of your address change to ensure the carrier will approve your change request. See: How do I change my address?

      Other qualifying events

      • Changes in your income that affect the coverage you qualify for
      • Gaining membership in a federally recognized tribe or status as an Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA) Corporation shareholder
      • Becoming a U.S. citizen
      • Leaving incarceration (jail or prison)
      • AmeriCorps members starting or ending their service

      How to Update Coverage due to a QLE

      Now that you know what qualifies as a Life Event, you're ready to make changes to your coverage. Follow the steps below to update your coverage to add/remove dependents or enroll/cancel existing benefits. 

      1. Login to GoCo & navigate to your Benefits Module. You can get there by finding the card that reads "Benefits" on your My Profile page. Screen Shot 2022-08-15 at 7.21.06 PM
      2. In your Benefits Module find the blue "Make Changes" button. Screen Shot 2022-08-15 at 7.23.06 PM-1
      3. Select the type of change you would like to make (add dependent, remove dependent, etc.) Please note you will only be able to select options that are available based on your current coverage. Screen Shot 2022-08-15 at 7.24.52 PM
      4. Once you select your reason, you will be taken to the screen below to input details like when coverage should start & adding proof to support your change. Screen Shot 2022-08-15 at 7.28.21 PM
      5. The next screen is where you will make your coverage changes. Here you can add/remove your dependents information & make your benefits selection choices. Screen Shot 2022-08-15 at 7.30.21 PM
      6. Once you are done making your choices, simply hit the "Finish Enrollment" button. If you would like to leave & come back, you can always hit the "Finish Later" button. Screen Shot 2022-08-15 at 7.37.30 PM
      7. Confirm your submission once more & you'll be taken to this confirmation page. Here you can print for your records. 

      Screen Shot 2022-08-15 at 7.40.42 PM

      Now depending on how Benefits are set up for your organization, the qualifying life event may or may not have to be approved by your administrator. Once approved, you will be notified in your GoCo Account. 

      In some instances, your terminated dependents might be eligible for COBRA or State Continuation. In those instances, we'll prompt you to verify your dependent's address so we can send the proper documentation.

      Please note that an employee can only have one pending QLE at a time.

       

      How to Edit a Pending QLE

      Need to make an adjustment to a Life Event that is still being processed? You can make any needed adjustments by going to the Employees page -> Benefits -> Life Events. Click the three dots to the right of the QLE and select 'Edit'. Once you are done making the needed changes, be sure to click 'Continue' and 'Finish' to update the QLE. 

       

      Crash Course

      For a video training on submitting a life event, see below! Hit the chapter button on the bottom right of the video, to skip ahead to the Employee POV. 

       

      For additional questions, please reach out to help@goco.io

      Happy Hiring! 💚

       

      Published 10.11.23