Qualifying Life Events

Newly Hired Eligible Employee:
Newly hired employees who are eligible for benefits must call the MI HR Service Center* or submit a benefit enrollment request through the Civil Service Connect portal within 31 days of their hire date to enroll in benefits. Your benefits will be effective the first day of the new pay-period starting after you’ve requested enrollment, and if you’re adding any individuals to your benefits, their coverage will take effect the first day of the pay-period after the supporting documentation has been received, as long as it’s been received within 31 days of your hire date. Benefits are not effective immediately upon hire or immediately after requesting enrollment, with the exception of employee life insurance. Other eligibility requirements may apply to certain insurance plans.

If you do not enroll upon hire, your next opportunity to enroll is the following annual Benefits Open Enrollment period.

Newly Acquired Dependent:
Notify the MI HR Service Center*  or submit a benefit enrollment request through the Civil Service Connect portal as soon as possible but no later than 31 days after acquiring a new dependent. You will be required to provide proof of dependent eligibility within 31 days of the qualifying life event occurring. Visit the Required Documentation page for more information on substantiating dependents. If you do not enroll dependents and provide supporting documentation within 31 days of the qualifying life event occurring, your next opportunity to enroll them is the following annual Benefits Open Enrollment period.

Moving out of HMO Coverage Area:
If you are enrolled in an HMO and move to a new permanent residence outside of the service area of the HMO in which you are enrolled, you must transfer your enrollment to another available group insurance plan immediately but no later than 31 days of the move occurring. Contact the MI HR Service Center*  or submit a benefit enrollment request through the Civil Service Connect portal immediately any time you change your permanent residence.

Mid-year changes to coverage levels and covered individuals will only be allowed during the benefit year based on what the IRS calls a "family status change" or "qualifying life event." The coverage change must be consistent with the qualifying life event and each change requires proof within 31 days of the event occurring.

Employees enrolled in the Preventive Dental Plan or a waive plan at the time of a qualifying life event may change their respective health or dental insurance plan. Some examples of a qualifying life event are:

• Marriage or Divorce:
  • You may enroll a new spouse within 31 days of the marriage; the effective date of their insurance is the first day of the new pay-period starting after the MI HR Service Center* receives a copy of your marriage certificate.
  • In the event of a divorce, ex-spouses are not eligible and must be removed from coverage.
  • You may newly enroll in insurance coverage if you lose coverage as a result of a divorce by providing a loss of coverage letter from your ex-spouse's insurer.
• Death:
  • If your spouse passes away and you are covered under that spouse's insurance plans, you may newly enroll in the state group insurance plans by providing a loss of coverage letter from your spouse's insurer.
• Loss or Gain of Coverage:
  • You and your eligible spouse or dependents may enroll or disenroll in state group insurance coverages if your insurance coverage is significantly reduced, lost, or gained as a result of a change in your or their employment and you're able to provide adequate proof within 31 days of the event.
• Addition of a Dependent:
  • Eligible dependents may be enrolled in your health, dental, vision, and dependent life insurance plans (OEAI and their dependents may only be enrolled in health insurance plans). Children by birth, legal adoption, or step-children are eligible for dependent life insurance until the day before their 23rd birthday and eligible for health, dental, and vision insurance through the last day of the month in which they turn age 26.
  • Children the employee has legal guardianship of or fosters (placed in your home by a state agency or court) are eligible for health, dental, vision, and dependent life insurance until the day before their 18th birthday, unless the placement expires prior to that date.

You must notify the MI HR Service Center by calling 877-766-6447*  or submitting a benefit enrollment request through the Civil Service Connect portal within 31 days of the qualifying life event occurring. You will be required to provide all supporting documentation of dependent eligibility within 31 days of the event as well.

*Auditor General and Judicial employees should contact and submit all supporting documentation to their HR office instead of the MI HR Service Center.