Generally, you may only change your benefit elections during the annual Open Enrollment period. However, you may change your benefit elections during the year if you experience a Qualifying Life Event, as determined by the IRS, including:
- Marriage
- Divorce or legal separation
- Birth of your child
- Death of your spouse or dependent child
- Adoption of or placement for adoption of your child
- Change of employment status by you or your spouse
- A significant change in your or your spouse’s health coverage due to your spouse’s employment
- Qualification by the plan administrator of a Medical Child Support Order
Most of the benefits plans offered by Belkin are paid with pre-tax dollars. In exchange for this tax advantage, you legally cannot enroll in, cancel, or make changes to your medical, dental, vision, or Flexible Spending Account (FSA) plans outside the annual Open Enrollment period, unless you experience a Qualifying Life Event. A Qualifying Life Event is a change in your enrollment status that can make you eligible for a Special Enrollment Period, allowing you to enroll in health insurance outside the annual Open Enrollment period.
You must notify the Belkin Belkin Benefits Team via Workday or at BenefitsUS@belkin.com of a Qualifying Life Event within 31 days of the event, or you will have to wait until the next Open Enrollment period to enroll in or change your coverage, unless you have another Qualifying Life Event. You are allowed to make changes only to those benefits directly affected by the Qualifying Life Event. For example, the birth of a baby would allow you to enroll in or add the baby to a medical, dental, or vision plan, and enroll in a Flexible Spending Account or increase current election amount(s), but would not allow you to terminate coverage.
| Qualifying Life Event | Acceptable Documentation |
|---|---|
| Birth/Adoption |
Birth certificates: Must contain name of the employee, and the name and date of birth of the child. Birth certificates are typically available from the county registrar 10 business days after birth. Hospital birth records are acceptable if they have the name of the employee and the name and date of birth of the child. Adoption paperwork: Must contain name of the employee, name of the child, and notary signature, plus a birth certificate. Recent federal or state tax document: Must be for one of the last two tax years and only the page listing filing status and exemptions is required. |
| Guardianship | Legal guardianship court order: Must contain name of the employee or spouse/domestic partner, name of the child, child’s date of birth, and official signature or stamp indicating document has been filed. |
| Marriage/Start of a Domestic Partnership |
Marriage certificate: Must contain name of the employee, name of the spouse, the date of marriage, and certifier’s signature/official seal. Note: a marriage license is not considered valid documentation. Domestic partner documentation: Must provide state registration or complete the Domestic Partner Affidavit. Recent federal or state tax document (applies to marriage only): Must be for one of the last two tax years and only the page listing filing status and exemptions is required. |
| Divorce/End of Domestic Partnership |
Divorce decree (finalized): Must contain name of the employee, name of the spouse, the date of divorce, and certifier’s signature/official seal. Note: We do not need the entire decree, only the pages with the names, dates, and official seal and signatures (typically the first 2 – 3 pages). Dissolution of domestic partnership documentation: Must provide state dissolution or complete the Dissolution of Domestic Partnership Affidavit. Recent federal or state tax document (applies to divorce only): Must be for one of the last two tax years and only the page listing filing status and exemptions is required. |
| Loss or Gain of Other Coverage |
HIPAA certificate: Must contain name of the employee and/or dependent, type of coverage, and the date coverage was lost. Employer or school letter: Must be on the spouse’s or dependent’s employer’s or school’s letterhead, indicating the name of the spouse or dependent, the change in coverage/plan and the date of the change. |