Qualified life events
What is a qualified life event?
Section 125 of the Internal Revenue Code and the Arizona Board of Regents Health and Dependent Care Cafeteria Plan define a qualified life event as an event that allows changes to benefit elections outside of the annual benefits open enrollment period.
Benefits-eligible employees can change their benefit elections within 30 days of a qualified life event. Before accessing services, verify the effective date of coverage related to the change by logging in to your Workday account and view Benefits and Pay in the menu.
Additional required documentation:
- Child: Provide a birth certificate or court order.
Disabled Dependent Child: Social Security Letter of Determination or letter from a physician.
- Spouse: Marriage certificate.
- Stepchild: Birth certificate and marriage certificate.
- Social Security number is required for all covered dependents. You must submit substantiating documentation if your dependent is not eligible for a Social Security number because of their Visa status.
Note: After the 30 days, you can only make changes during the annual benefits open enrollment period unless a qualified life event occurs.
Any change of election must be consistent with the qualified life event. For example, if an employee marries, the employee may add the new spouse or terminate coverage and become dependent on the spouse’s plan. However, the marriage would not allow the employee to change networks within ASU’s plan.
Internal transfers
Health, life and disability benefits cannot be changed for benefits-eligible faculty and staff who transfer to another position eligible for benefits. Faculty and staff can change benefits during the open enrollment period or when a qualifying life event has occurred. Mandatory retirement plans may be changed if one of the following statements occurs.
- Postdoctoral scholar and transition to a faculty or staff position.
- ASRS Mandated University Staff changes to a non-ASRS Mandated job classification position.
Non-ASRS Mandated position changes to an ASRS Mandated job classification position.
See retirement enrollment instructions for more information.
Common examples of qualified life events
| Qualified life event | Event Date | Required supporting documentation | Effective date of coverage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marriage | Date of marriage | Marriage certificate | First day of the pay period following the event or completed enrollment, whichever is later. |
| Divorce, annulment, legal separation | Date document is filed with the court | Annulment, divorce, legal separation. The date specified is required on the document; otherwise, date document signed by the judge. | Event date No premium refunds will be made for written notifications received more than 30 calendar days after the QLE effective date. |
| Death employee, dependent | Date of death | Death certificate | No longer covered the day after death. If the employee has covered dependents, their coverage ends on the last day of the pay period in which the employee passed. |
| Birth of dependent child | Date of birth | Birth certificate | Day of birth. |
| Adoption, placement for adoption | Date of placement or adoption | Signed, dated legal document. | Date of placement of adoption or adoption date. |
| Employee loses insurance coverage elsewhere | Last day of previous coverage | Official documentation verifying loss of coverage; must include employee name, the last date of coverage, coverage elections. | First day of the pay period following the event or completed enrollment, whichever is later. |
| Employee gains insurance coverage elsewhere | First day of new coverage | Official documentation verifying alternate coverage; must include employee name, the effective date of coverage, coverage elections | First day of the pay period following the event or completed enrollment, whichever is later. |
| Dependent loses insurance coverage elsewhere | Last day of previous coverage | Official documentation verifying loss of coverage; must include dependent name, the last date of coverage, coverage elections. | First day of the pay period following the event or completed enrollment, whichever is later. |
| Dependent gains insurance coverage elsewhere | First day of new coverage | Official documentation verifying alternate coverage; must include dependent name, the effective date of coverage, coverage elections | First day of the pay period following the event or completed enrollment, whichever is later. |
General Information
Phone: toll-free 1-855-278-5081 or 480-727-9900
Contact HR support online to submit an inquiry or check on your issue at any time.