Change My Benefits
Open/Switch Enrollment is offered on an annual basis during the Fall (usually in October); the effective date of changes made to coverage is the first day of the following year.
Outside of the Open/Switch Enrollment period, changes may be made within 31 days of a qualifying life event (QLE). Changes made due to a QLE require documentation and must be consistent with the QLE.
The table below shows examples of Qualifying Life Events and the effective dates used for enrollment or change:
| Enrollment or Qualifying Event | Effective Date for medical, prescription, and dental, group life, voluntary life & AD&D, long term disability | Effective date for vision, accident, critical illness, hospital |
|---|---|---|
| New hire or newly benefit-eligible employee | Coverage begins on the 1st day of pay period (1st or 16th) following 30 days of employment/eligibility | Coverage begins on the 1st of the month following 30 days of employment/eligibility |
| Birth, adoption, legal guardianship, marriage | Dependent coverage begins on the date of the event | Dependent coverage begins on the 1st of the month following the date of the event |
| Domestic Partnership established | Dependent coverage begins on the date Affidavit is notarized | Dependent coverage begins on the 1st of the month following the date Affidavit is notarized |
| Dependent child losing coverage due to turning 26 years of age (see COBRA information) | Coverage ends at the end of the month in which the dependent turns 26 for medical, dental, and voluntary life and AD&D | Coverage ends at the end of the month in which the dependent turns 26 |
| Change in job status (termination, reduction or hours, transition from benefit-eligible position to non-benefit-eligible position) See COBRA information | Coverage ends on the last day of the pay period (15th or end of month) in which the benefit-eligible position ends | Benefits end at the end of the month in which the benefit-eligible position ends |
| Gain of other coverage | Coverage ends on the day prior to new coverage effective date | Benefits end at the end of the month in which new coverage is effective |
| Loss of other coverage | Coverage begins on the day after other coverage ends | Coverage begins on the 1st of the month after the other coverage ends |
| Death of employee | Coverage ends on the date of death listed on death certificate. Dependent coverage ends on the last day of the pay period (15th or end of month) in which the death occurred. | Coverage ends on the date of death listed on death certificate. Dependent coverage ends on the last day of the month in which the death occurred. |
| Death of dependent | Dependent coverage ends on the date of death listed on death certificate | Dependent coverage ends on the date of death listed on death certificate |
| Divorce (see COBRA information) | Dependent coverage ends on the date the Final Decree is filed | Dependent coverage ends on the date the Final Decree is filed |
| Termination of Domestic Partnership | Dependent coverage ends on the date Termination of Domestic Partnership form is signed/notarized | Dependent coverage ends at the end of the month in which Termination of Domestic Partnership form is signed/notarized |
A Benefit Enrollment/Waiver form is required to request changes. Request for change must be made within 31 days from the date of the qualifying event and supporting documentation of the change is required. Documentation supporting the relationship and eligibility of all dependents must be submitted with the enrollment form when adding dependents to coverage.
The requested change in benefits must be consistent with the qualifying life event or change in status.
For employees transitioning from one benefit-eligible position to another benefit-eligible position, benefits will remain continuous. This is not a qualifying change in status to add, change, or cancel coverage.
Employees who are also the spouse, domestic partner or dependent of an employee of NMSU, State of New Mexico, or any other entity participating in the State of New Mexico’s medical and dental programs, may be covered as either an Employee or Dependent, but not both. Dual coverage is not permitted for you or your dependents.
It is the employee's responsibility to remove any dependent who no longer meet the eligibility requirements within 31 days of the disqualifying event. Failure to do so may result in losing the ability to participate in any health benefits offered by NMSU, as well as a responsibility to repay all claims paid out on behalf of the ineligible dependent.
If required forms and documentation are not received by the deadline, the employee and/or dependent(s) will not be added to coverage. The next opportunity for enrollment will then be at the next Open Enrollment or qualifying event. Open Enrollment applies to Medical, Dental, Vision, and Flexible Spending Account benefits. Late enrollment may be available for other benefits and may have additional restrictions.
Benefit premiums are deducted from pay through payroll deduction for the corresponding pay period in which they are accrued. Premiums are not prorated; if coverage spans one or more days during a pay period, the full premium for that period is required. Premiums will be retroactively collected for forms processed after the effective date of coverage. It is the employee's responsibility to review their semi-monthly pay advice every pay period to ensure deductions are accurate. Contact Benefit Services immediately if deductions are not accurate.
What to do next?
► Verify the deadline for submitting requests and documentation