If you add a new child to your family due to birth, adoption or placement for adoption, you are eligible to add the child to your current benefit plans or cancel coverage. You may also be able to enroll in certain benefit plans that offer an open enrollment due to the addition of a new child to your family.
You must submit an application to add your new child to your benefit plans, enroll in a benefit plan for the first time or cancel coverage within 30-60 days of gaining a new child (deadline varies by plan). Applications can be accessed on the Forms & Resources web page. Submit completed applications to your benefits contact.
All enrollment periods begin on the date of the event – the date of birth, adoption or placement for adoption.
Information with details specific to each benefit plan can be accessed below.
With the birth or adoption of new child you may be eligible for Paid Parental Leave (policy effective July 1, 2024). Review the Paid Parental Leave web page for details.
You may take the following actions within 60 days of the birth, adoption or placement for adoption. Coverage is effective on the date of the birth, adoption or placement for adoption.
- Add the new child to your existing coverage
- Enroll (can cover all eligible family members)
You may also change health insurance plan carriers or health plan design within 30 days of the birth, adoption or placement for adoption. A change to your health insurance plan carrier or health plan design is effective the first of the month on or following receipt of your application. If you change your health insurance plan carrier (for example: from Dean to Quartz), all accumulators (deductible, benefit maximums and out-of-pocket limits) will reset. Pharmacy benefit accumulators and Uniform Dental benefits continue regardless of a plan change and/or health insurance carrier change.
You may also request to cancel coverage within 30 days of the birth, adoption or placement for adoption. If you request to cancel coverage, you must provide proof of other health insurance coverage for review and approval.
Review the Life Change Events and Documentation Requirements (ET-2846) for information on documentation required to confirm eligibility.
You may take the following action within 60 days of the birth, adoption or placement for adoption.
- Add the new child to your existing coverage
- Enroll in coverage and add all eligible family members
- Cancel coverage
You may take the following action within 60 days of the birth, adoption or placement for adoption.
- Add the new child to your existing coverage
- Enroll in coverage and add all eligible family members
- Cancel coverage
You may take the following actions within 30 days of the birth, adoption or placement for adoption. Coverage is effective on the first of the month on or following 30 days from the date of the birth, adoption, or placement for adoption.
- Enroll in Basic coverage (if not currently enrolled), or
- Add one unit of employee coverage for each new dependent (if not already enrolled in maximum number of units)
- Enroll in one or two units of Spouse/Dependent coverage
- If already enrolled, newly eligible children are automatically covered (does not require an application)
Review your beneficiary designation and update, if necessary.
If enrolled in Employee coverage, you may add Child coverage within 30 days of the birth, adoption or placement for adoption if this is the first time you have an eligible child to cover. If already enrolled in Child coverage, newly eligible children are automatically covered (does not require an application).
Coverage is effective on the first of the month on or following 30 days from the date of the birth, adoption, or placement for adoption.
Review your beneficiary designation and update, if necessary.
You may enroll in Employee Only or Family coverage at any time. If enrolled in Family coverage, newly eligible children are automatically covered (does not require an application).
Changes to your coverage are effective on the first of the month on or following the receipt of your application.
Review your beneficiary designation and update, if necessary.
You may take the following action within 60 days of the birth, adoption or placement for adoption.
- Add the new child to your existing coverage
- Enroll in coverage and add all eligible family members
- Cancel coverage
This plan offers employee coverage and there is no enrollment opportunity upon the addition of a child to your family.
You may take the following actions within 30 days of the birth, adoption or placement for adoption. Action must be consistent with the qualifying event.
- Enroll in a Health Care and/or Dependent Day Care FSA
- Increase your Health Care and/or Dependent Day Care FSA election (if already enrolled).
You must submit a Change of Election form to your institution's benefits contact to enroll in or change your election under one or both of the plans. If you enroll, coverage is effective on the date of the birth, adoption, or placement for adoption.
Note: Elections do not automatically continue into the next plan year. You must re-enroll in FSAs in the fall to participate in the upcoming calendar year.
If you enroll in a High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP), or change your health plan to a HDHP due to birth, adoption or placement for adoption, you are required to enroll in a Health Savings Account. Submit the HSA enrollment form with the State Group Health application to your institution's benefits office within 30 days of the birth, adoption or placement for adoption. There are eligibility requirements to enroll in a HDHP. See the State Group Health Insurance pages for more information.
You can make changes to your contributions at any time.
Review your beneficiary designation and update, if necessary.
Review your beneficiary designation and update, if necessary.
You can enroll in or make changes at any time.
Review your beneficiary designation(s) and update, if necessary.
You can enroll in or make changes at any time.
Review your beneficiary designation and update, if necessary.
Review your tax withholding exemptions and update, if necessary. For information review the Update Federal and/or State W4 Tipsheet.
Beneficiary Designations
Remember to review and update your beneficiary designations when you have a life event to make sure that your benefits are paid according to your wishes. Benefit plans that have beneficiary designations include life insurance plans, retirement plans and the health savings account.
For more information review the Beneficiary Information web page.
Every effort has been made to ensure this information is current and correct. Information on this page does not guarantee enrollment, benefits and/or the ability to make changes to your benefits.
Updated: 06/11/2025