Cheat Sheet

Life doesn’t always line up neatly with open enrollment. If something significant changes for you or your family during the year, you may be able to update your benefits sooner. These situations, called midyear qualifying events, allow you to adjust certain benefits outside the annual enrollment window if they meet IRS guidelines and are supported by your employer’s plan.

Your employer is not required to allow all midyear election changes; only those allowed under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) special enrollment rights may be recognized.

What Counts as a Midyear Qualifying Event?

A midyear qualifying event is a life change that affects your eligibility for benefits or for your dependents. When one occurs, you may be allowed to update your elections so your coverage still fits your needs.

If you experience any of these events, act quickly, as you typically have a limited window (usually 30 days from the date of the qualifying event) to modify your elections.

The following are examples of qualifying events identified by the IRS:

What Can Be Changed?

• Add or remove dependents
• Enroll in or drop coverage
• Switch plan types
• Update coverage levels

Your employer may have specific rules or guidelines for midyear election changes.

Check with your employer to learn more.