Human Resources > Benefits > Life Change > Changes in Family Status

Changes in Family Status

Changes in Family Status can be used as an IRS qualifying event to apply for additional life insurance, modify your FSA elections, change enrollment in disability plans, or even add or drop health insurance. A completed Benefits Change Form and supporting documentation must be received by the Benefits Division within 31 days of the event.

Marriage

Birth

Adoption

Divorce

Dependent Enters / Leaves the U.S.

Domestic Partnership

Marriage

• To insure your spouse you must complete and submit the Benefits Change Form to the Benefits Division within 31 days of the marriage. A marriage certificate or other proof is not required.

• You may enroll in spouse life insurance with coverage up to your total basic and supplemental life insurance, not to exceed $500,000, in $10,000 increments. Underwriting is required for amounts over $30,000; elect $30,000 on the Benefits Change Form and complete the Evidence of Insurability form to apply for additional coverage. The benefit amount will automatically be updated once the Benefits Division receives an approval notice from ING.

• The Evidence of Insurability form is required if you are enrolling in or increasing your basic or supplemental life insurance.

• You cannot change the health or dental plan in which your family is enrolled.

• Insurance premiums are not prorated . Regardless of the date of marriage, you are financially responsible for the entire month of insurance premiums. These may be retroactively deducted on future paychecks.

• Please allow the Benefits Division five business days to process your paperwork before changing your life insurance beneficiaries through Self Service . If your spouse is incorrectly listed as �friend� or does not appear, please contact the Benefits Division before making any changes.

• Don't forget to update your home address in Self Service if you have moved!

• You can change your name with Northwestern University by submitting a Personal Data Form and providing your new social security card to the payroll office.

Birth

• Parental insurance will cover a newborn's initial medical expenses while the baby is still in the hospital, but action must be taken to continue coverage .

• To insure your newborn you must complete and submit the Benefits Change Form to the Benefits Division within 31 days of the child's birth. Birth certificates or other proof are not required.

• You may enroll in dependent child life insurance with coverage up to $10,000 in $2,000 increments. Underwriting is not required for this plan. If you have already enrolled other children in dependent child life insurance, then your newborn will be added automatically.

• The Evidence of Insurability form is required if you are enrolling in or increasing your basic, supplemental or spouse life insurance.

• You cannot change the health or dental plan in which your family is enrolled.

• If both you and your spouse are employed full-time or are full-time students, you may be eligible for the Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account to help cover childcare expenses including daycare.

• Depending on your gross household income, you may also be eligible for the Employer Match. Use the Dependent Care University Match Application and include your most recently filed 1040 federal tax form to apply.

• Insurance premiums are not prorated . Regardless of the date your child is born, you are financially responsible for the entire month of insurance premiums. These may be retroactively deducted on future paychecks.

Adoption

• To insure your child you must complete and submit the Benefits Change Form and appropriate court documents to the Benefits Division within 31 days of the adoption.

• The Evidence of Insurability form is required if you are enrolling in, or increasing your basic, supplemental or spouse life insurance.

• You cannot change the health or dental plan in which your family is enrolled.

• Insurance premiums are not prorated . Regardless of the date your child is adopted, you are financially responsible for the entire month of insurance premiums. These may be retroactively deducted on future paychecks.

Divorce

• To drop your spouse you must complete and submit the Benefits Change Form and the first page of the divorce decree to the Benefits Division within 31 days of the divorce or legal separation.

• The Evidence of Insurability form is required if you are enrolling in or increasing your basic or supplemental life insurance.

• You cannot change the health or dental plan in which your family is enrolled.

• Insurance premiums are not prorated . Regardless of the date of divorce, you are financially responsible for the entire month of insurance premiums.

• Please allow the Benefits Division five business days to process your paperwork before changing your life insurance beneficiaries through Self Service . If your ex-spouse is incorrectly listed as �spouse�, please contact the Benefits Division before making any changes. You may also contact the Benefits Division to permanently remove your ex-spouse's record from your list of beneficiaries.

• If your spouse may require COBRA insurance coverage, you must notify the Benefits Division to obtain a formal offer letter within 31 days of the divorce or legal separation.

• Don't forget to verify your home address in Self Service at https://nuhr.northwestern.edu

Dependents Entering or Leaving the United States

Dependent Child or Spouse Entering the United States

• To insure your dependents you must complete and submit the Benefits Change Form and a copy of their stamped passport to the Benefits Division within 31 days of their arrival in the United States.

• The Evidence of Insurability form is required if you are enrolling in or increasing your basic, supplemental or spouse life insurance.

• You cannot change the health or dental plan in which your family is enrolled.

• Insurance premiums are not prorated . Regardless of the date your dependents enter the United States, you are financially responsible for the entire month of insurance premiums. These may be retroactively deducted on future paychecks.

Dependent Child or Spouse Leaving the United States

• To drop your dependents you must complete and submit the Benefits Change Form and a copy of their stamped passport to the Benefits Division within 31 days of their departure from the United States.

• The Evidence of Insurability form is required if you are enrolling in or increasing your basic, supplemental or spouse life insurance.

• You cannot change the health or dental plan in which your family is enrolled.

• If you will no longer have dependent children in the United States, you must waive the Dependent Care FSA and the Employer Match. Any unused money remaining in the account will not be reimbursed.

• Insurance premiums are not prorated . Regardless of the date your dependents leave the United States, you are financially responsible for the entire month of insurance premiums.

Domestic Partnership

Domestic Partnership Declaration

• To add your same-gender domestic partner you must complete and submit the Benefits Change Form and the Same-Gender Domestic Partnership Declaration Form to the Benefits Division. Benefits will become effective the date the Declaration Form is received.

• You may enroll in domestic partner life insurance with coverage up to your total basic and supplemental life insurance, not to exceed $500,000, in $10,000 increments. Underwriting is required for amounts over $30,000; elect $30,000 on the Benefits Change Form and complete the Evidence of Insurability form to apply for additional coverage. The Benefit amount will automatically be updated once the Benefits Division receives an approval notice from ING.

• The Evidence of Insurability form is required if you are enrolling in or increasing your basic or supplemental life insurance.

• You cannot change the health or dental plan in which your family is enrolled.

• Insurance premiums are not prorated . Regardless of the date your domestic partner was added to your plan, you are financially responsible for the entire month of insurance premiums. These may be retroactively deducted on future paychecks.

• Please allow the Benefits Division five business days to process your paperwork before changing your life insurance beneficiaries through Self Service . If your domestic partner is incorrectly listed as �friend�, please contact the Benefits Division before making any changes.

Domestic Partnership Termination

• To drop your domestic partner you must complete and submit the Benefits Change Form and the Same-Gender Domestic Partnership Termination Form to the Benefits Division. Benefits will be terminated effective the date the Termination Form is received.

• The Evidence of Insurability form is required if you are enrolling in or increasing your basic or supplemental life insurance.

• You cannot change the health or dental plan in which your family is enrolled.

• Insurance premiums are not prorated . Regardless of the date your domestic partner is removed from your insurance, you are financially responsible for the entire month of insurance premiums.

• Please allow the Benefits Division five business days to process your paperwork before changing your life insurance beneficiaries through Self Service . You may contact the Benefits Division to permanently remove your domestic partner's record from your list of beneficiaries.

• If your domestic partner may require COBRA insurance coverage, you must notify the Benefits Division to obtain a formal offer letter within 31 days of the partnership termination.