ISC

Life Event: Gain of Other Coverage

Last updated Tuesday, April 9, 2024

Disclaimer: If the information on this page conflicts in any way with HCA documentation, the HCA documentation governs.

This Life Event is when:

  • You gain coverage under a group health plan that is provided by an employer other than the University of Washington.
    -or-
  • Your dependent gains coverage under an employer-based group health plan in which they are eligible for the employer contribution.

Changes and How To Make Them

When this Life Event happens, you can make any of the below changes to your benefits, provided eligibility requirements are met. Expand a menu for details.

Currently enrolled in Medicare or TRICARE?
For guidance on waiving your medical coverage, refer instead to the appropriate page:
Life Event: Gain or Loss of Eligibility for Medicare
Life Event: Gain or Loss of Eligibility for TRICARE

You can waive your medical coverage only if:

  • you are currently enrolled in your dependent’s newly-gained, employer-based group health plan
    -or-
  • you have gained employer-based coverage as an employee through an employer other than the University of Washington.

Note: If you are currently covering dependents on your medical coverage and choose to waive medical coverage for yourself, those dependents will in turn lose their medical coverage.

To waive your coverage:

1. Gather/scan documentation that serves as proof of the gain of other coverage* – either:

  • A letter of enrollment from your health plan or benefits office
    -or-
  • Your dependent’s hire letter from their employer
    -or
  • An employment contract

Additionally, regardless of which of the above documents you provide, for it to serve as valid proof, it must:

  • include your full name
    -AND-
  • include the effective date of coverage
    -AND-
  • specify the type of medical and/or dental coverage that was gained.

2. Follow the instructions in the Gain of Other Coverage User Guide to submit your desired benefits changes in Workday.

*If your dependent is gaining UW-provided coverage, you do not need to provide documentation for proof of the event.

Effective Date
This change takes effect on the last day of the month of the later of either:

  1. The date on which you gained coverage from the other employer
    -OR-
  2. The date you submit your changes in Workday (which must be no later than 60 days after the date other employer coverage was gained).

If the later of a. or b. is the 1st of the month, the waive date is the last day of the previous month.

You can remove a dependent(s) from your medical and/or dental coverage only if the dependent(s) being removed enrolled in an employer-based group health plan within the last 60 days.

To remove eligible dependent(s) from your medical coverage:

1. Gather/scan documentation that serves as proof of the gain of other coverage* – either:

  • A letter of enrollment from your health plan or benefits office
    -or-
  • Your dependent’s hire letter from their employer
    -or-
  • An employment contract

Additionally, regardless of which of the above documents you provide, for it to serve as valid proof, it must:

  • include your full name AND the full name of all dependent(s) you are removing from your medical and/or dental coverage
    -AND-
  • include the effective date of coverage
    -AND-
  • specify the type of medical and/or dental coverage that was gained.

2. Follow the instructions in the Gain of Other Coverage User Guide to submit your desired benefits changes in Workday.

*If your dependent is gaining UW-provided coverage, you do not need to provide documentation for proof of the event.

Effective Date
This change takes effect on the last day of the month of the later of either:

  1. The date on which your dependent gained coverage from the other employer
    -OR-
  2. The date you submit your changes in Workday (which must be no later than 60 days after the date other employer coverage was gained).

If the later of a. or b. is the 1st of the month, the remove date is the last day of the previous month.

If this is the only change to your benefits that you wish to make as part of this Life Event, submit your changes in Workday per the steps in the Benefits – Change Tobacco Use Attestation User Guide. The change will be effective on the 1st of the upcoming month; if you submitted your change on the 1st of the month, it takes effect that same day.

⇒ If this is the only change to your benefits that you wish to make as part of this Life Event:

  1. Gather supporting documentation showing a change in your spouse’s or SRDP’s employer-based group medical insurance.
  2. Submit your changes and supporting documentation in Workday per the steps in the Benefits – Change Spouse or Partner Premium Surcharge User Guide. The change will be effective on the 1st of the upcoming month; if you submitted your change on the 1st of the month, it takes effect that same day.

⇒ If you are changing your Spousal Surcharge attestation and making additional changes to your benefits coverage, follow the set of instructions on this page that pertain to the other change(s) you wish to make.

Example
If you are changing your Spousal Surcharge attestation AND removing a dependent from your medical coverage, refer to the “Remove eligible dependent(s) from your medical coverage” menu, above.

If you or your dependent are gaining and enrolling in FSA with another employer, you can cease or decrease the amount(s) of your FSA contributions. Follow the instructions in the Gain of Other Coverage User Guide to make your changes in Workday.

Effective Date
The change to your contribution amount will be effective on the 1st of the month that follows whichever date is later, either:

  • the date of change in employment
    -or-
  • the date you submit your requested changes in Workday.

If the either of the above dates is the 1st of the month, the change takes effect that day.

If you or your dependent are gaining and enrolling in the DCAP with another employer, you can cease or decrease the amount(s) of your DCAP contributions. Follow the instructions in the FSA and/or DCAP – Enroll/Change Contribution Amount(s) User Guide.

Effective Date
The change to your contribution amount will be effective on the 1st of the month that follows whichever date is later, either:

  • the date of change in employment
    -or-
  • the date you submit your requested changes in Workday.

If either of the above dates is the 1st of the month, the change takes effect that day.