When can I add dependents to my plan and what is a Qualifying Event?

If enrolled in a group-sponsored insurance plan, your HR or benefits department may tell you that you need a qualifying event to make changes outside your open enrollment window, including adding or removing a spouse or child(ren) from your plan. 

Qualifying events can include:

• Marriage

• Divorce

• Birth

• Death

• Change in insurance status (loss of coverage under a spouse, for example)

• Change in job status (moving part-time to full-time, for example)

When a qualifying event (QE) occurs, you have 30 days to notify your employer and make necessary changes to your plan.

The need for a QE to change your plan stems from how premiums are withheld from your paycheck. Many employers utilize a Premium Only Plan (POP)/Section 125 plan to withhold premiums. A Section 125 plan helps lower the employee’s taxable income but comes with some restrictions, such as the requirement for QEs to make plan changes.