Birth, Adoption, and Foster Care
Birth, adoption, and foster care are qualifying status changes and create an opportunity for making changes to your benefits plans outside the annual enrollment period.
Health Plan
Dependent children must be added within 30 days of the date of birth or placement to avoid pre-existing condition waiting periods. Options for coverage effective dates are either the birth date/placement date or the first of the month following the date of birth or placement. Premiums are paid on a pre-pay basis (paid one month ahead). To change your coverage level, complete a State Health Plan change form and submit to the Benefits Office along with proof of birth (hospital record, etc.).
Visit these sites for information specific to each plan.
Information on maternity and newborn benefits and pre-admission certification can be found in the State Health Plan's Complete Benefit Booklet. Open the PDF, and scroll to the very end to view the index.
NCFlex Benefits
Health and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts are excellent means of setting aside pre-tax dollars to help pay for qualified dependent care and out of pocket medical expenses. Changes to NCFlex benefits must be made within 30 days of the qualifying event date. Changes can be made through the NCFlex On-line System by logging in, clicking on "My Account" and then selecting "Add a Life Event".
Contact your Benefits Consultant for enrollment and change instructions.
Note: A 12-month waiting period for types II, III and IV Dental plan services applies to late enrollees.
MetLife Group Term Life Insurance
Dependent coverage is available for newly acquired dependent children at amounts of either $2,000 or $10,000 through MetLife Group Term Life Insurance. Newly eligible dependents must be added to your plan within 31 days of the date of birth or placement in the home; otherwise, coverage may be applied for during annual enrollment. Late enrollees must receive evidence of insurability approval.
Beneficiary Changes
Keeping beneficiary information current brings peace of mind. Birth, adoption, and foster care placement may prompt beneficiary updates to your retirement and benefit plans. To change your TSERS (State Retirement System) beneficiaries, complete a Beneficiary Change Form, have your signature notarized (free service in HR) and mail the form to TSERS.
To change beneficiaries for NCFlex Life and/or AD&D, go to www.ncflexonline.org. Log in with the user ID and password you created. Click on My Account and then make your beneficiary changes.
To change beneficiaries for the MetLife Group Term Life Insurance, complete a Change Form then email the form, fax or campus mail the form to the Benefits Office.
Child Care and Schools
Visit our Child Care Resource Center for useful resource information, finding a child care provider, links to Triangle area school systems and more.
Leave of Absence Guidelines
Taking time off from work for birth, adoption, or foster care may be covered by the Family and Medical Leave Act, maternity leave, or sick leave policies. While on active payroll during a leave of absence, all benefit premiums continue through payroll deduction.
If a portion or all of a leave of absence will be without pay, contact your Benefits Consultant immediately to discuss benefit premium payment options.
Learn more about the Voluntary Shared Leave Program, through which co-workers may donate leave time to eligible recipients.
Taxes
Family status changes can lead to updating federal and/or state tax withholding exemptions. Visit the University Payroll web site to obtain withholding forms, and to estimate your tax liability.
Financial Planning
Major life events often trigger changes in financial planning strategies. Contact a University-approved financial planner or your supplemental savings plan to learn more.
