What should be a simple question here. I have pretty good insurance through my work. My wife has mediocre insurance for herself and our daughter, but the benefits have been getting steadily worse while the premiums and deductible have been getting higher and higher.
So, I talked to my division’s HR person, and from what she said, we have NO open enrollment. The only way to get my family added to my plan is due to a ‘life status change’ such as a baby, unemployment, or something like that.
Is that right? It seems extremely unbelievable - the insurance company involved is Cigna, and the state is Mississippi, if it matters.
In at least one case during my life, simply discontinuing one insurance carrier counted as a “qualifying event” to get me added to my wife’s insurance.
Most companies allow for an annual enrollment period to allow personell to make changes to their benefit plans. (e.g. add or delete dental coverage, change life insurance amounts, switch coverage amounts for medical plans if more than one are offered, adjust health care reimbursement amounts, etc.) That is when you would be able to add your spouse and child if they were previously not included in your benefit elections. Anytime other than that annual enrollment would require a “qualifying life event” as you described.
I would find it unusual that your employer does not permit annual changes to be made. But that’s the discretion of your employer.
I used to work in the industry and I have never heard of that but I suppose it is possible. It is easy to work around though. Just get a divorce, change your insurance around however you want it, wait a few months and then get remarried (if you choose). Divorce is always a qualifying life event for those dealing with stubborn employers and insurance companies.
I would call the insurance company and ask them. I wonder if they allow open enrollment during a certain month of the year, but it’s at the employer’s discretion whether to offer it to employees. Maybe you can arrange it by contacting the insurer first, or even do it through them somehow. It’s a route I wouldn’t want to be left unexplored, anyway.