Qualified Life Events

Certain events in your life may require that you make changes to your Medical, Dental, and/or Vision coverage, Flexible Spending Account(s), Life insurance, and/or Retirement programs. With the exception of your 403(b) Retirement Savings Plan (which can be changed anytime throughout the year), there are only two opportunities to make changes to your benefits:

1) During the annual Open Enrollment period
2) When you have a qualified life event

A qualified life event change is generally defined as a change in your status due to marriage, birth or adoption of a child(ren), death of an immediate family member, divorce, loss or gain of insurance coverage by your spouse, or termination.  Some other events may also qualify.  For detailed guidelines on the allowable benefits changes for the various life event changes please go to http://www.changeofstatus.com.  Click here for detailed information regarding dependent eligibility criteria.

Important: Please contact Human Resources - Benefits (214-768-3311) immediately.  You have 31 days from the event date to make allowable changes via Access.SMU Employee Self-Service.

Due to the tax-favored status of SMU's benefits program, the IRS does not allow changes after this 31 day period until the next annual open enrollment.

Loss of Dependent Eligibility

At some point, dependent children will lose their eligibility for SMU benefits coverage, primarily due to age.

  • Coverage ends on the day the child no longer meets the SMU eligibility criteria.
    • You must contact the Department of Human Resources immediately to arrange for cancellation of coverage for dependents who no longer meet the SMU eligibility criteria.
  • Medical and dental coverage may be continued for up to 36 months under COBRA.  However, COBRA coverage is quite expensive and it probably makes sense to look into purchasing an individual policy.  You will find a link to the eHealthInsurance website by clicking on the COBRA link above.  This website enables you to request premium quotes from different insurance companies for an individual medical policy.

     

    Southern Methodist University

    Department of Human Resources - Benefits

    Expressway Tower - Suite 200

    Fax: 214-768-2043