Life Events

What is a Qualifying Life Event?

In most situations, IRS regulations require the benefits you choose each year to stay in place until the start of the next plan year. However, if you experience a major life change, you may be eligible to update your benefit elections to better align with your new circumstances. These include:

• Marriage or gaining a domestic partner
• Divorce, legal separation, or losing a domestic partner that affects eligibility
• Birth, adoption, or legal placement of a child
• Employment changes for you or your dependents that affect coverage eligibility
• Loss or gain of other coverage, such as Medicare, Medicaid, or CHIP
• Death of a dependent

Visit the Life Events page for more information on life events and checklists for several life event scenarios.

Key Deadlines

You have 31 days from the date of your life event to update your coverage. A couple of events allow up to 60 days, such as loss of coverage under Medicaid or Chip.

• You can only make benefit changes after the event occurs.
  
  • Example: You must wait until your actual wedding date, or within 31 days after, to update your coverage.
• If you miss your window, you'll need to wait until the next Annual Enrollment period or another qualifying life event to make changes.

How to Report a Life Event

To report your qualifying life event and make your coverage changes, log in to the Office Depot Benefits Hub.

Adding Eligible Dependents

If a qualifying life event has occurred and you need to add a dependent to your coverage, your dependent will have to go through a verification process to prove they are an eligible dependent. View the dependent verification process for more information.

Removing Ineligible Dependents

You’re responsible for removing dependents as soon as they no longer meet eligibility requirements. You must remove ineligible dependents through the Office Depot Benefits Hub within 31 days of the date they lose eligibility. Premiums paid due to late removal cannot be refunded. The dependent may be eligible for COBRA.

When coverage ends:

• Spouse/Domestic Partner — On the date of divorce or dissolution of the partnership
• Children — On the last day of the month when they turn 26, unless legally disabled
• Domestic Partner’s Children — When the partnership ends

Important Note: An ex-spouse/domestic partner must be removed from active coverage, even if a court order says to keep them covered. If coverage must continue, it can only be done through COBRA, if available.

Benefits Start Date

Provided you report the qualifying life event within 31 days, your coverage will start:

• Birth: Coverage is retroactive to the baby’s date of birth
• All Other: Coverage begins on the 1st of the month after the event