Family Changes
Fact Sheet: Family Changes
3
Families can change in many ways over the years. When you add
a new member to your family, you’ll want to make sure you enroll
the person in all the benets for which they are eligible. And if a
family member loses eligibility, you’ll need to disenroll this person
from your benets.
Here’s a list of the family changes that warrant a review of
your benets:
• Marriage or divorce
• Establishing or ending a domestic partnership
• Adding a new child to your family
• Legal separation, annulment
• Child or grandchild’s loss of eligibility for coverage
• Death of an eligible family member
This fact sheet covers benets eligibility for family members, and
how to enroll and disenroll a family member in UC-sponsored
benets. It also includes suggestions for other steps you might
wish to take after a family change, such as updating your
beneciaries.
Got questions?
If you still have questions after reviewing the information
here, check out UCnet (ucnet.universityofcalifornia.edu).
You’ll nd general information, UC publications and forms,
and details on benet plans. Sign in to UCPath to review
your benets, or contact a UCPath representative for help.
4
When to Add a New Family Member to Your Benets
When to Add a New Family
Member to Your Benets
BENEFITS WITH AN ENROLLMENT DEADLINE
For most benets, there’s a 31-day period in which you may
enroll new family members, enroll yourself if you’re not enrolled
already, or make other changes. This period begins the date your
new family member becomes eligible for enrollment in your
UC-sponsored benets. It’s known as the Period of Initial
Eligibility, or PIE. The rst day of eligibility varies for dierent
new family members, as shown in the chart below.
WHEN NEW FAMILY MEMBERS BECOME ELIGIBLE
New family member Must enroll in benets within the
31-day PIE that begins on the:
Spouse Date of marriage
Domestic partner Date partner meets all eligibility
requirements*
Domestic partner’s child or
grandchild
Date child meets all eligibility
requirements*
Newborn child Child’s date of birth
Adopted child The date the child is placed for
adoption, or the date your spouse or
domestic partner has the legal right
to control the child’s health care—
whichever is later. Or when the
adoption is nal, if you didn’t enroll
the child before then.
Stepchild, grandchild or
legal ward
Date the child meets all eligibility
requirements
* See ucal.us/domesticpartnership to learn more about eligibility requirements.
Note that, to enroll a domestic partner’s child or grandchild, the partner must
also meet all eligibility requirements, even if the partner won’t be enrolled in
benets.
IF YOU MISS THE ENROLLMENT DEADLINE
For medical plans, if you do not enroll during your PIE, you may
enroll later, but with a 90-day waiting period before you and/or
your family member are covered. You may also enroll during
Open Enrollment, which is usually held in November, with
coverage beginning the following January 1.
For the other plans, you may need to submit a statement of
health, with no guarantee that the insurance carrier will approve
your application. That’s why it’s best to enroll during the PIE.
IF YOU LOSE OTHER COVERAGE
If you don’t enroll yourself or your eligible family member in
UC-sponsored medical, dental, vision, supplemental health or
legal coverage because you have other insurance, and you lose
the other insurance involuntarily, you will have a new 31-day PIE
that begins the date the other coverage was lost. You’ll need to
submit proof that the other coverage was lost.
If you involuntarily lose coverage provided by Medicaid
(Medi-Cal) or the State Children’s Health Initiative Program
(CHIP), the PIE for enrolling is extended to 60 days.
BENEFITS WITHOUT AN ENROLLMENT DEADLINE
You may enroll newly eligible family members in Accidental
Death and Dismemberment, and Automobile/Homeowner/
Renter Insurance at any time. If you’re not enrolled in Bright
Horizons Care Advantage or pet insurance, you may enroll at
any time.
You may also enroll eligible children in Dependent Life Insurance
at any time during the year without a statement of health or
evidence of insurability.
You don’t have the option to make changes to your basic life,
Basic Disability or Voluntary Disability coverage as the result of
a family change.
5
How You Can Change Your Benets
When a Family Member Becomes Eligible
How You Can Change Your Benets When a Family Member Becomes Eligible
Benet What you can do When coverage begins
Medical, Dental, Vision,
Supplemental Health
If you’re enrolled, you may add your newly eligible family
member to your current plans. At the time you enroll the
new family member, you may also change to a dierent
medical plan for which you’re eligible. However, if you are
enrolled in a Health FSA, you may not enroll in the UC
Health Savings Plan.
If you’re not enrolled in medical, dental, vision or
supplemental health plans, you and your new family
members may enroll during your new PIE.
If you enroll during your PIE, on the day your family
member becomes eligible.
If you change your medical plan, the rst of the
following month.
If you miss your PIE and enroll during Open
Enrollment, the following January 1.
If you miss your PIE and enroll in medical (but not
dental, vision or supplemental health plans) outside of
Open Enrollment, 90 days after your completed
enrollment form is received.
Legal If you’re enrolled, you may add newly eligible family
members to your plan during your new PIE.
The day your family member becomes eligible.
Basic Life,
Basic Disability,
Voluntary Disability
You may not change these benets as a result of a family
change.
N/A
Supplemental Life You may enroll or increase coverage during your PIE; if you
want to cancel or decrease coverage, you may do so at any
time. Please see the information on updating beneciaries
in “Other Things to Do After a Family Change” on page 9.
The rst day of your new PIE.
Basic Dependent Life,
Expanded Dependent Life
If you’re enrolled in Supplemental Life, you may choose one
of these options for your new spouse, domestic partner and/
or child(ren). (Dependents can’t be enrolled in both plans.)
Children can be added at any time without a statement of
health submitted to the carrier; adults may be required to
submit a statement of health if enrolling outside of the PIE.
See ucal.us/lifeinsurance for details, current rates, and
restrictions that may apply.
The rst day of the new PIE unless your eligible family
member is hospitalized on that day; if so, coverage
starts the day after release from the hospital.
Newborns are covered from the date of birth. Adopted
children are covered from the date of adoption.
Accidental Death and
Dismemberment
You may enroll yourself and eligible family members at
any time.
On the day you enroll your family member, unless
the person is hospitalized on that day. Then coverage
starts the day after release from the hospital. Newborn
children are covered from birth and adopted children
from the date of adoption.
Dependent Care Flexible
Spending Account
(DepCare FSA),
Health Care Flexible
Spending Account
(Health FSA)
You may enroll, disenroll or change these accounts during
your new PIE, as allowed by IRS rules. The changes you
make must result from, and be consistent with, your family
change and your family members will need to meet IRS
rules. See the DepCare FSA or Health FSA Summary Plan
Descriptions on UCnet (ucnet.universityofcalifornia.edu/
forms/index.html) for details.
The rst of the month following your PIE, subject to
payroll deadlines.
Tax Savings on Insurance
Premiums (TIP)
Your salary reduction amount will adjust automatically if
your health plan premium goes up because you added a new
family member.
With your rst paycheck after the addition of your
family member.
Automobile/Homeowner/
Renter
You may add licensed drivers in your household—and the
personal property of insured family members who live in
your household—to your coverage, provided they meet the
insurer’s underwriting guidelines.
The day you enroll your family member.
6
How You Can Change Your Benets When a Family Member Becomes Eligible
How You Can Change Your Benets
When a Family Member Becomes Eligible
Benet What you can do When coverage begins
Bright Horizons Care
Advantage
You may register online through Bright Horizons Care
Advantage at careadvantage.com/universityofcalifornia, as
long as you’re eligible for this benet.
The day you register on Bright Horizons Care
Advantage website for Sittercity and/or Years Ahead.
UC Retirement Plan,
DC Plan, 403(b) Plan,
457(b) Plan
Adding a new family member doesn’t aect your participa-
tion in these plans. Please see the information on updating
beneciaries and on Qualied Domestic Relations Orders in
“Other Things to Do After a Family Change” on page 9.
N/A
7
How to Enroll a New Family Member
How to Enroll a New
Family Member
Tip:
Your family members are covered as soon as they become
eligible, but it can take as long as 60 days for the insurance
carriers to have a record of their enrollment. If your
family member needs services during this period, check
with your insurance carrier rst to see if they have a record
of your family member’s enrollment. If they don’t, ask them
to contact UCPath or the UC Retirement Administration
Service Center to help you get services.
When you add an eligible new family member, it’s your
responsibility to take action to enroll that person in your
benets. Here’s what you need to do:
FOR MOST BENEFITS:
• Currently employed faculty and sta: In most cases, you
can enroll your new family member through your UCPath
online account. For some life events (such as involuntary loss
of coverage) you may need to submit an enrollment form.
• Retirees: To enroll your new family member, sign in to your
UCRAYS account. Select “Retiree Insurance” and follow the
instructions to ll out a UBEN 100 form and submit it to
the UC Retirement Administration Service Center, either
electronically or by mail.
• Verify your family member’s eligibility. If you’re enrolling a
new family member in a UC-sponsored health plan, UnifyHR,
the administrator of the family member eligibility verication
process, will send you a request for specic documentation.
You’ll need to respond by the deadline on the letter, or
risk disenrollment of the new family member. For more
information, please see ucal.us/fmv.
FOR AUTOMOBILE/HOMEOWNER/RENTER
• Contact the carrier directly
FOR BRIGHT HORIZONS CARE ADVANTAGE
• Register through the website at careadvantage.com/
universityofcalifornia
FOR SUPPLEMENTAL HEALTH PLANS
• Contact the UCPlus Service Center
FOR ALL BENEFITS:
Once you’ve made the enrollment changes, take a close look at
your direct deposit record or pay stub to make sure your choices
have been processed as you intended. If questions or problems
crop up, contact UCPath or the UC Retirement Administration
Service Center right away.
8
How to Disenroll Family Members
How to Disenroll
Family Members
When a family change results in a family member losing
eligibility (see chart below), you must disenroll that person from
your UC-sponsored benets. (You are also required to disenroll
a family member who dies; contact UCPath, the UC Retirement
Administration Service Center or your Benets Oce for
assistance.)
Family member Changes that result in loss of
eligibility
Spouse Annulment of marriage, legal
separation or divorce
Domestic partner Ending of domestic partnership
Domestic partner’s child or
grandchild
Ending of domestic partnership
Child, grandchild, or stepchild Child reaches age 26; legal
separation or divorce from
stepchild’s parent
Legal ward Child reaches age 18
Adult dependent relative Relative reaches age 65 (unless
he/she is not eligible for
Medicare Part A; see below)
When a family member loses eligibility, coverage will end on the
last day of the month in which the family change occurs, no
matter when you complete the disenrollment transaction.
Here’s what you need to know to disenroll a family member.
MEDICAL, DENTAL, VISION
For a child, legal ward or adult dependent relative, you don’t
need to take any action. UC automatically disenrolls these
family members when they reach the age limit. However, you
must submit the Notice of Qualifying Event form (UBEN 109) so
that information about continued coverage can be provided.
(See page 8 for more information.) If you submit proof that your
child is disabled or that your adult dependent is not eligible for
Medicare Part A, he or she will not be disenrolled.
If you divorce, end your domestic partnership, become le-
gally separated, or your marriage is annulled, you need to dis-
enroll the person through your UCPath account, or by lling out
and completing the UBEN 100 (available at ucal.us/UBEN100 or
through your UCRAYS account).
If you’re required by legal decree to maintain health coverage for
a former spouse or other ineligible family members, you need
to make your own arrangements for that coverage. Please see
“More Options for Continuing Your Benets” on page 8.
If you are enrolled in the UC Health Savings Plan and
disenrolling your family member changes your coverage to
individual coverage, you may need to adjust your Health
Savings Account contribution to ensure you do not exceed the
IRS contribution limit.
LEGAL, ACCIDENTAL DEATH AND DISMEMBERMENT,
LIFE, DEPCARE FSA, HEALTH FSA
Disenroll online through your UCPath account or ll out and
complete the UBEN 100 (ucal.us/UBEN100).
SUPPLEMENTAL HEALTH PLANS
The carrier will automatically disenroll a child or legal ward when
they reach the age limit. Contact the UCPlus Service Center for
all other disenrollments.
TAX SAVINGS ON INSURANCE PREMIUMS (TIP)
You don’t need to take any action. If your family change decreas-
es your monthly cost for health coverage, your salary reduction
amount will adjust automatically.
AUTO/HOMEOWNER/RENTER’S INSURANCE
Contact the carrier directly to disenroll an ineligible or deceased
family member. You may add or delete family members, or
change your coverage, at any time.
9
More Options for
Continuing Benets
More Options for Continuing Benets
COBRA AND CALCOBRA
If you’re enrolled in UC’s medical, dental or vision plans and a
family change causes one of your family members to lose
eligibility for coverage, your family member may be able to
continue these benets under COBRA or CalCOBRA. (Eligibility
for the Employee Assistance Program continues under COBRA,
as well.)
Generally, if a family member loses coverage because you
divorce, legally separate, get an annulment, end a domestic
partnership or die or because the dependent loses eligibility (for
example, turns age 26), your family member may continue
coverage for up to 36 months. The federal COBRA period runs
for 18 months; if this coverage period is exhausted, eligible
family members may be able to extend UC-sponsored medical
coverage (but not dental or vision) under CalCOBRA for up to an
additional 18 months. CalCOBRA is not available for CORE, UC
Care or UC Health Savings Plan medical plans because it does not
apply to self-insured plans.
Please note that COBRA and CalCOBRA options tend to be
more expensive than continuation through UC.
If you’re enrolled in the Health FSA and a family member loses
coverage, the family member may continue coverage under
COBRA through December 31 of the current plan year by
making after-tax payments.
You may also want to explore your options through the health
insurance marketplace established under the Aordable Care
Act. In California, you can nd information at coveredca.com or
call 800-300-1506.
Deadlines: You’ll need to apply no later than 60 days from the
date your family member loses coverage by reason of a
qualifying event, or 60 days from the date you receive notice
of your continuation rights—whichever is later. Talk with UCPath
or your local Benets Oce about how to apply, or go to
ucal.us/COBRA.
WHAT YOU NEED TO DO
It is up to you to notify UCPath of a:
• divorce/legal separation/annulment
• termination of domestic partnership
• dependent’s loss of eligibility
Then, to be eligible for COBRA, you or the family member who
lost coverage must provide notice within 60 days of the event,
either by completing the Notice to UC of a Qualifying Event form
(UBEN 109, available at ucnet.universityofcalifornia.edu/forms/
uben109.pdf), or by providing written notice.
CONVERSION TO AN INDIVIDUAL POLICY
If your family member is enrolled in medical, life, AD&D or legal,
your family member may convert the UC-sponsored group
coverage to individual policies without the need for individual
underwriting by the insurer.
Deadline: Your family member will need to apply within 31 days
after UC-sponsored or COBRA coverage ends.
MAKING LIFE OR SUPPLEMENTAL HEALTH INSURANCE
PORTABLE
Family members enrolled in Dependent Life or Supplemental
Health Plans may be eligible to continue coverage with the same
benets, provisions and premium rates as the UC-sponsored
plans.
Deadline: Family members need to apply for portability benets
within 31 days after the date their coverage ends. Contact
UCPath with questions about how to apply.
10
Other Things to Do After a Family Change
CONFIRM YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION
Because family changes often prompt other changes, make sure
that your address, phone number, emergency contact information,
direct deposit numbers and other personal information are up to
date with your location, and in all of your benets accounts
(ucal.us/accounts).
UPDATE YOUR BENEFICIARIES
A family change is a good time to review the beneciaries you’ve
named to receive benets from your UC-sponsored plans in the
event of your death. Changes in your family situation don’t
automatically change your beneciary choices, and a will does
not supersede a beneciary designation. You’ll need to make any
changes by lling out a new designation form. For UCRP (which
includes the Pension Choice pension benet), the Capital
Accumulation Payment (CAP) and life insurance, go to UCnet
and sign in to your UC Retirement At Your Service (UCRAYS)
account. For Savings Choice, Pension Choice supplemental and
Retirement Savings Program accounts (403(b), 457(b) and DC
Plans), sign in to your account on myucretirement.com. For the
UC Health Savings Plan health savings account, sign in to your
account on the Health Equity website (healthequity.com/ed/uc)
or contact Health Equity at 855-201-8375.
REVIEW YOUR PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIAN AND DENTIST
If you’re enrolling a new family member in an HMO medical
plan, you’ll need to choose a primary care physician for that
family member. And if you’re enrolled in the DeltaCare
®
USA
dental plan, you’ll need to select a dentist for any new family
members. Contact the health or dental plan directly.
QUALIFIED DOMESTIC RELATIONS ORDERS (QDROS)
Generally, University of California Retirement System (UCRS)
accumulations and benets are payable to you or your
beneciaries. They can’t be attached by creditors, and the
benets can’t be assigned to others.
There’s an exception to this, though, if you’re divorcing and have
a Qualied Domestic Relations Order (QDRO). You, your spouse
or former spouse, and your respective attorneys or other
authorized legal representatives have the right to obtain
information about your benets and how they are determined.
This also applies to the termination of a registered domestic
partnership. If you have questions about QDROs and how they
might relate to your retirement benets, please contact the
Retirement Service Administration Center’s Special Claims Unit,
at 800-888-8267.
Other Things to Do After
a Family Change
By authority of the Regents, University of California Human Resources,
located in Oakland, administers all benet plans in accordance with
applicable plan documents and regulations, custodial agreements,
University of California Group Insurance Regulations, group insurance
contracts, and state and federal laws. No person is authorized to
provide benets information not contained in these source docu-
ments, and information not contained in these source documents
cannot be relied upon as having been authorized by the Regents.
Source documents are available for inspection upon request (800-888-
8267). What is written here does not constitute a guaranteeof plan
coverage or benets—particular rules and eligibility requirements must
be met before benets can be received. The University of California
intends to continue the benets described here indenitely; however, the
benets of all employees, retirees, and plan beneciaries are subject to
change or termination at the time of contract renewal or at any other time
by the University or other governing authorities. The University also
reserves the right to determine new premiums, employer contributions and
monthly costs at any time. Health and welfare benets are not accrued or
vested benet entitlements. UC’s contribution toward the monthly cost
of the coverage is determined by UC and may change or stop
altogether, and may be aected by the state of California’s annual bud-
get appropriation. If you belong to an exclusively represented
bargaining unit, some of your benets may dier from the ones described
here. For more information, employees should contact their Human
Resources Oce and retirees should call the UC Retirement Administra-
tion Service Center (800-888-8267).
In conformance with applicable law and University policy, the University
is an armative action/equal opportunity employer. Please send inquiries
regarding the University’s armative action and equal opportunity
policies for sta to Systemwide AA/EEO Policy Coordinator, University
of California, Oce of the President, 1111 Franklin Street, 5th Floor,
Oakland, CA 94607, and for faculty to the Oce of Academic Personnel
and Programs, University of California, Oce of the President,
1111 Franklin Street, Oakland, CA 94607.
Family Changes
Fact Sheet: Family Changes
3009 W7/23
