Qualifying Life Events

Usually, changes to many employee benefits plans can only be done during Open Enrollment.  Under IRS rules, you must pay the same amount of premium each month during the year, unless you experience a qualifying life event.

Qualifying life events include changes like births, adoptions, deaths, divorces, and job changes. Documentation is required and varies depending on the event. You may add and drop dependents due to a qualifying life event, but you cannot change your current plan enrollment. Changes are only permitted during the month of the event and the following two months excluding divorce which must be reported immediately .

Changes are effective the month following the completed enrollment(s). If a change is requested outside of this time period, you will be required to wait until an Open Enrollment period.

Please note that West Virginia Public Employees Insurance Agency (PEIA) is conducting ongoing dependent eligibility audits. If these audits find that an employee policyholder is divorced but has not removed their ex-spouse (or step-children) from the policy, PEIA will explore every legal remedy to recover cost(s) incurred by the fraudulent acts. See PEIA's Divorce page and PEIA's Important Reminder for WVU Employees  for additional information. Any questions, comments, or concerns regarding the PEIA dependent eligibility audits may be directed to Thomas Miller, Privacy Officer for the WV Department of Administration and PEIA at 304.558.7850 ext. 52663 or email  thomas.d.miller@wv.gov.

For more information, including a list of qualifying life events and required documentation, or to initiate a change based on a qualifying life event, visit the Qualifying Life Event Knowledge Base article, or contact Shared Services directly at 304.293.6006 or via email.