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Status Change Events

To make changes to your benefit elections, be sure to complete a Status Change Request form and return it to the CMU Benefits & Wellness Office within 30 calendar days of the date of the event.  If you do not make changes within 30 calendar days of the event, you may not do so until the next open enrollment period.

 

Central Michigan University is partnered with BMI Audit Services for verifying dependent eligibility.  Dependents added to benefits may be required to submit copies of certain documents for validating their eligibility.  Dependents deemed ineligible, or failure to complete the eligibility audit with BMI, will result in loss of coverage for those dependents.  Examples of the types of documents that may be requested as proof of eligibility can be found on the dependent verification chart.

    Review and compare your spouse's benefits with your own so that you can coordinate coverage to your best advantage.

    Spouses who are offered coverage through their employer MUST enroll in at least single coverage through their employer for medical and dental insurance. This requirement does not pertain to coverage 100% paid by the spouse, or to regular faculty.

    Spouses who are benefit eligible CMU employees may each enroll individually or cover both on one healthcare plan. Only one of you may cover eligible children on medical, prescription, dental or vision plans. Both you and your spouse may carry spousal and/or child life insurance.

    Remember to update your beneficiary(ies) listed for your employee life insurance (CMU Choices) and retirement plan (vendor). You may want to consider changing your federal and state tax withholding by completing new W-4 forms available through CMU Payroll.

    Name changes (if applicable) will be done electronically once you have changed it with the University.

    As a result of your child's birth or adoption, you and your eligible dependents may enroll in the CMU medical/prescription, dental and vision plan. If you are already enrolled in a plan, you may add coverage for your new child and any eligible dependents. Enrollment must be completed by submitting a Status Change Request form to the CMU Benefits & Wellness office within 30 calendar days of your child's birth or the date the child is placed in your home in anticipation of formal adoption or as of the date of adoption, whichever is earlier.

    If your dependent loses coverage, you may elect to enroll your dependent and other eligible dependents in your CMU medical/prescription drug, dental and vision plan, provided you do so within 30 calendar days of the loss of your dependent's coverage. You must complete the Status Change Request form.

    If you were covered under your dependent's plan, you may want to enroll yourself and your eligible dependent in the CMU medical/prescription drug, dental and vision plan(s) within 30 calendar days of the loss of coverage.

    Note: You must provide documentation from another employer or insurer stating that you or your dependent(s) lost eligibility for coverage. The documentation must contain the name of the employer or insurance carrier, type of coverage terminating, the names of all dependents losing coverage, and the date the other coverage ended.  Copies of insurance cards is not an acceptable form of documentation.

    Review and compare your dependent's benefits with your own so that you can coordinate coverage to your best advantage.

    To drop a dependent from coverage you must provide documentation from your dependent's employer stating the name of the employer or insurance carrier, the type of coverage, the name of the dependent(s) covered, and the date the other coverage began.

    Spouses, who are offered coverage through their employer, MUST enroll in at least single coverage through their employer for medical and dental insurance. This requirement does not pertain to coverage that is 100% paid by the employee. This rule does not apply to regular faculty members.

    Spouses, who are benefit eligible CMU employees, may each enroll individually or cover both on one healthcare plan. Only one of you may cover eligible children on medical, prescription, dental or vision plans. Both you and your spouse may carry spousal and/or child life insurance.

    Note: You must provide documentation from another employer or insurer stating that you or your dependent(s) lost eligibility for coverage. The documentation must contain the name of the employer or insurance carrier, type of coverage terminating, the names of all dependents losing coverage, and the date the other coverage ended.  Copies of insurance cards is not an acceptable form of documentation.

    Following a divorce or legal separation, you must remove the ineligible spouse and any ineligible dependent(s) from coverage within 30 calendar days of the event date. You will need to submit the Status Change Form along with the first page of the final divorce decree or legal document that contains the names of both parties along with the date of the legal proceedings.

    Update your beneficiary(ies) you have listed for your employee life insurance and retirement plan.

    If you have a name change it will be sent to all insurance vendors electronically once you have changed it with the University. Name changes must be submitted directly to TIAA and/or MPSERS. You may want to review your investment elections and contribution amounts under the Tax Deferred Investment Plan to accommodate your new situation.