Making Changes during the Year

If you have a Qualifying Status Change (QSC) event, you have 60 days (unless otherwise noted) from the date of the event to make changes to your benefits. Changes include enrolling or cancelling, increasing or decreasing coverage, or adding or removing dependents. See the QSC Matrix for the complete list of QSC events and documentation requirements.

If you have a QSC event and want to change your benefit elections:

1. Make the change online at the People First website within 60 days of the event. If your specific QSC event is not listed, call the People First Service Center within 60 days of the event. You should call People First within 60 days even if you do not yet have the supporting documentation; otherwise, you will have missed your election window and will be unable to make any changes.
2. Divorce, death, Medicare disability and court orders require documentation before your QSC event can be processed. If you experience one of these events, send your documentation to People First within 60 days of the event; then call People First to make changes to your insurance. If you miss your window, you may pay more for insurance than you need to or be responsible for claims incurred (for ineligible dependents, for example).

If you enroll yourself or your eligible dependents during the year because of a QSC event, coverage begins on the first day of the month after the month in which the state deducts (or People First receives) a full month's premium. Coverage always begins on the first day of a month and continues for the rest of the calendar year, as long as you pay premiums on time and you and your dependents remain eligible.

Active employees: If you go off the payroll, you must pay your share of the premium by personal check, cashier's check or money order to continue coverage. You may be required to pay the full premium cost - your share and the state's share, depending on the reason you are not working. Call People First for more information.

If you do not want to continue your insurance coverage while you are off the payroll, call People First with 60 days of your leave date to cancel. This ensures you can enroll in coverage if you return to work. If you do not cancel and are later cancelled because you did not pay your premiums, you will only be allowed to enroll during the next Open Enrollment.