Certain life events -- such as marriage, birth, or retirement -- can result in changes in benefit needs and/or affect dependents' eligibility for certain benefits.

A Qualifying Life Event (QLE) is one that permits you to make appropriate changes to your benefit elections in response to the event.

Changes must be requested within 31 days of the event. In addition to requesting the change, the proper forms and documentation need to be provided to Human Resources via the Benefits Enrollment System.

The requested changes must be consistent with the nature of the qualifying event and previous benefit election choices. For example, adding a newborn or newly adopted child to your medical and life insurance plans is consistent with the birth or adoption of a child.  However, adding your spouse to your dental plan would not be consistent with this event.

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How to Make Changes to Benefits due to a Qualifying Life Event

  • Log into our Benefits Enrollment System
  • Click ENROLL NOW
  • Click “Edit Benefits” and enter the change reason and event date when prompted
  • Enter your changes and upload supporting documentation

Examples of  Common Qualifying Life Events (QLEs)

  • Change in marital/partnership status
    • such as marriage or divorce
  • Addition or change in number of dependents
    • such as the birth or adoption of a child, or a change in child’s dependent status
  • Death in the family
    • such as the death of a dependent child or spouse/partner, or the death of a Lafayette employee or retiree
  • Changes related to employment or location
    • such as a change in spouse/partner’s employment, retirement, significant change in residence location, or a reduction in work hours below the Affordable Care Act’s employer plan eligibility threshold; or, eligibility for a healthcare marketplace annual or special enrollment period. (These events do not permit FSA changes)