Qualified Status Changes

Whether you’re saying “I do” or growing your family, here’s what you need to know about how your life change affects your benefits.

Changing Your Coverage

: In accordance with federal law, you may change your benefit elections during the year only if you have a life event or employment status change.
: Depending on the nature of your status change, you’re allowed to add or drop a dependent, or elect to waive coverage through MyParkland (PeopleSoft).
: Any changes in coverage must be consistent with your change in life or employment status.
: Changes will be effective on the date of the status change, as long as you notify the Benefits department within 30 days of the event.

Life Event Changes at a Glance

This chart provides an overview of life events and employment status changes and how you may change your benefits for your dependents. If you have questions, contact OTM Shared Services at 469-419-3000 (ext. 7-3000). After speaking with OTM Shared Services, your record will be opened in PeopleSoft so that you can make the necessary updates for your qualified status change. You will receive a follow-up email from OTM Shared Services indicating the steps that you will need to take.

Life Event Change	Adding¹	Dropping¹	How To Add or Drop Dependents
Your marital status changes
You get married or divorced	Yes	Yes	MyParkland
Your dependent eligibility status changes
Add a dependent through birth or adoption	Yes	No	MyParkland
Add a dependent through legal guardianship	Yes	No	OTM Shared Services
Your dependent dies or you lose legal guardianship	Yes	Yes	OTM Shared Services
Your spouse’s coverage changes
Your spouse’s medical or dental coverage changes	Yes	No	OTM Shared Services
Your spouse’s employment status changes
Your spouse begins employment or changes from part-time to full-time	No	Yes	OTM Shared Services
Your spouse involuntarily loses coverage, changes from full-time to part-time or terminates employment	Yes	No	OTM Shared Services
You change employment status
You begin an unpaid leave of absence	No	Yes	MyParkland
You change your employment status (for example, from part-time to full-time or full-time to part-time)²	No	Yes	MyParkland
You become disabled and are receiving disability benefits	No	Yes	MyParkland

¹Within 30 days of the event.
²You will also attend an orientation session on or near the date when your employment status changes.

Required Documentation

As part of the dependent eligibility verification process for the medical, dental or vision plans, you will be required to submit documentation to prove your relationship to your dependent, including marriage certificates, birth certificates and tax returns. Amwins will mail a request for dependent eligibility verification to your home address currently on file at Parkland. Do not submit documentation until Amwins sends you a verification request.

Learn more

Enrolling Newborns and Other Children

You have up to 30 days after the birth, placement for adoption, adoption of your child(ren) or appointment as legal guardian to add the child(ren) to your medical plan, even if you already have dependent coverage. If you do not enroll your newly acquired child(ren) within this time period, you will not have the opportunity to enroll them for coverage until the next Open Enrollment.

If You Leave Parkland

If your employment with Parkland ends, you will receive a letter as soon as administratively possible explaining how your benefits can continue in accordance with COBRA (Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985). If you are a new hire, letters explaining your rights and those of your dependents to continue group health coverage if you leave Parkland will be mailed to your home. Additionally, see the Legal Notices section to read the notices related to free or low-cost health coverage for you and your children and the Health Insurance Marketplace.

AHS (Allstate Health Solutions/formerly VelaPoint Insurance Insurance) gives future Parkland retirees a resource to purchase benefits outside of Parkland. Visit parklandretire.allstatehealth.com to get competitive quotes for health, dental and vision, supplemental insurance (critical illness and accident insurance), home and auto, and life insurance. Questions? Call 855-909-0181 to speak with a designated Parkland retiree specialist.