FAQ Series - Institution Benefits Offices

This month the Office of Employee Benefits (OEB) continues its series of articles addressing Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) about the UT Benefits program. Instead of reaching out to one of our contracted plan administrator’s customer service teams, we contacted HR and Benefits Offices at several of our UT institutions to ask them about the most frequently asked questions they receive. We hope these might save some of you a phone call! 

How do I request a change in my insurance coverages due to a change in status after a major life change event?

Making updates to your UT Benefits coverage throughout the year is allowed only when you experience a qualified change of status event(s). If you experience a major "life event" or other change in your personal or work life, you may be eligible to change certain benefits depending on the event.

You have 31 days from the date of a qualified change of status event to notify your local institution’s HR or Benefits Office and request changes to your benefits that are consistent with that event. If you do not request your eligible changes during the 31-day status change period, your changes cannot be made until the next Annual Enrollment period in July, to be effective the following September 1.

The list below includes common examples of qualified change of status events:

• Marriage, divorce, annulment, or your spouse’s death;
• Birth, adoption, medical child-support order, or a dependent’s death;
• Significant change in residence if the change affects you or your dependents’ current plan eligibility;
• Change of job status affecting eligibility (e.g. for employees: moving from non-benefits eligible employment to benefits eligible, starting or ending employment, starting or returning from FMLA, or other) ;
• Change in dependent’s eligibility (e.g., reaching age 26 for UT SELECT Medical, or marriage or reaching age 25 for all coverage other than UT SELECT Medical, or gaining or losing eligibility for any other reason);
• Significant change in coverage or cost of other benefit plans available to you and your family;
• Dependent(s) experience a loss of insurance coverage under the Medicaid or CHIP program as a result of loss of eligibility of either the employee or the dependent; or
• Dependent(s) become eligible for a premium assistance subsidy under Medicaid or CHIP.

To make insurance changes, you’ll need to submit documentation to your local institution's HR or Benefits Office during your 31 day enrollment period, including:

• The Insurance Enrollment/Change Application,
• Documentation of your change of status event, such as a marriage or birth certificate, court order, or proof of gain or loss of non-UT insurance coverage, and
• Proof of relationship documents, if adding a dependent to your insurance coverage.

Following a qualified change of status event, an Employee or Retired Employee may choose the effective date of any allowable coverage changes to be either:

• the date of the event,
• the first of the month following the date of the event, or
• the first of the month following completion of the enrollment form.

Employees should be sure to check the next affected earnings statement following their insurance updates to ensure that the correct coverage and premium deductions are in place.

What is Premium Sharing?

Premium Sharing refers to the funds contributed by the State and your institution to pay for some or all of the cost of the Basic Coverage Pack­age.

The Active Employee Basic Coverage Package includes:  Medical and Basic Life and AD&D insurance for the employee. The Retiree Basic Coverage Package includes:  Medical and Basic Retiree Life. 

What is an Evidence of Insurability (EOI)?

Evidence of Insurability (EOI) is an application process in which an applicant's past and present health information is provided in order to determine eligibility for certain insurance coverages. Evidence of Insurability information must be reviewed and coverage approved by Dearborn National before such coverage becomes effective.

EOI is required when applying for coverage in the following situations:

For Active Employees applying for:

• Employee Voluntary term life coverage of up to 3 times annual salary, except within the initial 31-day benefit election period or following a qualified change of status;
• Employee Voluntary term life coverage of 4, 5, or 6 times annual salary;

• Additional Spouse Voluntary term life above $10,000; and
• Long-Term or Short-Term Disability during Annual Enrollment.

For Retired Employees:

When you move from active employment to being a retired employee without a break in service, you are guaranteed term life coverage up to the amount of voluntary term life coverage you had in force as an active employee, not to exceed a maximum of $50,000. No EOI would be required.

After your initial eligibility period to elect voluntary term life coverage as a retired employee, EOI is required for any increase in voluntary term life benefits during annual enrollment.

Evidence of insurability is required for all spouses of retired employees who elect to enroll in voluntary term life insurance. However, this requirement will be waived if your spouse was enrolled in voluntary term life insurance on the last day you were an active employee and there is no break in coverage between your employment and retirement.

What's the difference between a "marriage license" and a "marriage certificate?”

Generally, a marriage license is the document that authorizes you to get married and a marriage certificate is a document that proves you are married. 

Typically, couples obtain a marriage license, hold the wedding ceremony, and then have the person who performed the ceremony file a marriage certificate in the appropriate county office within a few days. (This may be the office of the county clerk, recorder, or registrar, depending on where you live.) Most states require both spouses, along with the person who officiated and one or two witnesses, to sign the marriage certificate; often this is done just after the ceremony.

The married couple will usually be sent a certified copy of the marriage certificate within a few weeks after the marriage ceremony. It is your marriage certificate that is required when adding a spouse or step-child to your UT Benefits coverage.

How can I verify my beneficiary?

You can review your beneficiary designation online by visiting the "online beneficiary designations" link at the bottom of the "Personal Information" tab in My UT Benefits. Alternatively, you can obtain a copy of your current beneficiary designation form by sending a written request to:
 
Dearborn National
Customer Service Dept.
P.O. Box 655403
Dallas, TX 75265-5403

How can I update my beneficiary without a computer?

You can update your beneficiary by submitting a Beneficiary Designation change form to Dearborn National directly.  You may contact your local institution’s HR or Benefits Office for assistance obtaining the Beneficiary Designation change form.

When should I receive my COBRA paperwork?

The “Continuation of Coverage Notification” and the COBRA application forms (for medical, dental, and/or vision coverage) should be received within 14 days of:

• The termination of Program coverage,
• A reduction in hours resulting in a loss of eligibility for coverage, or
• Notification to the institution of the death of an Employee or Retired Employee.

Do I have to re-enroll in UT Flex each year?

During each Annual Enrollment period, an employee has the opportunity to re-enroll in the UT FLEX reimbursement plan for the upcoming plan year. All employees currently enrolled in a UT FLEX account must re-enroll and re-designate the amount of withholding during each Annual Enrollment period. The effective date will be the following September 1.