A member can change coverage from Single to Couple or Family, or Family to Single and Couple, after any major life event.
Tip!
Life events consist of the following:
- Birth
- Adoption
- Legal Guardianship
- Marriage
- Separation
- Divorce
- Death
- Loss of alternate coverage
Eligible dependents must be added within 31 days of the major life event.
WEBS™ will prompt you for the reason for the change
- If the member is changing from Single to Family coverage, the effective date is the date of the change in status (i.e. date of marriage, birth, etc.)
- If the member currently has Single coverage and wishes to change to Family coverage and it is more than 31 days since their change in status, the dependent(s) could be considered a Late Applicant and medical underwriting could be required
- Members currently on the plan who wish to add a common-law spouse must provide you with a written declaration of the date they began living common-law and/or complete and sign the Member Benefits Change Form. The common-law partner must be publicly represented as a spouse, typically residing with the member for a minimum of 12 consecutive months (or as specified in your Benefits Handbook)
- If the new dependent is due to adoption and/or guardianship, the member must provide official court documentation confirming the arrangement. Please forward these court documents to your GroupHEALTH representative.
To add a subsequent dependent (where Family coverage is already in place), record the full name, reason for change, and date of birth or marriage (if applicable) on the Member Benefits Change Form. As a Plan Administrator, you can make this change directly in WEBS, or upload the completed form on the File Service tab in WEBS or email it to your GroupHEALTH representative.
Notify GroupHEALTH of any dependent deletions or terminations within 31 days of the eligibility change.