Qualifying Change in Status Events

Posted By: HR avatar

Published to Newsletter on Jul 20, 2026

Have you recently experienced a major life event, but Open Enrollment for the 2026-2027 Plan Year has already ended? You can still make changes to your health benefits if you act quickly!

Certain life events, such as marriage or the birth or adoption of a child, allow you to make changes to your benefit elections (medical, dental, vision, flexible spending accounts) outside of an Open Enrollment period. IRS regulations permit you to make changes to your benefits only if you experience a Qualifying Change in Status Event (qualifying life event or QLE). Changes to your benefits must be made within 60 calendar days of the QLE and must align with the event. For example, if you have a child, you can add them to your medical insurance, but you cannot use that event to also cancel your spouse’s dental coverage.

If you do not make changes within 60 calendar days of the QLE, you will need to wait until the next Open Enrollment period.

Some examples of Qualifying Change in Status Events and the documents you are required to submit for each event are:

  • Marriage (copy of marriage certificate)
  • Divorce / Legal Separation (copy of divorce agreement or legal separation)
  • Birth or Adoption of Child (birth: copy of birth certificate or hospital document; adoption: copy of legal adoption agreement)
  • Death of your spouse or dependent child (copy of death certificate)
  • Gain or loss of other health coverage (letter from other employer or entity documenting the gain or loss of coverage; must include the name(s) of affected individuals, including dependents; the type of coverage gained or lost; and the effective start or end date of coverage)

Health Plans (Medical, Dental, Vision)

  • Enroll in coverage
  • Cancel existing coverage
  • Make a tier change to elections (example: Change from single to family coverage)

Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)

  • Enroll in an FSA
  • Increase annual FSA election
  • Decrease annual FSA election

Don’t wait for proof documents to submit your Enrollment/Change Form(s)!

All benefit election changes take effect on the first day of the month after they have been received and approved by Benefits & Employee Wellness.

For more details about allowable changes outside of Open Enrollment, designated Enrollment/Change Forms, and other information related to Qualifying Change in Status Events, visit our Qualifying Change in Status webpage.

If you have questions, please contact us by calling 505.277.6947 or email us at HRBenefits@unm.edu.

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