{"id":988,"date":"2018-12-03T17:06:30","date_gmt":"2018-12-03T17:06:30","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/human-resources\/?page_id=988"},"modified":"2025-10-27T14:42:14","modified_gmt":"2025-10-27T18:42:14","slug":"benefits-qualifying-life-event","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/human-resources\/benefits\/benefits-qualifying-life-event\/","title":{"rendered":"Qualifying Life Event"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>A <strong>Qualifying Life Event<\/strong> can make you eligible for a Special Enrollment Period, allowing you to make certain changes to your health insurance outside the yearly Open Enrollment Period.<\/p>\n<div class=\"prpl-drawer\"><div class=\"prpl-drawer-header\">Eligible Events<\/div><div class=\"prpl-drawer-content\">\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"#family\">Family Changes<\/a>: births, adoptions, civil unions, divorce, or death of a dependent<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#coverage\">Coverage Changes<\/a>: drop coverage at will, gain coverage elsewhere<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#employment\">Changes in Employment Status with Montclair<\/a>: part time or temporary to full time, full time to part time, PERS to ABP and more. (<strong>Note<\/strong>: these processes are for employees remaining with Montclair. Please visit the following pages for information on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/human-resources\/benefits\/preparing-for-retirement\/\">preparing for retirement<\/a>, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/human-resources\/benefits\/termination-of-employment\/\">termination of employment<\/a> and <a href=\"http:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/human-resources\/benefits\/transfer-from-a-state-employer\/\">transferring from a different New Jersey State employer<\/a>)<\/li>\n<li>For <a href=\"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/human-resources\/benefits\/benefits-qualifying-life-event\/qualifying-life-event-death-of-an-active-employee\/\">death of an active employee<\/a>, the employee\u2019s family should notify their department or HR at 973-655-7736<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Employees may also choose to <a href=\"#drop\">drop coverage<\/a> at any point in the year if they no longer wish to be covered under the NJ State Health Benefits Program. Employees can enroll, make changes and upload documentation directly through the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/human-resources\/benefits\/health-benefits\/medical-plans\/#apply\">Benefitsolver portal<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>For questions regarding the type of changes allowed to be made for each type of qualifying life event please email the HR Support Center at <a href=\"mailto:askHR@montclair.edu\">askHR@montclair.edu<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><em>Please note: The Benefits Department does not provide benefit verification letters. Once your enrollment is complete, you may access your &#8216;Benefit Summary&#8217; through the Benefitsolver portal. This summary sheet includes detailed information about your medical coverage, plan selections, dependents, and other relevant benefit details which may be used for verification purposes.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n<p><a name=\"family\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p data-start=\"1091\" data-end=\"1289\"><\/p><\/div><\/div>\n<div class=\"prpl-drawer\"><div class=\"prpl-drawer-header\">Family Changes<\/div><div class=\"prpl-drawer-content\">\n<ul>\n<li>Birth or Adoption<\/li>\n<li>Marriage or civil union<\/li>\n<li>Divorce or dissolution<\/li>\n<li>Death of a Family Member\/Dependent<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p data-start=\"1091\" data-end=\"1289\"><\/p><\/div><\/div>\n<div class=\"prpl-drawer\"><div class=\"prpl-drawer-header\">Update Health Insurance Coverage<\/div><div class=\"prpl-drawer-content\">\n<p>Within <strong>60 days<\/strong> of the qualifying life event:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Log into <a rel=\"noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www4.benefitsolver.com\/benefits\/BenefitSolverView?page_name=signon&amp;co_num=31756&amp;co_affid=stateofnewjersey\" target=\"_blank\">Benefitsolver<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Select &#8220;Change my Benefits&#8221;<\/li>\n<li>Under &#8220;Life Event,&#8221; select the appropriate event (ex: Marriage, Birth or Adoption, Divorce, Death of a Dependent)<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><strong>Note<\/strong>: You will need to submit supporting documentation (i.e., marriage or birth certificate, divorce decree).<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"1091\" data-end=\"1289\"><\/p><\/div><\/div>\n<div class=\"prpl-drawer\"><div class=\"prpl-drawer-header\">Update Flexible Spending Account<\/div><div class=\"prpl-drawer-content\">\n<p>Within <strong>30 days<\/strong> of the qualifying life event you may enroll in a flexible spending account, increase or decrease your Annual Salary Deduction amount:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Visit the <a rel=\"noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nj.gov\/treasury\/pensions\/pension-active-other.shtml\" target=\"_blank\">Division of Pension and Benefits website<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li>Expand the Tax$ave &amp; Commuter Tax$ave section<\/li>\n<li>Download the Horizon MyWay Change in Status Form (PDF)<\/li>\n<li>Complete the form and fax or mail the form directly to Horizon MyWay.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p data-start=\"1091\" data-end=\"1289\"><\/p><\/div><\/div>\n<div class=\"prpl-drawer\"><div class=\"prpl-drawer-header\">Update Life Insurance Beneficiaries<\/div><div class=\"prpl-drawer-content\">\n<ul>\n<li>ABP members must complete the Designation of Beneficiary form (listed under ABP Publications) and return it to the New Jersey Division of Pensions and Benefits via mail.<\/li>\n<li>Public Employees Retirement System (PERS) and Police and Firemen\u2019s Retirement System (PFRS) members must use the online Designation of Beneficiary Application available through the <a rel=\"noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/my.nj.gov\/aui\/Login\" target=\"_blank\">Member Benefits Online System<\/a> (MBOS).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div class=\"prpl-drawer\"><div class=\"prpl-drawer-header\"><\/div><div class=\"prpl-drawer-content\"><\/div><\/div>\n<p>There are two events during which employees may choose to drop insurance coverage:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>At will<\/strong>: Employees who no longer wish to be covered under the NJ State Health Benefits Program may drop their coverage at any point throughout the year<\/li>\n<li><strong>Gaining coverage elsewhere<\/strong>: employees must change their coverage selections within 60 days of gaining coverage elsewhere, or wait until the next open enrollment period.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><a name=\"drop\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p data-start=\"1091\" data-end=\"1289\"><\/p><\/div><\/div>\n<div class=\"prpl-drawer\"><div class=\"prpl-drawer-header\">Drop Health Insurance Coverage<\/div><div class=\"prpl-drawer-content\">\n<ol>\n<li>Log into <a rel=\"noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www4.benefitsolver.com\/benefits\/BenefitSolverView?page_name=signon&amp;co_num=31756&amp;co_affid=stateofnewjersey\" target=\"_blank\">Benefitsolver<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Select &#8220;Change my Benefits&#8221;<\/li>\n<li>Under &#8220;Life Event,&#8221; select the applicable event (&#8220;Drop Coverage on Demand&#8221; or &#8220;Gains Coverage Elsewhere&#8221;)<\/li>\n<li>Enter today\u2019s date<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><strong>Note<\/strong>: Your health benefits will terminate at the end of the month from when you complete the steps above.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"1091\" data-end=\"1289\"><\/p><\/div><\/div>\n<div class=\"prpl-drawer\"><div class=\"prpl-drawer-header\">Lose Coverage Elsewhere<\/div><div class=\"prpl-drawer-content\">\n<p>If you lose coverage elsewhere, you may choose to enroll in Montclair&#8217;s health insurance coverage <strong>within <\/strong><strong>60 days<\/strong> of the date your previous coverage ended:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Log into <a rel=\"noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www4.benefitsolver.com\/benefits\/BenefitSolverView?page_name=signon&amp;co_num=31756&amp;co_affid=stateofnewjersey\" target=\"_blank\">Benefitsolver<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Select &#8220;Change my Benefits&#8221;<\/li>\n<li>Under &#8220;Life Event,&#8221; select &#8220;Loses Coverage Elsewhere&#8221;<\/li>\n<li>Enter the last date of your previous coverage<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><strong>Note<\/strong>: You will need to submit a loss of coverage letter that indicates when your previous benefits ended.<br \/>\n<a name=\"employment\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p data-start=\"1091\" data-end=\"1289\"><\/p><\/div><\/div>\n<div class=\"prpl-drawer\"><div class=\"prpl-drawer-header\">Changes in Employment Status<\/div><div class=\"prpl-drawer-content\">\n<p>If your job status changes within the university, please review the options below.<\/p>\n<p><div class=\"prpl-drawer\"><div class=\"prpl-drawer-header\">Part Time or Temporary to Full Time<\/div><div class=\"prpl-drawer-content\"><\/div><\/div><br \/>\n<strong>Health Benefits<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>As a full time employee, you are eligible to enroll in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/human-resources\/benefits\/health-benefits\/medical-plans\/?\">medical<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/human-resources\/benefits\/health-benefits\/prescription-coverage\/?\">prescription<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/human-resources\/benefits\/health-benefits\/dental-plans\/\">dental<\/a> benefits through the State Health Benefits Program.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Part time employees:<\/strong> If you were previously enrolled under the Part Time State Health Benefits Plan your coverage will be terminated and you will have the option to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/human-resources\/cobra\/\">enroll in COBRA coverage<\/a> until your full time benefits become effective.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Temporary employees:<\/strong> If you were previously covered under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) your medical and prescription benefits will continue and you will have a 60 day waiting period for your dental benefits.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Pension Benefits<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>If you were previously enrolled in DCRP as a part time or temporary employee and accept a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/human-resources\/benefits\/retirement-plans\/public-employees-retirement-system-pers\/?\">PERS<\/a> eligible position, your DCRP contributions will automatically stop and a PERS application will be submitted on your behalf.<\/li>\n<li>If you were previously enrolled in ABP as a part time or temporary employee and accept an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/human-resources\/benefits\/retirement-plans\/alternate-benefit-program-abp\/\">ABP<\/a> eligible position, you will remain in ABP.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Temporary Employees only:<\/strong>\n<ul>\n<li>If you were hired into a Civil Service full time position, you will be enrolled in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/human-resources\/benefits\/retirement-plans\/public-employees-retirement-system-pers\/?\">PERS<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li>If you were hired as a faculty, manager or professional staff member, you will be enrolled in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/human-resources\/benefits\/retirement-plans\/alternate-benefit-program-abp\/?\">ABP<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<div class=\"prpl-drawer\"><div class=\"prpl-drawer-header\">Full Time to Part Time<\/div><div class=\"prpl-drawer-content\">\n<p><strong>Health Benefits<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Part time employees working less than 30 hours per week are no longer eligible to participate in the State Health Benefits Program.<\/li>\n<li>Health benefits will continue until the end of the month of your change in status.<\/li>\n<li>You may continue all plans under the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/human-resources\/cobra\/?\">COBRA<\/a> provisions for up to 18 months. A COBRA packet will be mailed to your home address.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Pension Benefits<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>If you are enrolled in ABP pension and your position is less than 50%, you are no longer eligible to participate in the plan.<\/li>\n<li>If you are enrolled in a PERS pension, you may still be eligible to remain in the plan. If you do not meet the requirements to remain in PERS you may be eligible to be enrolled in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/human-resources\/benefits\/retirement-plans\/defined-contribution-retirement-program-dcrp\/\">DCRP<\/a>.\n<ul>\n<li><strong>PERS eligibility working under 35 hours a week<\/strong>:\n<ul>\n<li>Employee is either a Tier 1,2 or 3 PERS employee and meets the minimum salary requirement for their <a href=\"https:\/\/nj.gov\/treasury\/pensions\/documents\/forms\/sc0853.pdf\">tier<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Tier 4 and 5 PERS employees are not eligible for PERS, but may be eligible for DCRP<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><strong>DCRP eligibility<\/strong>:\n<ul>\n<li>Employees otherwise eligible to be enrolled in PERS but do not work the minimum number of hours per week required for PERS<\/li>\n<li>Earn a salary of at least $5,000 annually and not being paid by a grant<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<div class=\"prpl-drawer\"><div class=\"prpl-drawer-header\">12 Month to 10 Month or 10 Month to 12 Month<\/div><div class=\"prpl-drawer-content\">\n<p><strong>12 Month to 10 Month<\/strong>:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Health and pension benefits remain the same<\/li>\n<li>Payroll deductions will continue for your benefits in the months of July and August.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>10 Month to 12 Month<\/strong>: You will pay extra deductions each paycheck to cover the months of July and August.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<div class=\"prpl-drawer\"><div class=\"prpl-drawer-header\">PERS Position to an ABP Position<\/div><div class=\"prpl-drawer-content\">\n<p>If you have a change in employment status from a PERS eligible position to an ABP eligible position you have a one time option to either remain in PERS or transfer to ABP. The information below is used to compare the plans side by side. For additional information, view the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nj.gov\/treasury\/pensions\/documents\/forms\/ea0235.pdf\">Considerations for Choosing Between PERS or ABP Guide<\/a>.<\/p>\n<table style=\"height: 869px\" width=\"745\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<h3><strong>Benefit<\/strong><\/h3>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<h3><strong>PERS<\/strong><\/h3>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<h3><strong>ABP<\/strong><\/h3>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>Vesting<\/strong><\/td>\n<td>After 10 years of PERS participation<\/td>\n<td>Immediate for employees moving from PERS to ABP<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>Employee Contributions<\/strong><\/td>\n<td>7.5% of base salary<\/td>\n<td>5% of base salary<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>Employer Contributions<\/strong><\/td>\n<td>Funds are actuarially determined each year<\/td>\n<td>8% of base salary<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>Voluntary Contributions<\/strong><\/td>\n<td>Employees may elect to join the ACTS, Deferred Compensation, or SACT Plan<\/td>\n<td>Employees may make voluntary before\/post tax contributions with 7 ABP investment carriers and\/or join the Deferred Compensation Plan<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>Loans<\/strong><\/td>\n<td>Available to active employees with at least 3 years of posted service credit\n<p>Permitted up to 2 loans per calendar year and can borrow up to \u00bd of their personal contributions<\/p><\/td>\n<td>Vested members are eligible to receive loans based on their account balances<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>Transferability<\/strong><\/td>\n<td>You may transfer active membership in PERS to any public employer offering a state administered plan<\/td>\n<td>You may transfer between approved DSP(s).<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>Pre-Retirement Death Benefit<\/strong><\/td>\n<td>Beneficiary receives the return of your contributions with interest<\/td>\n<td>Beneficiary receives total value of account(s) including employer contributions and all investment earnings<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>Retirement Benefit<\/strong><\/td>\n<td>Determined by an employee\u2019s years of membership in the system and final average salary. Can be taken as a single life annuity or a joint and survivor annuity amount.<\/td>\n<td>Based on the employee\u2019s age, the value of the account (contributions plus investment earnings) and the distribution options selected.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>Life Insurance<\/strong><\/td>\n<td>Employer provides 3X the employee\u2019s base salary of contributory life insurance<\/td>\n<td>Employer provides 3.5X the employee\u2019s base salary of noncontributory life insurance<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>Long Term Disability<\/strong><\/td>\n<td>Ordinary Disability retirement benefits are available to Tier 1,2 and 3 members after 10 years of pension credit\n<p>Long Term Disability is available to Tier 4 and 5 members after one year of continuous employment in PERS. Benefit is up to 60% of pre-disability salary. Retirement contributions continued during disability<\/p><\/td>\n<td>Eligible after completing one year of full time continuous employment in an ABP eligible position\n<p>Benefit is up to 60% of pre-disability base salary<\/p>\n<p>Retirement contributions are continued during disability<\/p><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<div class=\"prpl-drawer\"><div class=\"prpl-drawer-header\">Transfer from NJ State Employer<\/div><div class=\"prpl-drawer-content\">\n<p>Employees <a href=\"http:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/human-resources\/benefits\/transfer-from-a-state-employer\/\">transferring from a NJ State employer<\/a> will not have a lapse in medical, prescription, and dental benefits. Coverage with your previous State employer will end on the last day of the month in which you terminate, and coverage will begin under Montclair State University the first of the following month.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<div class=\"prpl-drawer\"><div class=\"prpl-drawer-header\">Preparing for Retirement<\/div><div class=\"prpl-drawer-content\">\n<p>If you are considering retirement within the next six months, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/human-resources\/benefits\/preparing-for-retirement\/\">Preparing for Retirement<\/a> provides an overview of the benefits available to you upon retirement including the steps to follow to help you make a smooth transition from active employment to retirement.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<div class=\"prpl-drawer\"><div class=\"prpl-drawer-header\">Termination of Employment<\/div><div class=\"prpl-drawer-content\">\n<p>For employees who have been terminated, please review the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/human-resources\/benefits\/termination-of-employment\/\">Termination of Employment<\/a> guide.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A Qualifying Life Event can make you eligible for a Special Enrollment Period, allowing you to make certain changes to your health insurance outside the yearly Open Enrollment Period.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":8913,"parent":204,"menu_order":17,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-988","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/human-resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/988","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/human-resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/human-resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/human-resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/human-resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=988"}],"version-history":[{"count":29,"href":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/human-resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/988\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":9407,"href":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/human-resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/988\/revisions\/9407"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/human-resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/204"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/human-resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/8913"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/human-resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=988"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}