Each year in December, the MBL holds an Open Enrollment period when, if you are a benefits-eligible employee, you can make changes to your insurance coverage. For instance, you can move from one health insurance plan to another, drop health insurance coverage through the MBL, add a spouse or child to your insurance plans, etc. Normally, the benefit elections you make during this Open Enrollment period are then “locked in” for the upcoming calendar year. Only those who experience a Qualifying Life Event Change as defined by the IRS will be able to make benefits adjustments outside of this Open Enrollment period.
The steps for changing your benefits are:
- Check to see if you meet the IRS’ criteria for a Qualifying Life Event (see the list below).
- All requests for benefit election changes outside of Open Enrollment must be made within 30 days of the Qualifying Life Event, and will need to be backed up by supporting documentation.
- Call or stop by Human Resources for instructions and assistance in making the benefit changes that are right for your new situation.
IRS’s Qualifying Life Events
IRS regulations include these examples:
- An employee’s marriage, divorce, legal separation, or annulment.
- The death of an employee’s spouse or a dependent.
- The birth, adoption, placement for adoption, or legal guardianship of a child.
- The commencement or termination of employment by the employee’s spouse.
- A change from part-time to full-time employment status or vice versa by the employee or the employee’s spouse.
- An unpaid leave of absence taken by either the employee or the employee’s spouse.
- A significant change in an employee or spouse’s health coverage that is attributable to the spouse’s employment.
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Sun Life: the MBL's New Life and Disability Insurance Carrier
Earlier this year, the MBL changed to a new provider for our Life, Accidental Death & Dismemberment and Long Term Disability insurance plans. Our new insurance provider is the Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada, and the MBL is pleased to have Sun Life provide the same coverage as the previous carrier at much more favorable rates.
Here’s a summary of the benefits available to all those enrolled in the MBL’s life and disability insurance plans:
PLAN NAME
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PLAN BENEFIT |
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Life and AD&D Insurance
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2 x your Annual Salary |
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| Long Term Disability |
60% of your Basic Monthly Earnings if illness or injury should prevent you from being able to work for 90 days or longer
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| Emergency Travel Assistance with ASSIST AMERICA |
Emergency medical and personal assistance when traveling more than 100 miles away from home, including Emergency Evacuation, Repatriation, Transportation, Critical Care Monitoring, Legal and Interpreter Referrals, Prescription Assistance, and more.
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New Employees*
Please welcome the newest members of our community:
Jeff Beaudoin, Information Systems
Sarah Biber, Josephine Bay Paul Center
Joseph Blanchard, The Ecosystems Center
Seth Bordenstein, Josephine Bay Paul Center
Allison Burce, The Ecosystems Center
Larry Burdge, Building Services, Transportation, & Grounds
Joaquin Chaves, The Ecosystems Center
Katherine Hashizume, Josephine Bay Paul Center
Andrea Hodgins-Davis, Marine Resources
Mac Lee, The Ecosystems Center
Rob Loyot, Information Systems
Lydia Mathger, Marine Resources
Jacqueline Mohan, The Ecosystems Center
Phillip Neal, Josephine Bay Paul Center
Jennifer Rocca, Josephine Bay Paul Center
Nancy Roderick, Marine Resources
Sarah Roland, Josephine Bay Paul Center
Brigitte de Saint Phalle, Rudolf Oldenbourg’s Lab
Dana Sietsma, Chief Academic and Scientific Officer’s office
J. C. Weber, The Ecosystems Center
Heidi Zwirner, Financial Services
Welcome Everyone!
* since May, 2004 |
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