Any Health Insurance Experts Out There... Adding DH To MY Plan?

[AKL_Megs]

This is sort of a strange question, but is there a "statute of limitations" of sorts when it comes to adding a spouse to an insurance plan after marriage?

DH's insurance through work is making some changes soon, and it would be much cheaper for us to add him to my plan.

I know you can only make insurance changes during your open enrollment UNLESS you have a life change, such as marriage, etc.

While we GOT married last June ('09), I literally just changed my name legally last month, and have yet to update any name change or marital status information (W-4 or otherwise) at work.

I have also neither requested to or declined adding my DH to my insurance plan.

Is it too late for me to add him now? Did I wait too long? Will I probably have to wait for my open enrollment?

Or, if I call them today and say, "I got married, I want to add my DH," will they allow me to even though 9 months has passed?

And, FWIW, I would ask my human resources department, but I am not in the office today.

 

[golfgal]

Yes, it is too late to add him because you got married. Most plans only allow these changes after 30 days. Often one "life event" could be he lost coverage through his employer but changes to plans don't generally count. You will most likely have to wait to add him until your next enrollment period.

 

[Hedy]

Most companies life event window is 30 days. However, if your husband drops his insurance through work, his "loss of coverage" may be a life event.

 

[AKL_Megs]

Yes, it is too late to add him because you got married. Most plans only allow these changes after 30 days. Often one "life event" could be he lost coverage through his employer but changes to plans don't generally count. You will most likely have to wait to add him until your next enrollment period.

Most companies life event window is 30 days. However, if your husband drops his insurance through work, his "loss of coverage" may be a life event.

Okay, that is what I figured, but didn't know and will have to look into the "loss of coverage" as a life event. Thanks!

 

[golfgal]

Most companies life event window is 30 days. However, if your husband drops his insurance through work, his "loss of coverage" may be a life event.

Don't count on that--involuntary loss is one thing but choosing not to take it is another.

 

[AKL_Megs]

Don't count on that--involuntary loss is one thing but choosing not toke it is another.

Actually, he MAY be involuntarily losing it, if his city does what we think it is going to do... (pay YOU an amount to buy your own). It's really complicated.