Qualifying Life Event

A qualifying life event is a significant life change or family status change that allows you to make midyear changes to your benefits coverage. 

Examples of qualifying life events include:

• Birth of a child
• Marriage
• Registered domestic partnership
• Divorce
• Terminating a registered domestic partnership
• Death
• Loss/gain of health insurance under another plan for you or your dependent
• Change in employment status (employee or spouse) such as a leave of absence, a switch between full-time and part-time status, or termination of employment
• Dependent becomes ineligible for coverage

You have 60 days from the date of a qualifying event to request applicable benefit changes.   

To add or drop health care coverage for you or an eligible dependent, submit the Employee Benefit Record (EBR) form and required documentation to the City of Oakland Benefits Unit within 60 days of the qualifying event.   If you are adding a new dependent(s), you must also submit supporting dependent documentation.  Proof of loss of coverage is required when adding coverage due to loss of other coverage.   

You may want to update more than your health care coverage.  Consider whether other changes are needed:

• Updating beneficiaries
• Adding supplemental life insurance (non-sworn only)
• Updating your home address