Learn More About Patriot Payroll<\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nTypes of qualifying life events<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
So, what is a qualifying event for employer-sponsored health insurance? The government divides qualifying life events into four basic categories:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- Loss of health coverage<\/li>
- Changes in household<\/li>
- Changes in residence<\/li>
- Other<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n
Let\u2019s take a look at some examples of each type of qualifying life event.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Loss of health coverage<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
An employee can lose health insurance for a variety of reasons. While working for you, an employee could lose job-based coverage if they are on a spouse\u2019s plan. Or, the employee\u2019s COBRA continuation coverage<\/a> might expire. If an employee is on their parents\u2019 health insurance plan and they turn 26, they also lose their health insurance.<\/p>\n\n\n\nChanges in household<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
A family status change<\/a> is another qualifying event for health insurance. If an employee marries, divorces, or legally separates from their spouse, they are eligible for the special enrollment period. An employee could also have a baby or adopt a child. Or, an employee\u2019s family member who is on their insurance policy could die.<\/p>\n\n\n\nChanges in residence<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Changes in residence are qualifying life events if the employee moves to a new ZIP code or county.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Other<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Other reasons that count as qualifying life events include changes in an individual\u2019s income that affect their coverage or if they become a U.S. citizen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For more information on types of qualifying life events, visit the HealthCare.gov website<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\nYour employer responsibilities<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
When an employee goes through a qualifying event for health insurance change, you need to make payroll<\/a> changes. When an employee adds or removes coverage, the amount you withhold from their paychecks changes if the employee pays part or all of the premium. And, this also changes their tax liability.<\/p>\n\n\n\nYou must update your payroll information for employees<\/a>, collect benefit enrollment forms and any other documents that need to be updated as a result of the qualifying life event (e.g., Form W-4<\/a>), and make changes when you run payroll.<\/p>\n\n\n\nLet\u2019s say you have an employee who gets married. During the special enrollment period, they add their spouse onto their health insurance plan. The employee must fill out a benefits enrollment form, and you must update their benefits information. The employee\u2019s health insurance premium was $90 per paycheck; with the addition of their spouse, you now must withhold $170 from their wages. Make sure to update your payroll to reflect this change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Need help running payroll? You can run Patriot\u2019s online payroll software<\/a> in three easy steps. We\u2019ll help you get started by setting up your employee and payroll information in our software. Get your free trial today!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\nThis article has been updated from its original publication date of March 12, 2018.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\nThis is not intended as legal advice; for more information, please click here.<\/a><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Employees have a window of time each year to sign up for certain types of employer-sponsored insurance. Although this open enrollment period takes place at the end of each year for all employees, an employee can add or remove coverage at any time of the year if they have a qualifying life event.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":14,"featured_media":57557,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[117],"tags":[],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n
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