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Benefit enrollment & changes

Benefit enrollment & changes

You can enroll in or make changes to your benefits when you first become eligible, during the annual Open Enrollment, or after a qualifying life event.

New Employee Enrollment

New employees receive enrollment information during orientation have 30 days from their hire date to enroll in benefits. Look for more information in the New Employee page.

Open Enrollment

Employees have a chance every year to make new choices for most benefits. Open Enrollment takes place Nov. 1–15 and any changes go into effect on the first of the following year and remain in effect for the entire plan year. For details, go to the Open Enrollment page.

Benefit changes due to qualifying life events

Certain life events, such as getting married or having a baby, can affect your benefits coverage. These events, called “qualifying life events,” may allow you to change your benefits between annual Open Enrollment periods.

If you experience one of the following qualifying life events, you can make benefit changes within 30 days of the event if the changes are related to the event. If you miss the 30 day deadline, you will need to wait until Open Enrollment to make changes to your benefits.

  • Marriage
  • Divorce
  • Establishing or ending a domestic partnership
  • Becoming a parent (through birth, adoption, or legal custody)
  • Losing existing health coverage
  • Becoming disabled
  • Retiring
  • Leaving King County employment
  • Death of a spouse/domestic partner or child
  • A change in coverage under another employer plan

After a marriage, divorce, birth, adoption, or loss of coverage life event, you can go online with any device to make benefit changes:

  • Sign in to PeopleSoft
  • Select the Benefits tile
  • Go to Life Events on the left menu
  • Choose your life event

For more information, watch a brief introductory video and use the reference tools in the PeopleSoft Knowledge Center (network login required).

Discontinuing benefits

You can discontinue health coverage for a covered family member at any time using this form: Discontinue Coverage for Family Members. In the case of divorce or dissolution of a domestic partnership, you must remove coverage for the former spouse or domestic partner within 30 days. Continuation of health benefits lost due to divorce or dissolution of a domestic partnership is only available under COBRA once the divorce/dissolution is final.

Forms

Benefits and retirement

Phone 206-684-1556
Fax: 206-296-7700

Phone hours:
9 a.m. – 4 p.m. weekdays
Payroll

Fax: 206-296-7678

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