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7

Why is Health Coverage

important to have?

Health coverage protects you from health and financial risks.

No one

plans to get sick or hurt, but most people need medical care at some

point. Health insurance covers these costs and offers many other

important benefits.

Health insurance protects you from unexpected, high medical

costs.

You pay less for covered in-network health care, even before

you meet your deductible.

You get free preventive care, like vaccines, screenings, and

check-ups, even before you meet your deductible.

Make Changes during the Year

(Qualified Life Events)

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) states that eligible employees

may only make elections to the plan once a year at open enrollment.

Unless you have a qualified change in status, you cannot make

changes to the benefits you elected until the next open enrollment

period. The following qualified changes in status include:

Marriage;

Divorce;

Birth or adoption of a child;

Change in child’s dependent status;

Death of spouse; child or other qualified dependent;

Change in residence due to an employment transfer for you

or your spouse;

Commencement or termination of adoption proceedings, or

Change in spouse’s benefits or employment status.

If any of the above-listed qualified changes occurs, you must inform

the ABC Company Benefits Department within

30 days of the event

to avoid lapse in coverage. If you have a qualifying life event, gather

supporting documentation of the life event and contact the Benefits

Department. All other changes are held to open enrollment period.