Learn what to do when you experience a life event, lose coverage, add dependents, or need information about your benefits and rights.

Family Status Changes

Certain life events may affect your benefits, insurance coverage, payroll deductions, and dependent eligibility. To ensure your records and benefits remain accurate, all family status changes must be reported to Human Resources as soon as possible.

Most family status changes must be reported within 30 calendar days of the event. Supporting documentation is required and can be uploaded through the Wildcat Benefits Portal.

Types of Family Status Changes

Examples of qualifying family status changes include:

  • Marriage
  • Divorce or legal separation
  • Birth of a child
  • Adoption of a child
  • Death of a spouse or dependent
  • Loss of other health coverage for a spouse or dependent
  • Marriage of a dependent child
  • Other changes that affect dependent eligibility or benefit coverage 
What to Do When a Change Occurs

If you experience a qualifying family status change:

  1. Log in to the Wildcat Benefits Portal via MyNMU to:
    1. Initiate your qualifying event 
    2. Update your spouse and/or dependent information.
    3. Submit required documentation to verify the change.
    4. Review your benefit elections to ensure they reflect your current family situation
    5. Update beneficiary designations for life insurance and other applicable benefits. 
Why Timely Reporting Matters

Reporting changes promptly helps ensure:

  • Accurate benefit coverage for you and your eligible dependents
  • Correct payroll deductions for health, dental, flexible spending, and insurance plans
  • Timely enrollment of a new spouse or child
  • Removal of ineligible dependents from coverage
  • Updated personal information and records
  • Protection from potential financial liability related to ineligible coverage or claims 
Important Deadlines
  • 30 days: Report family status changes and submit benefit updates.
  • 60 days: For divorce, death, or other qualifying events that may trigger COBRA eligibility, notification must be received within 60 days to preserve continuation coverage rights. 

Notice of Privacy Practices

Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)

Drug-Free Workplace Act Policy

Notice of Health Insurance Marketplace

COBRA

The Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) gives eligible employees, spouses, and dependent children the right to continue group health coverage for a limited period of time when coverage would otherwise end due to certain qualifying events.

The COBRA General Notice provides important information about:

  • Eligibility for COBRA continuation coverage
  • Qualifying events that may result in the loss of coverage
  • Election and notification requirements
  • Coverage periods and premium payments
  • Rights and responsibilities under COBRA

Please review the COBRA General Notice carefully and keep a copy for your records.

This notice is provided for informational purposes and summarizes certain rights under COBRA. Eligibility for continuation coverage and the administration of benefits are governed by applicable law and the terms of the applicable health plan. If there is any conflict between the information in this notice and the official plan documents, the plan documents will control.

Health Coverage Tax Documents 

Review important information regarding tax documents pertaining to your health insurance coverage information