Life Events

Many employees experience major changes in their lives during a benefit year.  When a significant event happens in your life- for example, you get married or you experience a death in your family- your benefit programs may be affected.  Some plans may allow you to add or drop dependents, where others may allow no change until the next open enrollment.

In this section, you will find information on what steps to take for some of the more common life events.  You should also reference the life events summary chart for more detailed information.

Getting Married 

Having a Baby 

Adopting a Child or Stepchild(ren)

Death in the Family

Divorce

Spouse Loss of Beneifts

Spouse Gains Benefits

Retirement

Getting Married

Congratulations!  This is an exciting time in your life.  Many things are changing.  You and your spouse need to make many decisions as a family now.  The Qualifying Event Chart can provide you with a summary of changes you can make after you're married.  To communicate the changes in your benefit elections to Employee Services, you will need to do the following:

1. Visit Self Service through HR Connect.  Self Service will allow you to view and update your benefit elections.  While in Self Service, you can also update your name, address, phone number, and emergency contacts.  Please remember to read all  of the directions carefully.  To update your benefits information now, click here.

OR:

1.  Submit an Employee Benefit Change Request (ECR) form. On this document, you can indicate what benefits you would like to drop or continue as a participant, adding your spouse.

2. A copy of your Marriage Certificate must be attached.

3. This form should be submitted to Employee Services within 30 days of the marriage date.

4. In addition, if you are changing your name, address, phone number or W4 tax withholdings, they should also be submitted. A name change requires a copy of your Marriage Certificate to be attached.

5. Forms can be obtained by clicking on the form name ECR Form, W4 Federal, W4 Michigan, W4 Detroit, W4 Ohio and Employee Data Change Form.

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Having a Baby

Sweet little cries, the first giggle, multiple feedings in the middle of the night, dirty diapers. Wow, a lot to do as a new parent. Don’t forget to add your bundle of joy to your benefits (reference the Qualifying Events chart for more detail). If you choose to add him/her to your Henry Ford Health System benefit elections, you need to do the following:

1. Visit Self Service through HR Connect.  Self Service will allow you to view and update your benefit elections.  Please remember to read all of the directions carefully.  To update your benefits information now, click here.

OR:

1. Submit an Employee Benefit Change Request (ECR) form. On this document, you can indicate what benefits you would like to add your newborn to.

2. A copy of the birth announcement from the hospital or birth certificate is required.

3. The ECR form should be submitted to Employee Services within 30 days of the birth date.

4.  Forms can be obtained by clicking on the form name ECR Form, and if you are interested in updating your tax exemptions W4 Federal, W4 Michigan, W4 Detroit, and W4 Ohio .

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Adopting a Child or Stepchild(ren)

With new little people in your life, you have a lot to consider as a family. Don’t forget to make the appropriate benefit changes (reference the Qualifying Events chart for more detail). If you choose to add them to your Henry Ford Health System benefit elections, you need to do the following:

1. Visit Self Service through HR Connect.  Self Service will allow you to view and update your benefit elections.  Please remember to read all of the directions carefully.  To update your benefits information now, click here.

OR:

1. Submit an Employee Benefit Change Request (ECR) form. On this document, you can indicate what benefits you would like to add the new family member(s) to.

2. A copy of the adoption document or official court order is required.

3. The ECR form should be submitted to Employee Services within 30 days of the event date.

4.  Forms can be obtained by clicking on the form name ECR Form, and if you are interested in updating your tax exemptions W4 Federal, W4 Michigan, W4 Detroit, and W4 Ohio .  Remember, you may also be eligible to receive reimbursement for eligible adoption expenses. See Benefits for more information.

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Death in the Family

This is a very difficult time in anyone’s life. We hope none of our employees have to deal with the loss of a loved one, but when this does happen, Employee Services is here to walk you through the changes in your benefits. To remove an deceased family member from your benefits (reference the Qualifying Events chart for more details) you will need to do the following:

1. Submit an Employee Benefit Change Request (ECR) form. On this document, you can indicate what benefits you are dropping your dependent from.

2. A copy of the death certificate is required.

3. The ECR form should be submitted within 30 days of the event date.

4. Forms can be obtained by clicking on the form name ECR Form, and if you are interested in updating your tax exemptions W4 Federal, W4 Michigan, W4 Detroit, and W4 Ohio .

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Divorce

To remove an ex-spouse and other dependents from your benefits due to divorce(reference the Qualifying Events chart for more details) you will need to do the following:

1. Visit Self Service through HR Connect.  Self Service will allow you to view and update your benefit elections.  While in Self Service, you can also update your name, address, phone number, and emergency contacts.  Please remember to read all  of the directions carefully.  To update your benefits information now, click here.

OR:

1. Submit an Employee Benefit Change Request (ECR) form. On this document, you can indicate what benefits you would like to drop your ex-spouse from or what benefits you would like to elect for yourself and any dependents.

2. A copy of the divorce decree is required.

3. The ECR form should be submitted within 30 days of the event date.  Please note, if your ex-spouse's address is changing, please include the new address.

4. In addition, if you are changing your name, address, phone number or W4 tax withholdings, they should also be submitted. A name change requires a copy of the court document to be attached.

5. The ex-spouse being dropped from any Medical or Dental benefit elections will receive a COBRA Notification via mail advising them of their rights to continue benefit coverage and the costs associated.

6. Forms can be obtained by clicking on the form name ECR Form, W4 Federal, W4 Michigan, W4 Detroit, W4 Ohio and Employee Data Change Form.

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Spouse Loss of Benefits

Reference the Qualifying Events chart for more details.

1. Submit an Employee Benefit Change Request (ECR) form. On this document, you can indicate what benefits you would like to elect or add your spouse to.

2. A letter from your spouse’s employer is required, indicating the date the coverage was loss.

3. The ECR form should be submitted within 30 days of the event date.

4. Forms can be obtained by clicking on the form name ECR Form.

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Spouse Gains Benefits

Reference the Qualifying Events chart for more details.

1. Submit an Employee Benefit Change Request (ECR) form. On this document, you can indicate what benefits you would like to drop or change.

2. A letter from your spouse’s employer is required, indicating the date the coverage began.

3. The ECR form should be submitted within 30 days of the event date.

4. Forms can be obtained by clicking on the form name ECR Form.

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Retirement

Please click on Leaving HFHS for more information on retirement and the benefits available.  Also see Retirement for more information.

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