A life event is an IRS qualified event that allows you to make a change in your enrollment elections during the plan year. Below you will find the University’s recognized life events for students. In order to make a change to your coverage selections, you will need to submit a life event through the eBenefits, the student health insurance portal.
Please Note: Student coverage does not automatically continue each academic year. Re-enrollment is required every fall to maintain active coverage. All coverage ends 8/31 without re-enrollment.
Questions about student health coverage? For general plan inquiries, contact the University's Benefits Department by calling 833-852-2210 or submit an inquiry online. For enrollment questions, contact UPMC Health Plan by calling 1-888-499-6885.
Steps to Take to Change Your Insurance Coverage Due to a Life Event
In order to make changes to your benefit elections during the academic year due to a life event, you must complete all steps below in their entirety.
- Go to my.pitt.edu.
- Select "Students" from the "Roles" drop-down (located underneath the search bar) if not already selected.
- Search for "Student Health Insurance."
- Find the option for "Student Health Insurance" (eBenefits) and launch the portal, logging in via Pitt Passport if not logged in.
- The portal can also be launched by direct link (select the "Start" button and login via Pitt Passport if not logged in).
- Click on “Change My Benefits” on the Navigation Bar at the top of your homepage then choose "Change My Benefits" on the right side of the page.
- Choose the appropriate event under the Life Event option, enter the date the event occurred, and click “Start Change.”
- Continue through the online enrollment.
- Once you have completed your changes, select "Approve" on the Review Enrollment Page then select "I Agree" on the Confirmation Page.
- Upload the required supporting documentation in one of two ways:
- If you have your documentation ready at the time of enrollment, select “Upload Now” on the “Action Required” page immediately after you submit your elections.
- If you do not have your documentation ready at the time of enrollment, visit your Message Center at the top of your homepage at a later date, view the message titled, “You need to submit documentation to verify your eligibility, “ and upload your document(s) directly to the message.
IMPORTANT NOTE: You must submit supporting documentation for any life event changes in the eBenefits portal. Incomplete submissions will be denied.
A change to your coverage elections can only be made within 60 days of the qualified life event.
- For an event date that occurs on the first day of a month, the coverage becomes effective the first of that same month.
Losing Other Coverage Example: If the student lost coverage on October 1st and wants to enroll in University student insurance, the student’s coverage would begin effective October 1. The student must submit a life event along with proof of loss of other coverage within 60 days of their previous coverage termination date.
NOTE: Coverage is only processed to begin based on the event date for a qualified status change. If you submit your paperwork on October 31st, the coverage will begin retroactively on October 1st.
- For an event date that occurs after the first day of a month, the coverage becomes effective the first of the next month.
Losing Other Coverage Example: If the student lost coverage on October 13th and wants to enroll in University student insurance, the student’s coverage would begin effective November 1. The student must submit a life event along with proof of loss of other coverage within 60 days of their previous coverage termination date.
NOTE: Coverage is only processed to begin based on the event date for a qualified life event. If you submit your paperwork on November 30th, then the coverage will begin retroactively on November 1st.
Life events should be completed in the eBenefits, the University’s student health insurance portal.
University Recognized Life Events for Students
Birth or Legal Adoption
The addition of a child to your family is a qualifying life event to make changes to your benefits enrollment. You must submit a life event in the eBenefits portal within 60 days of the birth or adoption being finalized. If you are outside of the 60-day deadline to submit your life event request, you will need to wait until the annual open enrollment period to make changes. There may be other options to cover your child under CHIP or the Healthcare Marketplace if you are unable to meet the 60-day deadline.
Accepted Documentation
- Birth certificate
- Verification of birth document
- NOTE: This document is accepted as a placeholder until you receive the official birth certificate. A copy of the birth certificate should also be submitted upon your receipt, which should be within 31 days.
- Legal court ordered document confirming the adoption of child.
Medical, Dental, Vision
- You have the option to add your child to your existing policies for coverage to begin first of the month following the date of birth or adoption.
- IMPORTANT: Newborns are automatically covered under the mother’s insurance for the first 31 days following their birth. You must take action within 60 days to continue your newborn’s coverage.
Change in Marital Status
A change in your marital status, such as marriage or divorce, provides you with the opportunity to make changes to your benefits enrollment. You must submit a life event in the eBenefits portal within 60 days of the marriage date or the date of a divorce being finalized. If you are outside of the 60-day deadline to submit your life event request, you will need to wait until the next annual open enrollment period to make changes.
In the event of a marriage, you also have the option to waive University coverage to be added to your spouse’s employer-sponsored plan. You will be required to submit a life event in the eBenefits portal and upload a copy of your marriage certificate acceptable documentation within 60 days of the date of marriage. In the event of a divorce and if you are covered under a spouse’s employer sponsored plan, you will need to submit a life event in the eBenefits portal and upload a copy of your divorce decree within 60 days of the divorce being finalized in order to enroll in University coverage.
Accepted Documentation
- Copy of the Marriage Certificate
- Copy of the Divorce Decree
Medical, Dental, and Vision
- In the event of a marriage, you have the option to add your spouse to your existing policies for coverage to begin the first of the month following your date of marriage.
- In the event of a divorce, you must remove your ex-spouse from your existing policies for coverage to end the first of the month following the date of the Divorce Decree.
- NOTE: If you and your ex-spouse no longer share a residence, please update the Benefits Department by submitting an inquiry online at www.hr.pitt.edu/contact-ohr. We will need this information for the purpose of offering COBRA to the ex-spouse.
Death of a Dependent
When you experience the loss of a dependent, you may make changes to your benefits. Please submit a life event in the eBenefits portal within 60 days of the passing of your dependent.
Accepted Documentation
- Copy of the Death Certificate
Medical, Dental, Vision
- You can remove your deceased spouse or child from your existing policies for coverage to end the first of the month following the event date.
Domestic Partnership
Students in a domestic partnership that would like to enroll their partner in benefits coverage must submit a certification of domestic partnership to eBenefits. Learn more about the certification of domestic partnership for students.
Accepted Documentation
Medical, Dental, and Vision
- In the event of a domestic partnership, you have the option to add your partner to your existing policies for coverage to begin the first of the month following your date of the start of the domestic partnership.
- In the event of a termination of the domestic partnership, you must remove your ex-spouse from your existing policies for coverage to end the first of the month following the date of termination of the partnership.
- NOTE: If you and your ex-partner no longer share a residence, please update the Benefits Department by submitting an online inquiry at www.hr.pitt.edu/contact-ohr. We will need this information for the purpose of offering COBRA to the ex-spouse.
Gained Coverage
Gaining coverage through an employer-sponsored plan or state-sponsored programs such as Medicaid, CHIP, etc. is considered a qualified life event to remove you, your spouse and/or child(ren) from your benefits. You must submit a life event in the eBenefits portal within 60 days of the eligibility and/or effective start date of the coverage. If you are outside of the 60-day deadline to submit your life event request, you will need to wait until the next annual open enrollment period to make changes.
Accepted Documentation
- Confirmation statement of benefits that outlines the coverages (i.e., medical/dental/vision), enrollee(s), and effective start date of coverage.
- Letter from employer’s human resources department or insurance company that outlines coverages (i.e., medical/dental/vision), covered person(s), and effective start date of coverage.
- Letter or statement that you/your dependents are newly eligible for state-sponsored coverage.
Medical, Dental, Vision
- You may cancel your own policy and/or remove a dependent(s) from your existing policies for coverage to end the first of the month following the effective date of other coverage.
- Student gaining coverage may waive their existing policies based on the coverage elected on the other employer-sponsored plan. For example, if you are gaining only medical and dental with your new insurance company, you would only be able to waive the University medical and dental at this time and you cannot waive vision coverage because it is not something that is being gained. The coverage would end first of the month following the effective date of other coverage. The vision coverage can be dropped during open enrollment.
Loss of Coverage
A loss of coverage through an employer-sponsored plan or state-sponsored programs such as Medicaid, CHIP, etc. is considered a qualified status change to add your spouse and/or child(ren) to your benefits. You must submit a life event in the eBenefits portal within 60 days of the loss of the coverage. If you are outside of the 60-day deadline to submit your life event request, you will need to wait until the next annual open enrollment period to make changes.
Accepted Documentation
- COBRA letter from the former employer (please provide a full copy)
- Letter from employer’s human resources department or insurance company that indicates what coverage(s) are terminating (i.e., medical/dental/vision), covered person(s) and effective termination date of coverage(s).
- Letter or statement that you/your dependents are no longer eligible for state-sponsored coverage (i.e., CHIP eligibility, loss of Medicaid eligibility)
- Dependent documentation must be submitted for a spouse and/or child(ren) that you are requesting to be added to benefits due to loss of coverage. Please see the documentation requirements for dependents on the Benefits Eligibility page.
Medical, Dental, Vision
- You may newly enroll in and/or add a dependent(s) to your existing policies for coverage to begin the first of the month following the effective end date of other coverage.
- Students losing coverage can make elections based on the coverage(s) lost on from their employer-sponsored plan. For example, if you had only medical and dental with your previous insurance company, you would only be able to enroll in University medical and dental at this time and you cannot elect vision coverage because it is not something that was recently termed. The coverage would begin the first of the month following the effective end date of other coverage.