Why can't my husband take me off of his medical benefits if i just signed up for benefits at my job?

Question

This is so annoying, why are we forced to pay for benefits we don't need anymore. We were told that we have to wait until open enrollment until he can take me off of his plan. Benefits at my company are free to the employee, so atleast we don't have to pay two premiums.

Answer 1

If your job is new, or you're just qualifying for benefits, you have to tell your hubby's employer that you had a "qualifying event" that lets you make a change to his benefits outside of the open enrollment period.

If the job isn't new, or the benefits eligibility isn't new, then you're not going to be able to make any changes until the next open enrollment period.

Answer 2

Open enrollment is usually the only time changes can be made to employee benefit choices, unless there is a 'qualifying' change i.e. marriage, termination, death. Have your husband check with his HR department that switching to your coverage is an acceptable 'event' or not. I would think that it would be since he would not be opting out of coverage altogether.

Answer 3

Often times, policyholders or employers are penalized financially for changes made during the middle of a contract - that's why you have to wait for open enrollment time.

Answer 4

Yeah, that's how it works. Open enrollment happens once a year, and that's your only chance to make changes.

If there was a major life change (such as death or divorce), he could take you off, but that's about it.

Answer 5

Same thing happened to me. He has to wait for "open season" then he can opt out of it.

Answer 6

Perhaps all you need to do is to prove that you have your own benefits.

Answer 7

I second exactly what mbrcatz17 said