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Spouse Changes Employment

When your spouse changes jobs, your benefits may change, too. Make sure you adjust your enrollment as needed to cover your family. Here are some steps you may take:

  • If your spouse has lost coverage with the job change, s/he may be eligible for some of your benefit plans. To see whom you can cover, when and for how much, check the eligibility rules and costs of the benefit plans and programs your employer provides.

Health Insurance

  • If you are enrolled in MMBB-sponsored medical and dental insurance, you only have 30 days after your spouse changes jobs to change coverage, so don’t miss the deadline. Otherwise, you must wait for the next open enrollment to change your coverage.
  • You can always drop your MMBB health insurance if you choose to become covered by your spouse’s new plan.

Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)

  • Adjust contributions to your health care flexible FSA. A health care FSA lets you set aside pre-tax dollars to pay family health care costs not covered by another plan. Your spouse’s change may make you responsible for either more or fewer expenses.
  • Adjust contributions to your dependent care FSA. A dependent care FSA lets you set aside pre-tax dollars to pay eligible dependent care expenses for children under the age of 13 or disabled adults. Your spouse’s change may change your needs.
  • Submit FSA claims with your spouse’s previous employer. If your spouse had an FSA with his/her previous employer, be sure to file eligible claims incurred before your spouse’s termination date with the previous employer.
  • This section can help you model how your spouse’s status change could affect your future financial needs and how much you want to set aside for a health care and/or a dependent care FSA.

Personal Affairs, Taxes and Estate Planning

  • Speak to your lawyer if you need to create or change your will or other legal documents.
  • Be sure your MMBB beneficiary designations are up-to-date.
  • If your spouse now has more or less life or accident insurance coverage, you may wish to review your insurance needs.
  • Contact your employer to provide:
    • your address, if you move with your spouse’s job change;
    • your new emergency contacts; and
    • updated tax withholding information.

As always, feel free to contact a senior benefits specialist at 800.986.6222 or service@mmbb.org for additional assistance.