Life Events are defined by the Internal Revenue Service, and they specify when employees can make changes to their benefits other than during annual enrollment. There are quite a few Life Events (see below). The Benefits Service Center (1-877-780-4473 and www.hisdbenefits.org) can assist you with Life Events changes but you must make them within the 31 days following each Life Event.
Employment
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Your spouse gains benefits
Within 31 days of your spouse gaining benefits through their employer, contact the HISD Benefits Service Center to change coverage for you, your spouse and/or your dependents. Call 877-780-HISD (4473), choose a language and then press 2 to get started. The Service Center is available weekdays (except holidays), 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. CST.
Drop coverage for your spouse
Medical • Dental • Vision
Drop or increase coverage
Supplemental Life and AD&D
Disability
Personal legal plan
Drop coverage for your spouse or dependents
Cancer and specified diseases
Hospital Indemnity
Critical illness
Accident
Change contribution amount
Health care FSA
Dependent day care FSA
You may need to submit evidence of insurability for some changes.
Changes generally take effect on the first day of the month after you notify the HISD Benefits Service Center, though some effective dates vary. Confirm with the HISD Benefits Service Center about the date(s) your coverage changes become effective.
*Requires employee supplemental life coverage. -
Your spouse loses benefits
Within 31 days of your spouse losing benefits through their employer, contact the HISD Benefits Service Center to change coverage for you, your spouse and/or your dependents. Call 877-780-HISD (4473), choose a language and then press 2 to get started. The Service Center is available weekdays (except holidays), 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. CST.
Add coverage
Medical • Dental • Vision
Add or increase coverage
Supplemental life and AD&D
Spouse life AD&D
Disability
Personal legal plan
Add coverage for your spouse and dependents
Cancer and specified diseases
Critical illness
Hospital indemnity
Accident
Change contribution amounts
Health care FSA
Dependent day care FSA
You may need to submit evidence of insurability for some changes.
Changes generally take effect on the first day of the month after you notify the HISD Benefits Service Center, though some effective dates vary. Confirm with the HISD Benefits Service Center about the date(s) your coverage changes become effective.
*Requires employee supplemental life coverage -
Spouse enrollment period is different from HISD's
If your spouse’s benefits enrollment period happens during a different time of the year than ours, you can change your HISD benefits within 31 days of your spouse’s annual enrollment. Call 877-780-HISD (4473), choose a language and then press 2 to get started. The Service Center is available weekdays (except holidays), 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. CST.
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You leave HISD
What happens if you no longer work for HISD?
Your benefits coverage ends on the last day of the month of your HISD employment. You may be able to extend your health care coverage for a limited time through COBRA, and some of your benefits may be portable or convertible.
Continuation of Coverage
If you are no longer employed and would like to keep your current Aflac Group plans in place, you may be able to port your plans. To ensure that your portability (continuation of coverage) is handled quickly and accurately, please print the attached Continuation of Coverage form and then do the following:- Complete the form in its entirety and sign and date it.
- Verify your rate from your paystub, with your employer/HR department or with your agent.
- If paying by monthly ACH/Bank Draft please email completed forms to CSCMAIL@aflac.com. This payment option is only available on a monthly basis.
- If paying by check, mail the completed form along with your check to the address noted on the form. This payment option is only available for quarterly, semi-annual or annual payments.
- Submit within 31 days of your termination date.
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Benefits portability and conversion
You can keep some of your benefits through portability or conversion after you’re no longer employed by HISD or when one of your dependents becomes ineligible for benefits—even after COBRA expires.
Portability means you continue being covered under the plans offered by HISD. To port your coverage, you have to apply to the insurance carrier. The carrier provides you with new rates for your policy, which may be higher than what you were paying as an HISD employee. You pay your premiums directly to the carrier, and no evidence of insurability is required, though you still need to meet the group policy’s terms and conditions.
Conversion means you convert your HISD plan to an individual policy. You pay your premiums directly to the carrier. Your new policy may or may not provide the same level of benefits as the group plan you were covered under, and you still need to meet the group policy’s terms and conditions to convert your benefits.
For most plans, the insurance carrier must receive your application and first premium payment within 31 days of the end of your group coverage. Contact your carrier for more information.
Please note: If you have benefits through Unum or Aflac Group, you will not receive a letter about the conversion or portability process. You will have to call your provider directly. For all other benefits, you will receive a letter from the provider or a COBRA packet, as applicable. -
View the forms you need to get you started
Plans that are convertible:
Dental HMO: Call Cigna at 800-Cigna24 (244-6224).
Discount Dental: Call QCD of America Member Services at 800-229-0304.
Life (AD&D not included):Call Minnesota Life Customer Service at 866-293-6047.
Disability: Call Unum Customer Service at 800-858-6843. Retirees are not eligible.
Cancer and specified diseases: Call Aflac Group at 800-433-3036. You must be under 70 and have had six months of continuous coverage.
Hospital indemnity: Call Aflac Group at 800-433-3036. You must be under 70 and have had at least one payroll deduction.
Critical illness: Call Aflac Group at 800-433-3036. You must be under 70 and have had at least one payroll deduction.
Accident: Call Aflac Group at 800-433-3036. You must be under 70 and have had six months of continuous coverage.
Plans that are portable:
Life (AD&D included): Call Minnesota Life Customer Service at 866-293-6047. When you reach age 65, insurance reduces to 65%. When you reach age 70, this insurance is dropped.
Personal legal plan: Call Hyatt Legal Client Service Center at 800-821-6400. You can port this plan for up to 30 months with one payment, in full. Dependents who have become ineligible for benefits can’t port this plan.
Plans that can’t be continued after COBRA expires:
Medical
Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
Vision
Health care flexible spending account (FSA)
Dental PPO
Cobra rates
Clinics
Health & Wellness Clinic
Employee: $34.03
Employee + Spouse: $44.99
Employee + child(ren): $44.99
Employee + family: $44.99
Dental
HMO
Employee: $15.51
Employee + Spouse: $29.52
Employee + child(ren): $29.52
Employee + family: $37.93
PPO
Employee: $42.01
Employee + Spouse: $83.23
Employee + child(ren): $83.04
Employee + family: $129.88
PPO Buy-up
Employee: $46.57
Employee + Spouse: $92.27
Employee + child(ren): $92.04
Employee + family: $143.98
Managed Cost Dental
Employee: $5.10
Employee + Spouse: $10.20
Employee + child(ren): $10.20
Employee + family: $10.20
Medical
Charter Select
Employee: $649.47
Employee + Spouse: $916.39
Employee + child(ren): $896.64
Employee + family: $1,058.43
Charter Basic
Employee: $687.07
Employee + Spouse: $941.09
Employee + child(ren): $923.16
Employee + family: $1,114.29
Charter Plus
Employee: $730.91
Employee + Spouse: $1,026.06
Employee + child(ren): $1,001.88
Employee + family: $1,259.88
Nexus Basic
Employee: $691.40
Employee + Spouse: $965.37
Employee + child(ren): $945.68
Employee + family: $1,155.90
Nexus Plus
Employee: $739.62
Employee + Spouse: $1,058.84
Employee + child(ren): $1,032.24
Employee + family: $1,316.07
Choice HDHP
Employee: $719.24
Employee + Spouse: $1,121.61
Employee + child(ren): $1,090.46
Employee + family: $1,423.70
Choice
Employee: $795.62
Employee + Spouse: $1,244.36
Employee + child(ren): $1,205.80
Employee + family: $1,575.70
Vision
Vision Basic
Employee: $3.73
Employee + Spouse: $7.06
Employee + child(ren): $7.38
Employee + family: $13.78
Vision Plus
Employee: $5.82
Employee + Spouse: $11.56
Employee + child(ren): $12.13
Employee + family: $18.60