Changing Your Insurance/Life Events:

People get married, have babies, get divorced or change jobs and may need to change their benefit elections during the year.  According to IRS regulations, you cannot change your benefit elections during the year unless you experience a qualified change in status, or life event.

What are Examples of Qualifying Life Events? 

A Change in Your Household Size:

• Getting Married
• Having a Baby
• Leaving Pinellas County Schools
• Losing a Loved One
• Getting Divorced

 

Losing Your Health Coverage:
You may qualify if any of the following occur:

• You or your dependent lose job‑based health coverage for any reason.
• Your COBRA coverage expires.
• You become divorced.
• You or your dependent lose eligibility for Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP).

 

A Change in Circumstance:
You may be eligible to update your benefits if any of the following occur:

• You or your spouse begin or end an unpaid leave of absence.
• You or your spouse gain coverage through an employer or a state‑sponsored plan (such as Medicare or Medicaid).

Under IRS regulations, benefit elections cannot be changed during the year unless a qualifying life event occurs. Any changes must be directly related to that event. To request a change, submit an Enrollment & Change Form to Risk Management within 31 days of the life event. Supporting documentation is required. All changes take effect on the first of the month following the life event and the receipt of required paperwork by Risk Management.

 

Additional Forms and Links:

• 2026 New Hire Benefit & Change Form

 For more information, please contact the Benefits Team at 727-588-6197.