Beginning August 1, the state of Maryland Employee Benefits Division will implement changes relative to the effective date of benefits coverage. Please refer to the guidelines below to determine what these changes may mean for you.
- New hires on or after August 1, 2015 – Benefits-eligible new hires will still have 60 days from the date of hire in which to enroll in benefits, however, coverage will be effective the first of the month following the date of hire and the employee will pay for coverage as of this date. Employees can no longer back date coverage to the date of hire.
- Plan-year qualifying status changes – Employees will still have 60 days from the date of the event in which to make benefits changes, however, the change will be effective on the first of the month following the date of the event. For example, if an employee gets married on August 8, the effective date of the spouse’s coverage will be September 1, even if the employee waits until September 8 to enroll the spouse. The employee will pay for coverage as of the effective date.
This rule applies to all qualifying status changes EXCEPT birth or adoption; these changes will always be effective as of the date of birth or adoption. The employee will pay for coverage as of the effective date.
- Ending coverage – Coverage will stop on the last day of the month in which a benefits termination occurs due to divorce or separation from service.
