University of Southern California

USC Benefits

Changing Your Benefits

Open enrollment

Some benefits can be changed at any time. The following, however, can only be changed during open enrollment, or when you have a "life event" status change (see below):

Open enrollment takes place during a designated time period, usually in November. The exact dates vary from year to year; all employees are notified of each year's open enrollment dates. The changes you make during open enrollment take effect on January 1.

During open enrollment, benefit fairs are held on both the University Park and Health Sciences campuses, with benefits representatives and vendors available to answer your questions about your many options.

Life events

When your life changes, sometimes your benefits need to change, too. The following life events or status changes qualify for benefit changes—although the benefit changes must be consistent with the life event. Click on the link to your situation, below, for step-by-step help with benefits and other helpful information:

You must initiate benefit changes on eTrac or contact Benefits within 30 days of the qualifying life event, or you will have to wait until the next open enrollment to make your changes.

Using eTrac

You initiate changes to your benefits via eTrac. When you make a change that requires verification (such as adding a dependent), you will receive an email with instructions on how to verify.