Changing your benefits
Open enrollment
- Medical, vision and dental plans
- Flexible spending accounts
- Legal services plan
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):
Disability plans may only be changed during open enrollment.
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. You must notify Benefits within 30 days of the applicable life event.
- Pregnancy
- Birth of a child
- Adoption
- Child is turning 13
- Child is turning 26
- Marriage
- Registration of a domestic partnership
- Legal separation
- Divorce or annulment
- Termination or dissolution of registered domestic partnership
- Death of a loved one
- Death of USC employee
- Change in employment status
- Insurance changes related to dependents
- Relocation
Click on the life event below to go to our Employee Gateway for detailed information.
Medical leave
Benefits can also change if circumstances necessitate you taking a medical leave of absence. See our Going on leave information page on the Employee Gateway.
