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Employees: How to Submit for a Qualifying Life Event
Employees: How to Submit for a Qualifying Life Event

Understanding what a qualifying life event is and how to submit for one in Fingercheck.

Jeffrey Mo avatar
Written by Jeffrey Mo
Updated over a month ago

We understand that life is full of changes, and we're here to make updating your information a breeze. If you've experienced a Qualifying Life Event (QLE), chances are you need to make changes to your benefits.

Whether you're experiencing changes in health coverage, household dynamics, residence, or eligibility, this article will provide you with the necessary tools to understand what qualifies as a QLE and how to submit for one in Fingercheck.


What is a qualifying life event?

A qualifying life event (QLE) is a significant change in an individual's life that may affect their health insurance coverage. Individuals experiencing a QLE may have an opportunity to make changes to their health insurance plans outside of the regular open enrollment periods. A QLE includes circumstances that create a need for new coverage or changes to existing coverage.


Types of qualifying life events

There are a range of events that can qualify as a qualifying life event (QLE). The following are the most prevalent types of QLEs.

Loss of health insurance

  • Losing coverage through a parent’s insurance plan on your 26th birthday

  • Losing coverage due to a job loss, COBRA, or a student plan

  • Losing eligibility for Medicare, Medicaid, or CHIP

  • Losing health insurance for any reason other than not paying premiums

Changes in your household

  • Getting married, separated, or divorced

  • Adding a child to your family, such as giving birth, adopting a child, or taking care of a foster child

  • Experiencing the death of a family member enrolled on your health insurance

Changes in your residence

  • Moving to a different county or ZIP code

  • Students moving to attend school or back home from school

  • Seasonal workers moving to a work location or back home from a work location

  • Moving in or out of a shelter or transitional housing

Changes to eligibility

  • A change in income affects Medicaid eligibility

  • Becoming eligible for tax credits that lower premiums after enrolling in an ACA plan

  • Becoming a member of a federally recognized tribe

  • Becoming a U.S citizen

  • For AmeriCorps VISTA members, beginning or ending service

  • Being discharged from the military

  • Being released from incarceration


Documentation to establish a qualifying life event

Qualifying Life Events (QLEs) often require documentation to support the changes made to health insurance coverage. Proper documentation is essential for verifying the occurrence of the event and ensuring accurate processing.

Ensuring you have the appropriate documentation is crucial for a smooth and efficient processing of your health insurance changes during a QLE. Always check with your health insurance provider for specific documentation requirements related to your circumstances.

Below are common types of QLEs and the corresponding documentation that may be needed:

Loss of health insurance

  • Termination letter from employer

  • Proof of loss of coverage

  • Other relevant documents

Changes in your household

  • Marriage certificate

  • Legal documents for divorce or separation

  • Birth certificates, adoption papers, or placement documentation

  • Death certificate of the individual on the policy

Changes in your residence

  • Proof of new address, utility bills, or lease agreement

  • Proof of enrollment or change in residence for students

  • Employer verification or documentation of work location change

  • Shelter or housing facility confirmation

  • Proof of relocation and immigration documents for international moves

Changes to eligibility

  • Pay stubs, tax documents, or income verification

  • Documentation of eligibility for tax credits

  • Tribal membership documentation

  • Citizenship documents for new U.S. citizens

  • AmeriCorps documentation for beginning or ending service

  • Military discharge papers

  • Documentation of release from incarceration


Submit a qualifying life event

  1. Log in to Fingercheck on app.fingercheck.com.

  2. Click on BENEFITS.

  3. Click the hamburger menu button.

  4. Select Qualifying Life Events.

  5. Click New Request.

  6. Edit the following details:

    1. Type of QLE: select a qualifying life event.

    2. Date of QLE: enter the date of the qualifying life event.

    3. Changes to make: select the type of change.

    4. Plans to change: use the toggle to select the type of insurance that you need to change.

    5. Anything else we should know?: enter a message you would like to include with your QLE submission.

    6. Attach documentation. You can attach multiple files. Attachments must be a PDF file.

  7. Click Send request.

Your company admin will receive an email notifying them of your QLE submission.


Edit a QLE previously submitted

Maybe you prematurely submitted a QLE and you now discovered you need to edit the information. You can edit an existing QLE by accessing your QLE screen.

  1. Log in to Fingercheck on app.fingercheck.com.

  2. Click on BENEFITS.

  3. Click the hamburger menu button.

  4. Select Qualifying Life Events.

  5. Click the hamburger menu and select Edit or Delete.


FAQ

What is a qualifying life event (QLE)?

A qualifying life event is a significant change in an individual's life that allows them to make changes to their health insurance coverage outside of the regular open enrollment period.

What are the common types of QLEs?

Common QLEs include marriage, birth or adoption, loss of health insurance, changes in household size, changes in residence, and changes to eligibility.

How do I prove a loss of health insurance for a QLE?

Documentation such as a termination letter from your employer, proof of loss of coverage, or other relevant documents may be required to verify the loss of health insurance.

What documents are needed for changes in household size?

For marriage, a marriage certificate is required. For divorce or legal separation, legal documents confirming the change are needed. Birth certificates, adoption papers, or placement documentation are required for births, adoptions, or foster care placements. A death certificate is needed in the case of a death.

What proof is required for changes in residence?

Proof of a new address, utility bills, or a lease agreement may be required. For students, proof of enrollment or change of residence is necessary. For seasonal workers, employer verification or documentation of a work location change may be needed.

How can I show changes in income for QLE eligibility?

Pay stubs, tax documents, or income verification are typically required to demonstrate changes in income affecting eligibility for Medicaid coverage.

Are there specific documents for military discharge or release from incarceration?

Military discharge papers are required for changes related to military service. Documentation of release from incarceration is needed for individuals leaving incarceration.

Is there a time limit for submitting QLE documentation?

It's crucial to submit documentation promptly, usually within 30-60 days of the qualifying life event, to ensure timely processing of changes to health insurance coverage.

Where can I find more information about QLEs and documentation requirements?

For detailed information specific to your health insurance plan and QLE circumstances, refer to the documentation guidelines provided by your health insurance provider or contact your HR

These FAQs provide general information, and it's crucial to refer to your company's policies for accurate and specific details about QLEs.


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