Enrolling in/
Changing Benefits

New hires must enroll in benefits within 30 days from date of hire.  Employees that have a status change must enroll in benefits within 30 days of becoming eligible for benefits. You will enroll in benefits online using Employee Self-Service (ESS).  To enroll from home, go to myhr.jefferson.edu.

The benefits you choose will remain in effect until December 31 of that year.  You cannot make changes during the year unless you have a life event. Every fall, you will have an opportunity to make changes to your benefits during Open Enrollment.  Any changes you make at Open Enrollment take effect on the upcoming January 1.  

You may enroll your eligible dependents in a Jefferson medical, dental, life insurance or AD&D plan.  Eligible dependents include your spouse and children up to age 26.  Non-benefit eligible employees and their children up to age 26 will be able to enroll in the Silver Medical Plan only. If you choose to enroll your dependents in benefits, you will need to submit dependent verification documentation (birth certificate, marriage certificate, etc.) within 30 days from the date you add them as a dependent. Prior year tax returns can be accepted if certificates are not available. You should provide this information to the HR Service Center at bit.ly/JeffersonHRSC or fax to 215-503-7455.

Life event rules are governed by IRS regulations and exceptions are not permitted. Life Events include:

• Marital status change (marriage, divorce, death of spouse)
• Change in number of dependents (birth, adoption, death of dependent)
• You or one of your covered dependents gain or lose other benefits coverage
• Any other event recognized under applicable law and regulations as a reason to change an election under the Benefits Program 

Marriage, birth or adoption life events can be submitted through Employee Self-Service.  You can access a step-by-step guide to assist you with updating your life event information here. To report other life event changes, call 215-503-4772 and select Option 8 and then Option 1. 

You must submit supporting documentation (birth certificate, marriage certificate, proof of new coverage, etc.) via bit.ly/JeffersonHRSC or fax to 215-503-7455 within 30 days of the life event. Prior year tax returns can be accepted if certificates are not available. You can review your updated benefit elections 2 business days after making the change by going to Employee Self Service - Benefit Details - Benefits Summary.

Jefferson benefit coverage ends for you upon the following events:

• Medical and dental benefits end on the last day of the month in which your employment ends or you no longer meet the applicable eligibility requirements of the plans
• Life insurance, disability and FSA benefits end on the date your employment ends or you no longer meet the applicable eligibility requirements of the plans

Jefferson benefit coverage ends for your dependents on the date:

• Your coverage ends
• Your dependent no longer meets the definition of an eligible dependent
• You remove a dependent from coverage due to a life event

Coverage may also end if you stop making required payments, you misrepresent your dependent’s eligibility status or the plan ends.

COBRA requires continuation coverage to be offered to covered employees, their spouses, their former spouses and their dependent children when group health coverage would otherwise be lost due to certain specific qualifying events.  For more information on COBRA see the Benefits Guidebook.