BNY Mellon Benefits Guide
Special Health Coverage Enrollment
(Applies to Medical, Dental and Vision Coverage)
You may make a change to add medical, dental or vision coverage if Special Enrollment Rights under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) apply. In general, these Special Enrollment Rights apply under the following circumstances:
  • Loss of Other Coverage—You declined coverage for yourself, your spouse or other eligible dependent because of other health coverage, and the other health coverage is lost. If the other health coverage was COBRA coverage, the full period of COBRA must be exhausted. If the other health coverage was not COBRA, you may change coverage only if the coverage was lost as a result of loss of eligibility or because employer contributions toward the coverage ended. You and your dependents are not eligible for Special Enrollment Rights, however, if you lost coverage because you did not pay premiums on time, voluntarily dropped coverage or are guilty of fraud.
Note: You may add coverage for yourself in order to cover an eligible dependent who loses coverage under these circumstances. You must notify the BNY Mellon Benefit Solutions Service Center within 31 days after the other health coverage is lost.
  • New Dependent—You gain an eligible dependent (spouse or child) as a result of marriage, birth, adoption or placement for adoption. If you gain a new dependent, you may add coverage for yourself and your dependents (if you are not already covered) or, if you are already covered, you may add coverage for the new dependent and other eligible family members.
Note: To elect medical coverage, you must initiate a life event change online or notify the BNY Mellon Benefit Solutions Service Center within 31 days of the marriage, birth, adoption or placement for adoption. See "How to Report a Qualified Life Event Change" for more information.
  • Medicaid/CHIP—If you or your eligible dependent's coverage under a Medicaid or state children's health insurance program (CHIP) terminates due to loss of eligibility, or if you or your eligible dependent became eligible for premium assistance under a CHIP or Medicaid plan, you must notify the BNY Mellon Benefit Solutions Service Center within 60 days after such change.