Your Spouse or Dependent Dies

This Life Events Guide page has two sections - active employees and retirees and survivors. Please refer to the appropriate page section for information based on your employment status.

In the table(s) below, supplemental benefits refer to supplemental dental insurance (Select, Select Plus, and Preventive), vision insurance, and Accident Plan. You may not be eligible for all supplemental benefits. Visit the Dental Insurance, Vision Insurance, and Accident Plan pages to learn about eligibility.

For Active Employees

	Health Insurance & Uniform Dental	Supplemental Benefits
Enrollment opportunity?	No, unless the employee is losing other group coverage as a dependent	No, unless the employee is losing other comparable coverage as a dependent
Change coverage from individual to family?	No, unless the dependent is losing other medical coverage under the deceased spouse	No, unless the dependent is losing other comparable coverage under the deceased spouse
Change coverage from family to individual?	Yes, if you have no other dependents	Yes, if you have no other dependents
Change health plan?	No	n/a
Drop a dependent and keep family coverage?	Yes	Yes
Cancel coverage?	See the You Gain Eligibility for Other Group Medical Coverage page for more information	No
Deadline to submit changes	Premium refunds due to a change from family to individual coverage will only be allowed for up to six months	---
How to submit changes	Log in to My Benefits to edit your benefits: Select "Death of Dependent" as your reason for change. Enter the date of death. Remove your spouse or dependent from coverage.	Log in to My Benefits to edit your benefits: Select "Death of Dependent" as your reason for change. Enter the date of death. Remove your spouse or dependent from coverage.
Documentation required?	No	No
Effective date	Coverage will end on the last day of the month following receipt of application	Coverage will end on the last day of the month following receipt of application

For Retirees and Survivors

	Health Insurance & Uniform Dental	Supplemental Benefits
Enrollment opportunity?	No, unless you are a State retiree or survivor with escrowed sick leave and are losing other medical coverage as a dependent (See Enrolling for Coverage FAQs Question: "Are there other enrollment opportunities available to me after my initial one expires?" regarding sick leave)	No, unless the retiree or survivor is losing other comparable coverage as a dependent
Change coverage from individual to family?	No, unless the dependent is losing other medical coverage under the deceased spouse	No, unless the dependent is losing other coverage under the deceased spouse
Change coverage from family to individual?	Yes	Yes, if you have no other dependents
Change health plan?	No	n/a
Drop a dependent and keep family coverage?	Yes	Yes
Cancel coverage?	Yes	No
Deadline to submit changes	Premium refunds due to a change from family to individual coverage will only be allowed for up to six months	---
How to submit changes	Submit the Health Insurance Application/Change for Retirees (ET-2331) with required documentation to ETF to remove the dependent or cancel coverage. Or, log in to My Benefits to edit your benefits: Select "Death of Dependent" as your reason for change. Enter the date of death. Remove your spouse or dependent from coverage, or cancel the insurance.	Submit the Supplemental Insurance Application/Change (ET-2339) with required documentation to ETF to remove the spouse or dependent. Or, log in to My Benefits to edit your benefits: Select "Death of Dependent" as your reason for change. Enter the date of death. Remove your spouse or dependent.
Documentation required?	No	No
Effective date	Coverage will end on the last day of the month following receipt of application	Coverage will end on the last day of the month following receipt of application