Life Events - Birth of Baby or Adoption

The addition of a new child to your household is a qualified family status change that allows you to make changes to and enroll in benefits mid-year. The benefits affected by the birth or adoption of a child are listed below.

Important Deadline

You have 30 days from the birth of the child or the date of adoption to add your new dependent to your benefits coverage. There are two ways to make the change:

  • To enroll online, call the HR/Payroll Service Center at 734-615-2000 locally, 5-2000 from the Ann Arbor campus, or 866-647-7657 toll free for off-campus long-distance calling to report the birth or adoption. You will be asked to provide information about the event, such as the date of birth or adoption. Once the Service Center representative has received all the necessary information and entered it into the system, you will receive an email with instructions for adding your new dependent to your benefits online using Self Service > Benefits. You cannot add a dependent online without first talking to a Service Center representative. You must make the change within 30 days.

OR

If you do not enroll online or submit your completed form within the 30-day deadline, you must wait until the next available Open Enrollment period to make changes to your benefits enrollments. Please note that your dependent's Social Security Number is not required for benefits enrollment.

You may add your new dependent to the following benefit plans:

  • Health Plans
    You will be allowed to add your newly acquired dependent to each health plan in which you are enrolled (health plan, dental, vision).
  • Dependent Group Term Life Insurance
    If not previously enrolled, the birth or adoption of a child allows you to newly enroll in this   benefit. Once enrolled in this benefit, all eligible children in the household are covered from age 15 days up to the end of the month they turn age 25.
  • Flexible Spending Accounts
    The birth or adoption of a child will allow you to enroll in or make adjustments to your Flexible Spending Accounts.

Other Resources

The Work/Life Resource Center is a University Human Resources service area that assists families at the university in locating suitable child care. For more information, contact the WLRC at (734) 936-8677, or by email at worklife@umich.edu.

Limitations
The University of Michigan in its sole discretion may modify, amend, or terminate the benefits provided with respect to any individual receiving benefits, including active employees, retirees, and their dependents. Although the university has elected to provide these benefits this year, no individual has a vested right to any of the benefits provided. Nothing in these materials gives any individual the right to continued benefits beyond the time the university modifies, amends, or terminates the benefit. Anyone seeking or accepting any of the benefits provided will be deemed to have accepted the terms of the benefits programs and the university's right to modify, amend or terminate them.