Divorce

What to do for this type of qualifying event within NYSHIP 

A few rules to help you navigate through this transition (provided you are eligible for Healthcare with HHH):

1. If you are divorced or your marriage has been annulled, your former spouse is not eligible, even if a court orders you to maintain coverage (you and/or your ex-spouse must provide a copy of the divorce decree to the Benefits Department).  Depending on your ex's policy, this applies the other way (find out about the timing before it happens).

2. Coverage for your spouse will end on the effective date of the divorce (date recorded by the county)

3. NYSHIP does not prorate the cost of a month for coverage.

4. The Date of Divorce is the Date of the qualifying event.  This is also the date of lost healthcare coverage for your ex-spouse.  The is true regardless of when HHH is notified.

5. WHEN COVERAGE BEGINS - The first date of healthcare coverage depends upon when you sign and submit the Enrollment Form:

• If you apply WITHIN 30 days AFTER the qualifying event (or before), coverage begins on the date of the event

• If you apply BEYOND 30 days AFTER the qualifying event, you can only sign up for coverage during Open Enrollment

You are the policyholder for NYSHIP Healthcare

1.  You must remove your divorced spouse from your Healthcare Policy

2.  Complete the Transaction Form to [D]elete your ex-spouse from your existing policy - include a valid address. This may also Change your policy from Family to Individual.

3.  Attach the a copy of your divorce decree - this is required.

4.  Sign and date Form and submit above to HHH Benefits Department at Central Office.

5. Your ex-spouse will be removed from your policy as of the Date of Divorce and will be offered COBRA insurance (if the notice was timely).

You are a dependent on his/her Healthcare policy and apply for coverage with HHH based on the Qualifying Event

1.  Do the following after YOU sign the final divorce papers - this is the only date you can control (the rest are in the hands of your ex, the court, the lawyers, and the County)

2.  Complete the Transaction Form to sign up for an Individual NYSHIP Healthcare policy.  Sign and date Form and submit to HHH Benefits Department at Central Office.

3.  When you receive your divorce decree, forward to the Benefits Department to pick up coverage as of your date of Divorce.

4.  Reminder, there is no monthly prorate and you will most likely have to pay premiums for months that have already passed - you will NOT have a lapse of coverage.

5. Claims may be rejected by your old policy and you will have to resubmit them to NYSHIP.

You are a dependent on his/her Healthcare policy and apply for coverage during Open Enrollment

1. During October (while working through your Divorce), complete the Transaction Form to sign up for an Individual NYSHIP Healthcare policy.

2. Sign and date Form and submit to HHH Benefits Department at Central Office. Your coverage will begin the January 1st following.

3.   You will have two healthcare policies for a portion of the year - therefore not dependent on your ex's policy. However, you will be paying for your own coverage when it is not necessary because you are covered by his/hers.  Coordination of Benefits delegates that your policy is primary for you and your spouse's policy would be secondary.

4. You are protected from playing the timing game that is outlined in the above option. You control when your new policy begins and will not have to worry about claims being rejected on your existing policy and resubmitting them on your new NYSHIP policy.

5. You will not have a lapse of coverage.