Coverage changes: your spouse

When you get married (including common law or civil union)

Supplemental health

You may switch from single to family coverage within 60 days of the event. If your spouse has no other health coverage, he/she will be added immediately.

You may opt out of the McGill Supplemental Health Plan provided you can confirm, in writing, that you have coverage available through another group health plan, such as your spouse's.

Dental

You may switch from single to family coverage within 60 days of the event. If you miss the 60-day window, your spouse will be registered for coverage under the Dental Plan, effective January 1st of the year immediately following the year in which the life event occurred. 

Life insurance

Your coverage will remain unchanged.

Note: We recommend that you review your beneficiaries and the amount of Optional Life Insurance you require. Please note that an update to your life insurance beneficiary will not automatically result in an update to your pension beneficiary.

If you divorce, separate or your spouse dies

Supplemental health

You may switch from family to single coverage, provided there are no eligible children covered under the plan.

You must (re)join the McGill Supplemental health Plan if you were previously covered under your spouse's group benefit program.

Dental

You may switch from family to single coverage, provided there are no eligible children covered under the plan.

If you were previously covered under your spouse's group benefit program, you may (re)join the McGill Dental Plan within 60 days of the event. If you miss the 60-day window, you will be registered for coverage effective January 1st of the year immediately following the year in which the life event occurred. 

Life insurance

Coverage: Your coverage will remain unchanged.

Beneficiaries: We recommend that you review your beneficiaries and the amount of Optional Life Insurance you require.

If you had designated your spouse as beneficiary: Divorce or nullity of marriage or the dissolution or nullity of a civil union causes any designation of the spouse as beneficiary or subrogated policyholder to lapse. Therefore, you will need to change your beneficiary designation.

Revocable vs irrevocable beneficiary

  • Revocable: You can change a revocable beneficiary designation in Workday at any time. No supporting documentation is required.
  • Irrevocable: An irrevocable beneficiary designation can only be changed following a divorce, the death of the designated beneficiary, or if the designated beneficiary signs a waiver relinquishing their rights. Supporting documentation is required eg. copy of divorce decree/judgement, death certificate, signed waiver. To make a change, use the Change of Beneficiary form. Attach all necessary supporting documentation and send to the Human Resources Service Centre.

If your spouse involuntarily loses their coverage under their own benefit plan

Supplemental health

If you were covered under your spouse's plan: You must join the McGill Supplemental Health Plan and furnish proof that your spouse no longer has coverage.

If you are covered under the McGill plan: You may switch from single to family coverage, provided you furnish proof that your spouse no longer has coverage.

Dental

If you were covered under your spouse's plan: You may join the McGill Dental Plan within 60 days of the event provided you furnish proof that your spouse no longer has coverage. If you miss the 60-day window, you will be registered for coverage effective January 1st of the year immediately following the year in which the life event occurred. 

If you are covered under the McGill plan: You may switch from single to family coverage within 60 days of the event, provided you furnish proof that your spouse no longer has coverage. If you miss the 60-day window, you will be registered for family coverage effective January 1st of the year immediately following the year in which the life event occurred. 

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