Life events may give you a chance to change benefits

For Northstar office and frontline employees

Start in Benefits Management. Review the event and the submission deadline in your current Northstar plan information, gather the details and documents requested, then submit your change in Benefits Management. This page is an orientation guide; it does not confirm eligibility or submit a request.

Illustrative example only: Northstar's sample plan uses a 30-calendar-day window after an event. This is not a confirmed Northstar rule. Before acting, check the current official plan terms for the applicable window, how the event date is counted, and any location-specific rules.

The Benefits & Enrollment Hub is the starting point for Northstar's official benefits information. Use its current plan materials to confirm the rules that apply to you. If the instructions in Benefits Management or the official materials are unclear, contact the benefits support route identified in those materials.

Events that may allow a benefits change

These are common examples, not a guarantee that a particular change is available under your plan.

Marriage

A marriage may allow a change to certain coverage or dependent information. Check the current plan rules for who may be added and what proof is accepted.

  • Note the event date.
  • Check whether the plan allows the change you need.

Birth or adoption

A new child may qualify for a coverage change. Confirm the applicable deadline and the documents requested for the specific event.

  • Record the birth or placement date.
  • Review dependent details before submitting.

Change in a spouse's or partner's coverage

A spouse's or partner's coverage change may affect your available options. Eligibility and accepted documents depend on Northstar's plan terms.

  • Note when the other coverage changes.
  • Check which proof of the change is required.

Loss of other coverage

Losing other coverage may allow a benefits change, subject to the plan's rules and submission window.

  • Record the date coverage ends.
  • Gather the notice or other evidence requested by the plan.

Prepare and submit your request

Use this sequence, then follow the current instructions in Benefits Management.

  1. 1

    Record the event date

    Write down the date the event occurred or the other coverage changed. The plan terms determine which date starts the clock.

  2. 2

    Check your submission window

    Open the current official Northstar plan information and confirm the deadline, whether it is calendar or working days, and how the event date is counted.

  3. 3

    Gather requested information

    Prepare the affected dependent's details and any event or coverage evidence named in the plan instructions. Do not send sensitive documents through an unapproved channel.

  4. 4

    Submit in Benefits Management

    Open Benefits Management, choose the life-event or benefit-change task shown there, and follow its prompts. Review the request and any confirmation or follow-up instructions.

What to have ready

Requirements vary by event and plan. Treat this as a preparation checklist, then use the current plan instructions and Benefits Management prompts as the authority.

Event and coverage details

Have the facts needed to describe what changed.

  • Event type and event date.
  • Names and relationship of dependents affected.
  • For other coverage changes, the coverage end or change date and the affected person.

Supporting documents

Submit only documents the current instructions request.

  • Check the accepted document types for your event.
  • Use the upload method provided in Benefits Management.
  • If a document is not yet available, check the plan instructions or ask the designated benefits support route what to do before the deadline.

Start or review a change

Benefits Management is the app used to submit a life-event benefits change.

Open Benefits Management from your available company apps.

Select the life-event or benefit-change task presented in the app.

Follow the app's prompts and retain its confirmation or follow-up instructions.

This page does not verify your eligibility, change coverage, or replace the official plan terms.

Questions employees often ask

For a decision about your coverage, use the current Northstar plan information and Benefits Management instructions.

When does changed coverage take effect?

The effective date depends on the event and Northstar's plan rules. Check the applicable plan information and the confirmation in Benefits Management; do not assume coverage starts on the event date or the submission date.

What if I do not have a required document yet?

Check the current instructions for the event and contact the benefits support route identified in the official materials before the submission window closes. Do not assume a request is complete or that a later document will be accepted unless the official instructions confirm it.

How do I know the deadline that applies to me?

Confirm the submission window, day-counting method, and event-date rule in the current Northstar plan information. The 30-calendar-day example on this page is illustrative only and is not a policy deadline.

Where do I confirm the official rules?

Use the current benefits materials in Northstar's Benefits & Total Rewards site and the instructions shown in Benefits Management. If the rules are unclear or appear to differ by location, use the help route named in those materials before submitting.