Life events
Life is full of exciting milestones and unexpected changes, and your benefits are here to support you every step of the way. This page provides the information and resources you need to make the most of your benefits during key moments in your life. Explore how your benefits can help you adapt and thrive through every stage of your journey.
If you experience a qualified life event, complete your changes within 31 days of the event.
Common life events
Welcoming a new baby is an exciting time—and your benefits are here to support you and your growing family every step of the way.
Get the care you need
When you have a baby, you can update your benefits to make sure you and your child have the coverage you need. This includes enrolling your newborn in medical, dental, and vision coverage, as well as reviewing other benefits that can help protect your family financially.
In addition to your core health coverage (Iowa or outside Iowa), it’s a great time to consider your supplemental benefits:
- Hospital indemnity insurance can help cover out-of-pocket costs related to hospital stays for childbirth.
- Accident insurance may provide support for unexpected injuries during those early, busy days.
- Critical illness insurance can offer financial protection if a serious health condition arises.
- Life insurance allows you to increase coverage to help protect your family’s financial future.
You have 31 days from your baby’s birth to make these updates, so be sure to take action promptly. Reviewing your benefits now can help give you peace of mind—so you can focus on what matters most: your new arrival.
Welcoming a new child
When you’re preparing to welcome a new child, plan your leave in advance by contacting Sun Life to report your leave and start the process. For birth parents, short-term disability insurance may apply for recovery. If you are not the birthing parent, you can still take time away through Bonding Leave, which provides up to four weeks of paid time to spend with your new child.
Utilize EMC’s adoption assistance program
Adopting a child is a big step—and EMC is here to help. This benefit provides reimbursement for eligible adoption expenses, helping ease the financial side of the process.
For details and next steps, log in to Workday and search adoption to access the adoption benefit article.
Getting married is a big milestone—and a great time to review your benefits together and make sure your coverage reflects your new life as a couple.
Compare your health coverage
- Take a look at both of your current medical, dental, and vision plans to decide what makes the most sense.
- Consider costs, coverage levels, provider networks, and any upcoming care needs.
- You can choose to stay on separate plans or combine coverage under one—whatever works best for your situation.
Secure your shared future
- Now’s a great time to align your financial benefits. Consider contributing to a Flexible Spending Account (FSA) to save on eligible healthcare or dependent care expenses.
- You may also want to revisit your retirement savings strategy—updating contribution amounts or beneficiaries to reflect your long-term goals together.
Update your beneficiaries
- Make sure your spouse is listed as a beneficiary on your life insurance, retirement accounts, and any other applicable benefits.
- Keeping this information up to date ensures your benefits go to the right person when it matters most.
Going through a divorce can bring a lot of change—your benefits can help you navigate this transition and make sure your coverage and information are up to date.
Need support or legal representation?
- You don’t have to navigate this alone. EMC’s Employee Assistance Program (EAP) can connect you with confidential counseling, emotional support, and resources for legal guidance.
- EMC’s EAP can also help navigate legal representation.
Update your coverage
- A divorce may impact who is eligible under your benefits.
- Review and update your medical, dental, and vision elections to reflect your new situation.
- You may also want to revisit supplemental benefits to ensure you still have the right level of protection moving forward.
Update your beneficiaries
- Take time to review and update your beneficiaries so your benefits reflect your current wishes.
- Update your Life and AD&D insurance beneficiaries in Workday and review your retirement savings beneficiaries through Empower.
- Keeping this information current helps ensure everything is aligned with your plans for the future.
If you or your dependents lose other coverage (like a spouse’s plan) or become eligible for new coverage elsewhere, you may be able to update your elections. To make changes, you must submit your request within 31 days of the coverage gain or loss.
Update your coverage
- Review your current elections and make any needed updates to your medical, dental, and vision plans.
- This is also a good time to revisit supplemental benefits to ensure you have the right level of protection.
Gather documents
- You may be required to provide documentation to confirm your life event. This can include proof of loss or gain of coverage and verification of eligible dependents.
- Having these documents ready will help ensure your changes are processed without delays.
Losing a loved one is incredibly difficult. During this time, your benefits can help support you as you take the time you need and make any necessary updates.
Take time to grieve
- Focus on yourself and your family.
- You may be eligible for bereavement leave—be sure to notify your manager and submit any required request for time off.
Get support through the grief
- You don’t have to go through this alone. EMC’s Employee Assistance Program (EAP) offers confidential counseling and emotional support resources to help you navigate this time.
Change your coverage
You have 31 days from the date of your qualified life event to make changes.
