Office of Student Life
Student Health Insurance

Life Events

A Life Event (also known as a Qualifying Event) allows you to add, terminate or modify your Student Health Benefits Plan coverage outside of the normal enrollment window. 

Requests must be submitted within 31 days of the date of the event and require adequate documentation showing: 

  • the date of the event, and
  • the resulting change in coverage eligibility

Not sure if your situation qualifies?  Review the sections below for common Life Events and eligibility details.

 If you are still unsure whether your situation qualifies as a Life Event, contact our office so we can help you determine your eligibility and ensure you do not miss the deadline.

Please note:  The following situations are not considered Life Events.  

  • Newly selecting employer coverage or marketplace coverage during an Open Enrollment period is not a Qualifying Event. 
  • The loss of a university subsidy or a change in personal finances. 
  • Purchasing other health insurance after the Enroll / Waive deadline of your first term in an academic year. 
  • If you are not currently enrolled in the SHBP, a new dependent is not a Qualifying Event



Add SHBP Coverage for Yourself

You may request enrollment when you experience an involuntary loss of other health insurance coverage, such as:

  • Aging off a parent’s insurance plan
  • Involuntary loss of employer coverage
  • Divorce resulting in loss of coverage
  • Other involuntary loss of insurance

Required documentation:

  • ·Documentation from the insurance company or employer confirming the coverage loss and effective date.

If approved:

  • Coverage becomes effective on the date of the Life Event
  • A prorated premium will be posted to your Statement of Account
Add an Eligible Dependent to Your Existing SHBP Coverage

You may request to add eligible dependents to your existing SHBP coverage after a Life Event such as:

  • Birth or adoption of a child
  • Marriage (adding a spouse)
  • Establishing a domestic partnership
  • Dependent(s) initial arrival from their home country
  • Legal responsibility to insure a dependent

Eligible Dependents: 

  1. The student’s legal spouse
  2. The student's same or opposite sex domestic partner
  3. The student’s unmarried child(ren) under age 26

Required documentation examples include:

  • Birth certificate or hospital birth record
  • Adoption or placement documentation
  • Marriage certificate
  • Domestic partnership certificate  City of Columbus Domestic Partner registry
  • Immigration documents such as I-94 and Travel History
  • Legal documentation establishing insurance responsibility

If approved:

  • Dependent coverage becomes effective on the date of the Life Event
  • A prorated premium for the dependent coverage will be posted to your Statement of Account
Terminate SHBP Coverage for Yourself and/or Your Dependent(s)

You may request to terminate SHBP coverage for yourself and/or your dependents if you gain other qualifying health insurance due to a Life Event.

Requests must be submitted within 31 days of the event and documentation is required showing the date of the event and the change in coverage eligibility.

You may request termination of coverage after a Life Event such as: 

  • New job with eligibility for employer health insurance
    • Waiting to enroll in your employer’s health insurance during open enrollment is NOT a qualifying event.
  • Marriage with eligibility for a spouse’s health plan
  • Domestic partnership with eligibility for partner coverage
  • Divorce requiring removal of dependents
  • Termination of domestic partnership
  • Dependent returning to their home country
  • Retroactive Medicaid eligibility (with specific requirements)

Required documentation:

  • Employer letter confirming eligibility and start date of coverage
    • Waiting to enroll in your employer’s health insurance during open enrollment is NOT a qualifying event.
  • Proof of new insurance (member ID card or insurance document)
  • Marriage certificate
  • Domestic partnership Certificate from City of Columbus Domestic Partner Registry.
  • Divorce decree
  • Medicaid Notice of Action

If approved:

  • Coverage will terminate on the FIRST DAY OF THE NEXT COVERAGE PERIOD, not during the period containing the Qualifying Event. 
  • No fee refunds will be issued for the coverage period containing your Qualifying Event.