Eligibility
You may enroll in the BGDC Associate Benefits Program if you are a full-time Associate working at least 30 hours per week.
As a new hire, unless covered by a Union Collective Bargaining Agreement, benefits will be effective the first day of the month following 30 days of employment.
Open Enrollment will be coming in November of 2024
This is your once-a-year opportunity to pick your plans or make changes to your existing coverage. The choices you make during Open Enrollment will remain in effect through December 31, 2024.
When you enroll you can:
- Change your current coverage, if needed
- Enroll in benefits for the first time, if newly hired or newly eligible for benefits
- Update your dependent information
- Update your beneficiary information
When Coverage Begins
Newly hired Associates and dependents will be effective in BGDC’s benefits programs after they satisfy the waiting period. All elections are in effect for the entire plan year and can only be changed during Open Enrollment unless you experience a qualified life event.
Eligible Dependents
If you are eligible for our benefits, then your dependents are too. In general, eligible dependents include your spouse, domestic partner, and children up to age 26. If your child is mentally or physically disabled, coverage may continue beyond age 26 once proof of the ongoing disability is provided. Children may include natural, adopted, step-children, and children obtained through court-appointed legal guardianship, as well as children of same sex domestic partners. Please be aware proof of dependent eligibility may be required.
Domestic Partner
If you are insuring a domestic partner, your costs will be Before and After-Tax basis under federal tax law. The portion of insurance premium that your employer pays for your coverage is not taxed as income. Federal law treats benefits for spouses, children, and certain dependents the same way. However, a domestic partner is not considered a spouse under federal law. As a result, if you elect to have your domestic partner covered under your plan, you will pay income tax and Social Security payroll tax on the portion of the insurance premium that your employer contributes to insure your domestic partner.
Qualified Life Events
A qualified life event is a change in your life that may impact your or dependents’ eligibility for benefits. Generally, you may only change your benefits during the annual open enrollment period. However, you can change benefit elections during the year if you have a qualified life event. Examples include:
- Change of legal marital status
− (i.e., marriage, divorce, death of spouse) - Change in number of dependents
− (i.e., birth, adoption, death of dependent, ineligibility due to age) - Change in employment or job status
− (i.e., spouse loses job, etc.)
If such a change occurs, you must make the changes to your benefits within 30 days of the event date. Documentation may be required to verify your change of status. Failure to request a change of status within 30 days of the event may result in your having to wait until the next open enrollment period to make your change. Please contact HR to make these changes.
