Employment Events that Create a Period of Initial Eligibility
Certain employment events create a PIE – a period of initial eligibility – when eligible employees and eligible family members can enroll in or change plan(s) without meeting special requirements, such as submitting a Statement of Health for carrier approval.
For the medical, dental, vision, legal, and TIP plans, once you have selected a plan, you may not change it until there is either 1) a new PIE or 2) an Open Enrollment period where the plan is offered. However, you may opt out or cancel your coverage at anytime. Note: if you enroll and would like to change your choice during your PIE, please contact HR Benefits.
For the Supplemental Disability, Supplemental Life or Dependent Life plans, once you have selected a plan, you may not request additional insurance until there is either 1) a new PIE or 2) a Statement of Health is approved. You may request less insurance or cancel coverage at any time. Note: if you enroll and would like to change your choice during your PIE, please contact the HR Benefits Unit.
The Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account (DepCare FSA)and Health Flexible spending Account (Health FSA) are governed by IRS regulations. Once you have selected one of these plans, you may not change it until there is either 1) a new PIE or 2) an Open Enrollment period where the plan is offered.
Note: if you enroll and would like to change your choice during your PIE, please contact HR Benefits.
PIEs apply only to the following plans:
- Medical*
- Dental*
- Optical*
- Legal
- TIP
- Supplemental Disability
- Supplemental Life
- Dependent Life
- DepCare
- Health Care Reimbursement Account (HCRA)
The PIE begins on the first day of eligibility (see below) and ends 31 days later, or on the last working day of that 31-day period, whichever comes first.
PIE does not apply to:
- AD&D (Employee may enroll any time)
- Basic Life (Employee enrolled automatically)
- Short-Term Disability (Employee enrolled automatically)
- Auto/Homeowner/Renter (Employee may enroll any time)
- UC Retirement Plan (Automatic and mandatory if eligible)
- UC Retirement Savings Programs (Automatic and mandatory if eligible; employee may enroll at any time in voluntary plans)
| Employment Events That Create a PIE** | PIE Beginning Date | How To Enroll |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Employee is appointed to eligible position (usually the date of hire or the first of the month following completion of 1,000 eligible hours). | Effective date of eligible appointment. (If retroactive, date of online appointment authorization.) | Enroll online. |
| 2. Terminated Employee is rehired. | Date of eligible reappointment. (If rehired within 120 days, PIE applies only to plans and coverage in effect at time coverage lapsed. If 120 days or longer, Employee is treated as a newly eligible Employee.) | Enroll online. |
| 3. Employee transfer to another campus/lab without break in service. | Effective date of eligible appointment. (PIE applies only to plans and coverage in effect at time coverage lapsed. If a plan is no longer available, Employee may choose new plan. Eligible Family Members must remain the same as under the initial coverage.) Employee must enroll at new location. | Enroll using form. |
| 4. New faculty member does not enroll during original PIE at time of hire. | First day of classes after eligible appointment begins. | Enroll using form. |
| 5. Eligible Employee returns from Leave without Pay (LWOP). | Date of return to eligible appointment. (If LWOP less than 120 days, PIE applies only to plans and coverage in effect at time coverage lapsed. If longer than 120 days, employee is treated as a newly eligible employee.) | Enroll using form. |
| 6. Employee returns from layoff. | Date of return to eligible appointment. (If layoff 120 days or less, PIE applies only to plans and coverage in effect at time coverage lapsed. If longer than 120 days, employee is treated as a newly eligible Employee.) | Enroll using form. |
| 7. Eligible Employee returns after period of insufficient earnings or insufficient average regular paid time. | If period less than 120 days, PIE applies only to plans and coverage in effect at time coverage lapsed. If longer than 120 days, Employee is treated as a newly eligible Employee. | Enroll using form. |
| 8. TIP, DepCare & Health FSA only: Employee or spouse has a change in appointment or employment status that results in a gain or loss of eligibility. | Effective date of change in appointment or employment status. | Enroll using form. |
*Eligible Employees who do not enroll automatically receive default coverage of single party CORE, Delta, and VSP.
**If you suspect an event not listed here creates a PIE, see your Department Benefits Counselor. If you ARE a Department Benefits Counselor, please contact HR Benefits.
