Period of Initial Eligibility (PIE) for health and welfare benefits
PIE is a period when eligible employees and eligible family members can enroll in a plan without meeting special requirements, such as submitting a Statement of Health for carrier approval.
For the medical, dental, vision, legal, TIP, DepCare and Health Care Reimbursement Account (HCRA), once you have selected a plan during your PIE, you may not change it until there is either 1) a new PIE or 2) an Open Enrollment period where the plan is offered.
For the Supplemental Disability, Supplemntal Life or Dependent Life plans, once you have selected a plan during your PIE, you may not change it until there is either 1) a new PIE or 2) a Statement of Health is approved.
PIE applies 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)
- Retirement and Savings Programs
| Events That Create a PIE** | PIE Beginning Date |
|
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 on line. |
| 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 on line. |
| 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 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 daysor 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. Eligible Employee’s family status changes through marriage birth adoption, etc. In this event, PIE applies only to:
|
Date of qualifying event. Note: The PIE for an adopted child begins on the earlier of the date the child is placed in your physical custody or the date you, your spouse, or domestic partner has the legal right to control the child's health care. If the child is not enrolled during this PIE, a second PIE begins on the date the adoption decree is final. Coverage begins on the first day of the PIE in which the child is enrolled. Enroll using form. |
|
9. Eligible Employee or Eligible Family Member loses other group coverage involuntarily. (Does not create a PIE for supplemental disability.) |
Date other coverage ends. Enroll using form. |
| 10. HMO or prepaid dental plan (PMI) participant leaves service area for more than 2 months (PIE applies to medical plan or PMI coverage only.) | First day of leaving area and first day of return. Upon return PIE is limited to original plan only. Enroll using form. |
|
11. TIP, DepCare & HCRA only: Employee or spouse has a change in appointment/employment status (20% increase or decrease in percent time or gain or loss of employment). In this event, PIE applies only to enrolling, making change, or canceling DepCare or TIP. |
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 Emily Ladner at 642-1122 or ladner@berkeley.edu.