As an employee, your eligibility (and that of your dependents) will terminate:
- one calendar month after your employment terminates (either voluntarily or involuntarily) for any reason other than gross misconduct; or
- one calendar month after your hours are reduced to less than the minimum required for eligibility; or
- 120-days after you are laid off from your position.
In addition, eligibility for your spouse (or ex-spouse if still covered) will terminate:
- one calendar month after you die when participating in the plan; or
- the end of the month in which you or your ex-spouse remarries within 36 months of the divorce, providing your ex-spouse was eligible on the date of remarriage; or
- the end of the month in which you divorce or legally separate and a judgement has been granted terminating your spouse’s eligibility; or
- the end of the month in which your ex-spouse becomes eligible to participate in another dental plan (i.e. through his/her own employer), whether or not he/she chooses to enroll in that plan, and regardless of whether that plan offers vision benefits.
Eligibility for your dependent children will also terminate:
- the end of the month in which they turn 19, or 26 if a full-time student; or
- the end of the month in which they cease being considered a full-time student as defined by the Fund; or
- the end of the extension period granted to full-time students (for example, at this time the Fund extends coverage to October 31st for all full-time students attending during the fall semester/term who are expected to continue as a full-time student in the next semester/term; or
- the end of the month in which your dependent child ceases to meet the definition of “dependent child” used by the Fund. This can include a residential stepchild who is no longer considered ‘residential’ as defined by the Fund (e.g. you and the child’s parent no longer live together or the child no longer lives in the member’s home).
These termination reasons are known as ‘qualifying events’ for Continuation Coverage eligibility. Please review the Continuation Coverage section for more information.