Birth/Adoption/Placement of a Child - AFSCME Unit A Employees
Many congratulations on the new addition to your family!
There are many things to consider with this change in family status including entitlement to leave from your job with UMass Amherst, how to expand your insurance coverage(s), modification of beneficiary and/or tax designations and more.
Insurance Changes to Consider
There are a number of benefits changes you may wish to consider when a new family member arrives. Representatives at the Human Resources Employee Service Center are able to assist in answering questions.
- GIC Health Insurance: you can add your child to your GIC health insurance plan by completing the enrollment process within 60 days of your child's birth/adoption or placement with you. Premiums are provided in the GIC’s Benefits Decision Guide.
- Dental Insurance: contact MA Public Employees' Fund within 30 days of birth/adoption/placement in order to add your child to your dental and vision insurance plans.
- GIC Optional Life Insurance: within sixty (60) days of your child's birth/adoption you may apply for, or increase, your GIC Optional Life Insurance coverage to up-to-four times (4x) your annual salary without the need to pass a medical evidence of insurability exam . Premiums are provided in the GIC’s Benefits Decision Guide.
You may apply for the coverage:- Online via the MyGICPortal (navigating to Benefits > Qualifying Events > Birth/Adoption) uploading proof of your child's date of birth/adoption, or
- By completing and returning a GIC Enrollment/Change Form 1 to the Human Resources Employee Service Center with proof of your child's date of birth or adoption.
Flexible Spending Accounts (HCSA, DCAP)
You may wish to enroll, or modify your enrollment, in a Group Insurance Commission (GIC) Health Care Spending Account (HCSA) or Dependent Care Assistance Plan (DCAP):
- Enroll in (or increase your contributions to) either of these tax savings programs by submitting your request with proof of qualifying event online with the GIC's Flexible Spending Account (FSA) vendor within 30 days of your child's birth or adoption.
- Add your child as a dependent in the GIC's FSA vendor's online system.
Beneficiary Changes
You may wish to change your beneficiary(ies) for the:
- Group Insurance Commission (GIC) basic and optional life insurance beneficiaries. You may do this online in the MyGICPortal or by submitting a new GIC Life Insurance Beneficiary Form at the Human Resources Employee Service Center.
- State Employees’ Retirement System by submitting a new SERS Beneficiary Form or SERS Option D Form to the address on the form or at the Human Resources Employee Service Center.
- 403(b) and/or 457 plans: please contact your vendor directly to change your beneficiary for these account(s).
Other Benefits and Tax Withholding Changes
There are a number of benefits changes you may wish to consider when a new family member arrives. Representatives at the Human Resources Employee Service Center are able to assist in answering questions.
- College Savings Program (529 plan): two post-tax 529 college savings programs managed by Fidelity are available via payroll deduction. Learn more about 529 plans at www.savingforcollege.com. Enroll or obtain more information on-line at https://www.fidelity.com/massachusetts-529/
- UMass Amherst Center for Early Education and Care (CEEC) provides both childcare and childcare resources to members of the University community. Contact CEEC at (413) 545-1566 with questions about services and enrollment.
- You may wish to change your state and/or federal income tax withholding. You can do that online in HR Direct or by submitting updated tax forms at the HR Employee Service Center. Please contact a tax specialist or financial advisor if you require tax advice.