FlexElect Program Permitting Event Codes

Effective ​Dates

The effective date for FlexElect enrollments, cancellation or changes is determined by the date and type of the permitting event, when the form is submitted to the State Controller’s Office (SCO) and the master payroll calendar.

Please check all forms to ensure that they have been completed correctly before submission to SCO. Forms that contain errors and omissions can cause delays in processing and may affect the effective date.  

Standard Effective Date

The standard effective date is the first of the following month when the correctly completed enrollment form is received at SCO by the 10th day of the month. If the form contains errors and omissions, it may be returned for correction, delaying the effective date.

Mandatory Effective Date

The mandatory effective date is the first of the month following the event. 

 

Newly Eligible Enrollments Not Currently Enrolled in Any FlexElect Option

The last possible effective date for enrollment in the current plan year is December 1. For enrollment to be effective December 1, SCO must receive the enrollment form by November 10. Forms received after that date will be processed for the following plan year.

Permitting Event 

Newly Eligible due to the following: 

Action Allowed

Permitting Event Code Permitting Event Date Effective Date of Action Time Limit to File Document
  • Initial appointment (includes reinstatement following a permanent break in service)
  • Change in time base/designation from one that was not eligible to one that is. For example, Permanent Intermittent employee who moves to a permanent position with a time base of half-time or more
  • Marriage
  • Divorce, legal separation, annulment, or termination of a domestic partnership
  • Death of a spouse or domestic partner
  • Return from an approved leave of absence if the employee was on an approved leave during the entire open enrollment period or if the leave is concurrent with a valid change in status (e.g., birth of child/family leave)
May newly enroll

01 Date of event Standard 60 days after date of event
  • Loss or commencement of spouse’s or domestic partner’s employment
May newly enroll in reimbursement accounts, no new cash enrollment allowed 01a Date of event Standard 60 days after date of event
  • Change in provider dependent care cost only when provider is not a relative
  • Change in physical custody of child
  • Change in dependent care provider
May newly enroll in Dependent Care Reimbursement Account 01b Date of event Standard 60 days after date of event
  • Newly acquired dependent including birth, adoption, or child placed for adoption
May newly enroll in reimbursement account(s) 01c Date of event Standard 60 days after date of event
  • Commencement of medical/dental coverage provided through spouse, domestic partner, or other source
​May newly enroll in cash option 01d Date of event Standard 60 days after date of event

 

Changes in Status Events​

Participants Currently Enrolled in One or More FlexElect Options​

For employees cancelling the FlexElect Cash and enrolling into a state health and/or dental plan, the cancellation date for the FlexElect Cash enrollment is the same date as the enrollment into health and/or dental benefits.

Permitting Event

Action Allowed

Permitting Event Code Permitting Event Date Effective Date of Action Time Limit to File Document
Loss or commencement of spouse’s or domestic partner’s employment Cancel/change Flex elections 05d Date of event Standard 60 days after date of event
Loss of medical/dental coverage provided through spouse, domestic partner, or other source (due to an employment status change) If currently enrolled in the Cash Option, must cancel/change Cash Option elections. (New enrollments not allowed) 05e Date of event Mandatory 60 days after date of event

Commencement of medical/dental coverage provided through spouse, domestic partner, or other source (due to an employment status

change)

​Cancel/enroll/change cash option elections

 

05f

Date of event Standard 60 days after date of event
Change of physical custody of child Cancel/enroll/change Dependent Care Reimbursement account 16a Date of event Standard 60 days after date of event
Newly married or new domestic partnership Cancel/enroll/change Flex elections 17 Date of event Standard 60 days after date of event
Birth, adoption, or child placed for adoption Enroll/increase reimbursement account(s) 22 Date of event Mandatory 60 days after date of event
Child entering military service May cancel/decrease reimbursement account(s) (New enrollments not allowed) 26a Date of event Standard 60 days after date of event

Participants Currently Enrolled in One or More FlexElect Options Continued

For employees cancelling the FlexElect Cash and enrolling into a state health and/or dental plan, the cancellation date for the FlexElect Cash enrollment is the same date as the enrollment into health and/or dental benefits.​

Permitting Event

Action Allowed

Permitting Event Code Permitting Event Date Effective Date of Action Time Limit to File Document
Marriage of child Cancel/decrease reimbursement account(s) (New enrollments not allowed) 26b Date of event Mandatory 60 days after date of event
Death of dependent (other than spouse) Cancel/decrease reimbursement account(s) (New enrollments not allowed) 26c Date of event Mandatory 60 days after date of event
Child attains age 26 (Mandatory deletion from medical/dental plan unless disabled) Cancel/change Flex accounts(s) (New enrollments not allowed) 26d Date of event Mandatory 60 days after date of event
Child attains age 13 Cancel/decrease Dependent Care Reimbursement Account (New enrollments not allowed) 26h Date of event Mandatory 60 days after date of event
Divorce, legal separation, annulment, or termination of a domestic partnership Cancel/change Flex elections, reenroll in prior medical/dental plan(s) 27a Date of event Mandatory 60 days after date of event
Death of spouse or domestic partner Cancel/enroll/change Flex accounts. 27b Date of event Mandatory 60 days after date of event

Participants Currently Enrolled in One or More FlexElect Options Continued​

For employees cancelling the FlexElect Cash and enrolling into a state health and/or dental plan, the cancellation date for the FlexElect Cash enrollment is the same date as the enrollment into health and/or dental benefits.

Permitting Event

Action Allowed

Permitting Event Code Permitting Event Date Effective Date of Action Time Limit to File Document
Move out of group practice plan service area May enroll in a new plan if your plan is no longer available. May change/cancel cash option. May not change reimbursement account(s) (New enrollments not allowed) 34 Date of move into an area not covered by the current carrier Standard 31 days prior to move; no limit after move
New health and/or dental plan(s) in area, plan(s) not previously available If currently enrolled in a medical and/or dental plan, may change coverage. May cancel or change Cash Option. May not change reimbursement account(s) (New enrollments not allowed) 35 Date of event Standard 60 days after date of event
Change in employee’s or spouse’s work schedule (e.g., FMLA, NDI leave, IDL, time base change or reduction of hours that results in a loss or gain of eligibility and coverage, commencement or return from an unpaid leave of absence, separation, etc.) or worksite Must cancel/change Dependent Care Reimbursement Account (New enrollments not allowed) 37 Date of event Mandatory 60 days after date of event

 

Participants Currently Enrolled in One or More FlexElect Options Continued​

For employees cancelling the FlexElect Cash and enrolling into a state health and/or dental plan, the cancellation date for the FlexElect Cash enrollment is the same date as the enrollment into health and/or dental benefits.

Permitting Event

Action Allowed

Permitting Event Code Permitting Event Date Effective Date of Action Time Limit to File Document
Change in dependent care provider May cancel/enroll/change Dependent Care Reimbursement Account 38 Date of event Standard 60 days after date of event
Change in provider dependent care cost May cancel/enroll/change Dependent Care Reimbursement Account (only if the provider is not a relative) 39 Date of event Standard 60 days after date of event

 

Employee change in bargaining unit or employee designation (due to transfer, promotion, etc.) that results in a loss or gain of eligibility for FlexElect  

​Change medical/dental plan(s) and/or change/cancel cash option elections per union requirements (New enrollments not allowed)​

40​ Date of event Standard Time limit does not apply
Change in time base and/or appointment that results in a loss of FlexElect eligibility and coverage Must cancel Flex election(s) 41 Date of event First of the second month following the date of the event Time limit does not apply
2021 plan year one-time exception due to the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 May prospectively cancel/enroll/change Medical Reimbursement Account or Dependent Care Reimbursement Account 43 Employee signature date Standard** Time limit does not apply
Retiree enrolls in health and/or dental plan up to 30 days prior to retirement Cancel Flex enrollment and reenroll in a health and/or dental plan(s) 88

Date HBD 12

(or STD 692)

is received by the agency

Mandatory 30 days prior to retirement

**The last possible effective date is December 1, 2021. Correctly completed documents must be received at SCO by November 10, 2021.​