SHIP Qualifying Life Events - Special Enrollment and Dependent Enrollment Guidance

Sep 16, 2026

A Qualifying Life Event (QLE) is a major life change that can affect health insurance eligibility and may qualify individuals for a special enrollment period beyond the school’s open enrollment. Enrollment for dependents must be completed within 60 days (31 days for newborns) and requires supporting documentation. Common QLE examples include losing coverage, aging off a parent’s plan, and changes due to marriage or having/adopting a child. Approved enrollment effective dates follow the specified QLE-related timing rules.

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Qualifying Life Event (QLE) Overview

Special Enrollment Timing and Documentation

Enrollment Deadline for Dependents

Supporting Documentation Requirements

Examples of Qualifying Life Events

Waiver Reversal in the eTang Patient Portal

Enrolling Dependents in SHIP

Email Submission and Attachments

Premium Proration Rules for Newborns

Contact SHIP Office

SHIP Qualifying Life Events 􀖤 QLE􀖥 A Qualifying Life Event 􀖤 QLE􀖥 is a major life change that may affect your health insurance needs. Qualifying Life Events may make you eligible for a special enrollment period outside of the schoolʼs scheduled open enrollment period. Enrollment for dependents is required within 60 days 􀖤 31 days for newborns) of the qualifying event, and supporting documentation is required. Examples of Qualifying Life Events are: 1. Loss of health coverage. a. Turning 26 and losing coverage through a parentʼs plan b. Losing existing health coverage under another plan, including job-based, individual, and student plans c. Losing eligibility for Medicare, Medi-Cal, or Medicaid d. Losing existing health coverage as a dependent on a family member ʼs plan through divorce, death, or job loss e. An eligible student actively enrolled, arriving in the US from another country mid-semester 2. Changes in the household that impact a dependent's ability to enroll under your coverage. a. Getting married b. Having a baby or adopting a child c. Spouse and/or dependents arriving in the US from another country d. Spouse and/or dependents losing other health coverage due to aging off parentsʼ plan, loss of employee benefits, or loss of eligibility under Medicare, Medi-Cal, or Medicaid Students who have a Qualifying Life Event may complete a Waiver Reversal in the eTang patient portal. If your waiver reversal is approved, the effective date will take effect on the latest of the following dates: 􀖤 1􀖥 the Policy Effective Date; 􀖤 2􀖥 the day after your loss of coverage; 􀖤 3􀖥 the date your term of coverage begins; or 􀖤 4􀖥 the date you become a member of an eligible class of persons. If students have a dependent they would like to enroll in SHIP due to a Qualifying Life Event, please email [sheilaedwards@berkeley.edu](sheilaedwards@berkeley.edu. Please include the)[. Please include the](sheilaedwards@berkeley.edu. Please include the) names of those you would like to enroll and attach supporting documentation, such as a birth certificate, marriage license, passport stamp, and flight boarding pass. Once approved, the effective date will be the QLE date. Please note that premiums are prorated only for newborns and must be enrolled within 31 days of birth. If you have any questions or would like more details, please contact the SHIP office at SHIP@berkeley.edu or 􀖤 510􀖥 642􀖽5700. The SHIP office will facilitate enrollment with our health plan administrator.

FAQs

What is a Qualifying Life Event (QLE) and how does it affect health insurance enrollment?

A QLE is a major life change that may affect health insurance needs. It can make you eligible for a special enrollment period outside the school’s scheduled open enrollment.

When must dependents be enrolled after a QLE, and what documentation is needed?

Dependent enrollment is required within 60 days of the qualifying event (31 days for newborns). Supporting documentation is required for the enrollment.

How is the effective date determined after a waiver reversal or approved enrollment?

If the waiver reversal is approved, the effective date takes effect on the latest of the policy effective date, the day after loss of coverage, the start of the coverage term, or the date you become eligible under the specified class. For dependent enrollments approved due to a QLE, the effective date is the QLE date.

Sep 16, 2026

Uploaded by Aria Callaghan