Your Benefits

Employee Eligibility

HM. Clause provides benefits plans to employees who work full-time, 30 or more hours per week.  Benefits become effective the first of the month on or following the date of hire, with the exception of the 401(k) plan, which takes effect starting the first of the month following 30 days of continuous employment. All new enrollments become effective on the first day of the month.

Dependent Eligibility

At HM. Clause, we recognize the importance of extending benefits to qualified dependents of our employees. A qualified dependent includes an employee's lawful spouse, domestic partner, natural, adopted, court-appointed child, or children of an employee's lawful spouse or domestic partner.

It is important to note that if your domestic partner or their children do not meet the IRS definition of tax dependents, the premiums that HM.Clause pays towards their coverage will be subject to tax. In such cases, if these individuals are not considered your tax dependents, your share of premiums towards their coverage must be paid on an after-tax basis.

Over-age Dependent Eligibility

Dependent children are eligible to remain on the medical plans up to the age of 26. Children age 26 and over can only be covered if they are incapacitated due to a disability and primarily dependent on the employee for support. Insurance coverage for children age 26 and over is also contingent upon requirements set by the insurance provider.

Changing Your Benefits

All changes and elections made during this period become effective on July 1^st for medical, dental, and vision; and January 1^st for FSA and supplemental voluntary plans, and remain in place for the remainder of the plan year.

Outside annual Open Enrollment, the only other time you may make adjustments to your benefits is if you experience a qualifying life event. Qualifying events may include, but are not limited to:

• Change in marital status or domestic partnership.
• Gain or loss of coverage elsewhere.
• Birth or adoption of a child.

Financial distress is not an IRS approved reason for dropping benefits. Changes due to a Qualifying life event must be requested within 31 days of the event, or 60 days for birth of a child. Failure to request a change of status within this timeframe may result in being unable to make benefits changes until the next annual Open Enrollment period.