Life Change (marriage) / HR Benefits

[heo luoi 206]

Curious friends, those of whom have done/gone through this...

But prototypically how long does HR benefits take to be effective for life change ie marriage?

Does it take HR forever? I'm trying to maximize any available benefits before year end and just curious if feasible from timing perspective or not.

Edited November 14, 2015 by heo luoi

[DeKi 10]

This depends on the employer and the HR department -- it's not a universal experience.

In our example, my USC husband works for the US subsidiary of a large multinational company (i.e., very large but well organized bureaucracy) and his HR office had me added as a beneficiary on all his relevant accounts (health and dental insurance, retirement, stock options, etc.) within a couple of days from his filling out the forms.

Not quite sure what you mean by "trying to maximize any available benefits" exactly. The US citizen (you?) will probably have to start paying some higher rates (for example, for family-level insurance as opposed to individual) but then both spouses (and if you have any children) will be able to use the coverage. So it's not really "maximizing" some number, it's just being in the correct category.

[heo luoi 206]

For those interested what i mean is thishttp://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/575384-aos-marriage-sequence-max-hsa-benefits-w-hr-help-urgent-plz/

Want to try to take available of the additional opportunity to save (and get extra company match) for HSA contributions for 2015

This depends on the employer and the HR department -- it's not a universal experience.

In our example, my USC husband works for the US subsidiary of a large multinational company (i.e., very large but well organized bureaucracy) and his HR office had me added as a beneficiary on all his relevant accounts (health and dental insurance, retirement, stock options, etc.) within a couple of days from his filling out the forms.

Not quite sure what you mean by "trying to maximize any available benefits" exactly. The US citizen (you?) will probably have to start paying some higher rates (for example, for family-level insurance as opposed to individual) but then both spouses (and if you have any children) will be able to use the coverage. So it's not really "maximizing" some number, it's just being in the correct category.

[JRF 117]

I can't speak specifically to the HSA benefits (but I can envision you being able to obtain a higher company match with the increase in household size). The benefits are effective on the date of the life change (e.g., foreign spouse enters US, baby born, etc.). Most plans require you notify them within 30 days of the qualifying event.

Your issue seems to be a potentially slow HR department, that may cause the update to the benefits records to be delayed, that in turn will prevent your spouse from using the coverage, you getting the bump from the extra HSA reimbursement, etc.

In other words, not a set of questions anyone outside of your company can answer.

Best of luck!

[heo luoi 206]

Thanks.

My question is not that my company will or not provide a match. Its very clear they offer a higher family match. The higher family cap is government regulated. Just curious when others noticed their changes were reconciled. I didnt expect a concrete answer but just like other timing related questions on VJ, just curious a rough gauge to align expectations.

Edited November 14, 2015 by heo luoi

[Dakine10 5,452]

Curious friends, those of whom have done/gone through this...

But prototypically how long does HR benefits take to be effective for life change ie marriage?

Does it take HR forever? I'm trying to maximize any available benefits before year end and just curious if feasible from timing perspective or not.

The employer should be able to tell you exactly. Most have a set policy.

Our policy says it takes 1 pay period (2 weeks) to process changes and begins on the next pay date after that. Where my wife works, changes became effective on the 1st of the following month.