Baltimore County Public Schools

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Baltimore County Public Schools’ benefits program allows you to choose the benefits you need while providing valuable tax advantages.  Your share of the cost for your benefits is paid with pre-tax payroll deductions.  This means that employee payroll deductions for benefits are not subject to state, federal, and O.A.S.D.I. taxes.

In order to maintain this favorable tax treatment, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has established rules that govern our benefits program.  Most importantly, the IRS requires that the benefits you elect remain in effect for the entire Plan Year unless you experience a qualifying life event.

The following are considered qualifying life events:

It is the employee’s responsibility to notify the Office of Benefits and Retirement within 30 days of each qualifying life event, if they wish to make a change to their benefit plan.  Employees must provide a completed Qualified Life Event Enrollment form, along with any required documentation (more information below).  Documentation must include the employee’s name and last four digits of their social security number.  Failure to provide this identifying information could result in a delay of coverage. Changes to coverage take effect as of the first of the month following the submission of ALL required documentation with the exception of birth and adoption.

Plan selection cannot be changed due to a qualified life event. Only the level of coverage can be changed depending on the life event. 

You cannot gain BCPS coverage due to having a newborn or getting married. Your spouse and newborn may only be added to existing coverage.   

You cannot gain BCPS coverage due to a divorce, you can only remove your divorced spouse from existing coverage. A loss in coverage outside of BCPS is a qualified life event that enables you to gain BCPS coverage.      

Completed forms and documentation must be submitted to the Office of Benefits and Retirement during the 30-day window.  Forms may be sent via interoffice mail, U.S. mail, faxed to 410-887-8950, or e-mailed to [email protected].


Qualifying Life Event Enrollment Form

ACCEPTED SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION

• Marriage- Marriage Certificate
• Divorce- Divorce Decree
• Death of a spouse or dependent- Death Certificate
• Birth or adoption of a new child- Birth Certificate, crib card, verification of birth, or hospital discharge paperwork. 
• Loss of non-BCPS coverage- A formal letter on letterhead from the insurance carrier or employer indicating the type of coverage lost and the date it was terminated. Names of dependents you wish to cover with BCPS must be included.
• Gain of non-BCPS coverage- A formal letter on letterhead from the insurance carrier or employer indicating the type of coverage gained and the date it became effective.
• Loss or gain of coverage due to a change in BCPS employment status (i.e., switching from part-time and full-time, commencement or return from an unpaid leave of absence)- No supporting documentation needed. Please specify the type of change on the Benefits Enrollment/Change Form.
• Loss of dependent child status (i.e., dependent has reached age 26)- A formal letter (on letterhead) from the insurance carrier or employer indicating the type of coverage lost and the date it was terminated. 
• Eligibility for Medicare or Medicaid- Letter from the government entity indicating eligibility and the effective date of coverage. 
• A judgment, decree, or order that requires health coverage for an employee’s dependent- A copy of the judgement, decree or order.