Benefit Changes
As your life changes, so do your benefit needs. Your BMO benefit elections stay the same all year unless you have a change in employment or family status and make a new election.
Coverage starts on your event date. When submitting a life event change, ensure the event date matches your new coverage start date. For example, if your previous coverage ends June 30, select July 1 as your event date to avoid a gap.
Below is a high-level overview of benefits changes you may make due to a qualified employment or family status change. Keep in mind, benefit changes must be consistent with the life event. You may need supporting documentation, but not when initiating the event.
| Qualifying Life Event | Definition of Life Event |
|---|---|
| Birth/Adoption | Having a new baby or finalizing an adoption with the court |
| Acquired Guardianship | Acquiring legal guardianship of a child |
| Death of Dependent/Child | The death of your child, legal dependent, or stepchild |
| Death of Spouse | The death of your spouse or domestic partner |
| Divorce/Legal Separation | Your legal divorce date or legal separation date |
| Marriage | Your marriage date |
| Gain of Dependent/Child Eligibility | Your child becoming newly eligible for benefits coverage through another employer or State |
| Loss of Dependent/Child Eligibility | Your child involuntarily losing other benefits coverage from another employer or State |
| Gain of Spouse Benefits/Eligibility | Your spouse or domestic partner becoming newly eligible for benefits coverage through another employer or State |
| Loss of Spouse Benefits/Eligibility | Your spouse or domestic partner involuntarily losing other benefits coverage from another employer or State |
| Start of Domestic Partnership | Meeting the requirements to qualify as a domestic partner |
| Loss of Domestic Partnership | No longer meeting the requirements to qualify as a domestic partner |
| Other life events (Turning 26, loss or gain of state coverage, loss of coverage under a parent not due to aging off plan, etc.) |
Call the Human Resources Centre (HRC) at 1-888-927-7700 |
Initiate a benefits change
To make qualified benefit changes during the year:
- Go to Workday, click My Benefits & Retirement application
- Select your network status (on or off the BMO network)
- Click Log your Life event tile
You may need to provide documentation to validate your qualifying life event.
Update your beneficiary
Review your beneficiary designations after any major life event. You can update your beneficiary at any time.
Related Links
Important Forms/Docs
Family Building Benefit Request for Reimbursement
(accessible only from the BMO network)