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Certain life events can affect your AXA XL benefits. See what actions to take and what to keep in mind as you navigate your life’s changes. If you have a qualifying life event, benefit changes must be made on the myHR website within 30 days.

If you experience a life change that is not covered on this page, please contact the Benefits team.


New child
(Birth, adoption, foster, or surrogacy)
  • Review the U.S. Colleague Handbook for the company’s leave policies, including Short-term Disability (STD), Long-term Disability (LTD), Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and parental leave benefits. The handbook can be found on our intranet site, ONE.
  • The state or city where your work location is may offer additional leave benefits; please check the state or city website for more information. It is important to note that state/city benefits generally run concurrent to AXA XL’s Family Friendly Leave benefits.
  • If you’re welcoming a new child through adoption or surrogacy, AXA XL’s Adoption/Surrogacy Assistance Program helps pay for certain covered expenses.
  • Enroll in Bloom during pregnancy or after childbirth to enhance your pelvic floor strength and prevent urinary incontinence and other pelvic disorders during postpartum.
  • Notify the Benefits team and your manager of your last day in the office.
  • At least one week in advance of your leave, contact MetLife at 877-638-8262 to report and begin processing your disability and/or FMLA leave.
  • Learn about the various parenting resources available to you at various stages of parenthood.
  • Get a Social Security number for your new child, if an application has not yet been submitted.
  • Add your new child to your benefits coverage within 30 days of birth or adoption or placement in your home.
  • Update your life insurance coverage and beneficiary information. Your basic life and AD&D elections can be updated in myHR. Your GVUL beneficiaries should be updated through MetLife.
  • Update your 401(k) plan beneficiary information with Merrill.
  • Update your federal tax withholdings in myHR. State and local withholdings may be updated by contacting Payroll.
  • Update your will. You have access to MetLife Legal Plans for will preparation assistance.
  • Contact Quantum Health for help locating the right obstetricians or perinatologists, providing health tips and guidance on maternity coverage, and answering questions about complications such as gestational diabetes or postpartum depression.
  • Notify your manager of your return to work and ensure you enter your absence time in myHR. (Note: If there is a disability portion, it should be entered as ”short term disability” on the time and absences portal on myHR. The remainder of your first eight weeks can be captured as “primary parent” leave, and the final eight weeks as “parental.”
  • If you need additional support, access free, confidential counseling, resources and childcare referrals through the Employee Assistance Program (EAP).

This is a qualified life event. When you experience a qualified life event, such as adding a new child to your family, you have 30 days to make benefits changes related to your event. Review the quick reference guide for how to make changes to your benefits.

Getting married
(or new domestic partnership)
  • Change or update your benefits coverage within 30 days of getting married.
  • If you are entering a domestic partnership, complete the Domestic Partner Affidavit and Tax Status form and submit them to the Benefits team.
  • Update your personal and direct deposit information in myHR, if necessary.
  • If you're changing your name, update your name in myHR and provide US HR Operations with your Social Security card to have your email updated.
  • Update your life insurance coverage and beneficiary information. Your basic life and AD&D elections can be updated in myHR. Your GVUL beneficiaries should be updated through MetLife.
  • Update your 401(k) plan beneficiary information with Merrill.
  • Update your federal tax withholdings in myHR. State and local withholdings may be updated by contacting Payroll.
  • Update your will. You have access to MetLife Legal Plans for will preparation assistance.

This is a qualified life event. When you experience a qualified life event, such as getting married or entering a domestic partnership, you have 30 days to make benefits changes related to your event. Review the quick reference guide for how to make changes to your benefits.

Getting divorced
(or legally separated, ending a partnership)

This is a qualified life event. When you experience a qualified life event, such as getting divorced or ending a domestic partnership, you have 30 days to make benefits changes related to your event. Review the quick reference guide for how to make changes to your benefits.

Death in the family
(Dependent)
  • If you need support, access five free, confidential counseling sessions through the Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
  • Review the U.S. Colleague Handbook for the company’s Global Bereavement Policy. The handbook can be found on our intranet site, ONE.
  • If your family member was covered under the company's benefit plans, update your benefits coverage by emailing the RM Benefits Administration mailbox, if necessary, within 30 days.
  • Contact Quantum Health to navigate healthcare issues, resolve medical billing and other insurance-related concerns.
  • Contact the Social Security Administration to end benefits received by the deceased (if disabled or retired) and to determine if benefits are available to the surviving spouse and dependent children.
  • Submit life insurance claims if you are the beneficiary of a dependent life insurance policy. Email the RM Benefits Administration mailbox to start the process.
  • Update your life insurance coverage and beneficiary information. Your basic life and AD&D elections can be updated in myHR. Your GVUL beneficiaries should be updated through MetLife.
  • Update your 401(k) plan beneficiary information with Merrill.
  • Update your federal tax withholdings in myHR. State and local withholdings may be updated by contacting Payroll.
  • Update your direct deposit in myHR, if necessary.
  • Update your will, if necessary. You have access to MetLife Legal Plans for will preparation and funeral planning assistance.

This is a qualified life event. When you experience a qualified life event, such as a death of a covered dependent, you have 30 days to make benefits changes related to your event. Review the quick reference guide for how to make changes to your benefits.

Loss or gain of benefit coverage
(You or a dependent)

This is a qualified life event. When you experience a qualified life event, such as gaining or losing other benefits coverage, you have within 30 days to make benefits changes related to your event. Review the quick reference guide for how to make changes to your benefits.

Leaving the company
  • Notify your manager. You will receive a voluntary termination checklist from the US HR Operations group with any outstanding items that may need to be resolved prior to your termination date.
  • Review the Effect of Termination on Benefits, which summarizes how your benefits are affected when you leave the Company.
  • If you take any vacation time between now and your last day, please notify Americas HR Operations and update your absence record in myHR. Your vacation payout and/or payback will change if additional time is taken.
  • If you need to request employment verification or reference information, contact the Payroll Administrator.
  • Convert your voluntary life insurance to an individual policy, if desired.
  • Contact your retirement plan administrator to learn about your distribution options.
  • Continuation of your health coverage under COBRA may be offered to you and your dependents, if applicable. Review the 2024 COBRA rates.
  • Update your personal information in myHR, if necessary.
  • If you need additional support, access five free, confidential counseling sessions and other resources through the Employee Assistance Program (EAP).

This is a qualified life event. After you’ve left the company and are no longer eligible for AXA XL benefits, you are eligible to enroll in other coverage, such as COBRA coverage or your spouse’s benefits. Ask your spouse’s employer for their enrollment process and deadline.

Retiring from the company
  • Notify your manager and HR Manager of your last day.
  • Review the Effect of Termination on Benefits, which summarizes how your benefits are affected when you leave the Company.
  • Learn about your options for receiving Social Security benefits, if eligible.
  • When considering the transition to Medicare, the terminology and number of choices can feel overwhelming. AXA XL makes available to our colleagues and their dependents at no cost, SmartConnect. With SmartConnect, you can find the coverage that best fits your needs and budget. Go to https://gps.smartmatch.com/axaxl for more information or to schedule a consultation, call 833-460-6126.
  • Apply for Medicare, if eligible.
  • Continuation of your health coverage under COBRA may be offered to you and your dependents, if applicable. Review the COBRA rates. Note: If you’re eligible for Medicare and for COBRA, Medicare would be primary, regardless if you elect Medicare.
  • Decide when and how to access retirement savings.
  • Convert your voluntary life insurance to an individual policy, if desired.
  • Update your personal information in myHR, if necessary.
  • If you need additional support, access five free, confidential counseling sessions and other resources through the Employee Assistance Program (EAP).

This is a qualified life event. After you’ve retired, you may be eligible for Medicare and/or Social Security benefits. Learn more on the Social Security website. You may also have the option of enrolling in other coverage, such as COBRA coverage or your spouse’s benefits. Ask your spouse’s employer for their enrollment process and deadline.

Leave of absence
(Including disability)
  • Review the U.S. Colleague Handbook for the company’s sick, disability and Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) leave policies. The handbook can be found on our intranet site, ONE.
  • The state or city where your work location is may offer additional leave benefits; please check the state or city website for more information.
  • Notify the Benefits team and your manager 30 days in advance of your last day in the office, if possible. (If applicable, provide a personal email you can be reached at while you’re on leave.)
  • Contact MetLife at 877-638-8262 to report your disability or FMLA leave at least one week prior to your scheduled last day in the office.
  • Contact Quantum Health for health benefits and insurance-related questions.
  • Contact Teladoc Medical Experts for an expert opinion and to help you better understand a diagnosis, treatment plan, and medical condition.
  • If you applied for Short-term Disability benefits, review the STD Plan payment schedule sent to your email.
  • If you applied for FMLA, update MetLife and your manager of the time you take off under FMLA and notify the Benefits team of any additional unpaid time off.
  • Notify your manager of your return to work and ensure you enter your absence time in myHR. (Note: If there is a disability portion, it should be entered as "short term disability" in the time and absences portal on my myHR).
  • Before you return to work, provide the Benefits team with a note from your doctor indicating the date you are able to return to work, any restrictions you may have, and how long those restrictions might apply.
  • If you need additional support, access five free, confidential counseling sessions and other resources through the Employee Assistance Program (EAP).

This is not a qualified life event. You are not able to change your benefits coverage due to this event.

Other life changes
  • Moving to a new home. Note: Notify your HR Manager to complete a Flexible Work Arrangement, if applicable. For more information on Flexible Work Arrangements, speak with your manager and HR Manager.
  • Change in work status, such as from part-time to full-time. For more information, speak with your manager and HR Manager.

These events may or may not be qualified life events. You may only make changes to your benefits if you experience a qualified life event. When you do, you have 30 days to make benefits changes related to your event. For further information about the life changes listed here, contact the Benefits team.

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