Affordable Care Act
Eligibility for Affordable Care Act
Under the ACA, individuals who (i) are reasonably expected at the start of employment to work an average of 30+ hours per week, or (ii) during the 12-month measurement period beginning at the start of employment are determined to have averaged 30+ hours per week, are defined as “full-time,” and therefore eligible for medical, prescription, dental and vision coverage.
If you are eligible for coverage under this special ACA rule and you elect to participate in any of the available plans, you will generally remain covered during the following one-year stability period even if your weekly hours decrease, so long as you remain employed by the University. Going forward, “full-time” status under this ACA rule will be determined each year and will apply for each future plan year/stability period (October 1 – September 30).
If you become eligible for ACA medical coverage, you will receive a guide from Drexel’s designated health and welfare administrators, WEX. You and your dependents are eligible for medical, prescription, dental and vision benefits described under the ACA.
If you elect to cover any dependents, you will be required to provide documentation certifying the eligibility of your dependents according to Drexel University’s plan rules.
Detailed information about the documentation process can be found on the Drexel Human Resources Qualifying Life Events website.
Eligible Dependents
- Your spouse
- Your biological and/or adopted children and stepchildren up to the end of the month in which they turn age 26. (Your spouse’s biological and/or adopted children are eligible if they meet the age and dependent criteria.)
- Your children aged 26 or older who are incapable of self-support due to a mental or physical condition that existed prior to age 26 and who were eligible for coverage as dependents prior to age 26
Eligibility Period
Drexel University’s plan year runs from Jan. 1 – Dec. 31. The elections you make during an enrollment period stay in effect for the balance of the plan year (or the next plan year in the case of election changes made during the annual open enrollment period) unless you experience a qualifying life event change. Qualifying events include the birth or adoption of a child, marriage, separation, divorce, death of a dependent, and change in your dependent’s eligibility for benefits. If you have an enrollment right relative to the health insurance marketplace, Drexel’s coverage can be dropped. If your hours drop below 30 hours per week, you may prospectively drop coverage (even if eligibility for coverage is unaffected by the reduction). Keep in mind that the IRS limits the types of changes you can make for such events. If you experience a qualifying life event, log on to the online enrollment system through DrexelOne.
Please note you must make any changes within 31 days of the event, or you must wait until the next Open Enrollment period. Visit the Drexel Human Resources Qualifying Life Events website for more information.
Payments for Benefits Elected
If you are ACA eligible and choose to enroll in coverage, you will be billed directly for your benefit election through WEX, Drexel’s Benefit Billing Administrator. After you make your election, you will receive information on how to remit your monthly payment.
Your contributions for medical, dental, and vision are made with post-tax dollars, with payments due the first of the month for that month. Please be sure to review the Welcome Package that is provided by WEX to be sure that you understand how to submit your payments and the period of time you have to do so.
After You Enroll
After you’ve enrolled, save and print your confirmation statement. Review this statement to make sure all of your information is correct. If any of your elections are listed incorrectly, please contact the Drexel University Benefits Center at 1.844.690.3992.
If you enrolled any dependents under any of the Drexel plans, you will receive an email from WEX with instructions on how to submit dependent verification documentation and the proper timeline to do so in order for the dependents to be added to your coverage.
For more information, visit Drexel’s Health Coverage page.
Resources