Change in Status

[Guest jjgalligan]

An individual's current election under her employer's cafeteria plan provides for family coverage so that she may cover her children under such plan.

Her ex-husband, who is responsible for paying for the children's coverage per the divorce decree, has recently changed employment and has determined that it would be more cost-effective to cover the children under his new employer's plan rather than the children's current coverage under his ex-wife's employer's cafeteria plan.

The ex-wife has been employed with her current employer since the beginning of 2003, and the couple were divorced prior to her beginning her current employment.

May the ex-wife make a mid-year election change from family coverage to individual coverage (i.e., would an ex-spouse's change in employment be included in determining a change in status?)?

Thanks!

[Mary C]

How about using the event of the children gaining ther coverage provided by the employer of their father as the reason for the mother to drop coverage?