Removing Dependents Outside Open Enrollment

[Guest AJK0020]

We have an employee whose step daughter recently became a full time college student. In the process of enrollmnet for college it was discovered that the natural father as well as the step father have the child enrolled on their health insurance plans. The health plans are both with the same insurer; however, different groups and different benefits. The step father's plan is a sec 125 POP.

My question is would it be allowable for the step father to remove the step child outside of open enrollment just because it would be cheaper for him (going for family to 2 person coverage), or would there have to be an "event" that would allow this change?

My thought is that there needs to be an event due to consistancy rules of sec 125, and there is not any event since the child is not newly eligible for other coverage and dual coverage or cost of coverage is not itself an reason to terminate at will.

Any thoughts, insights or opinions are welcome and appreciated.

(sorry for any spelling errors, but a study at cambridge univ. says I only needed to get the first and last letter correct)

[SLuskin]

I agree that "discovering other coverage" is not a change in status. Perhaps if there were a court order...