Eligibility and Coverage Start Dates for Local Government Employees
If a Local Government agency has a probationary period, the employee must complete that period before becoming eligible for insurance coverage. In these cases, the hire date and eligibility date are not the same.
This process ensures:
- Employees receive the full 30-day eligibility window to make benefit elections and submit dependent verification.
- Fewer errors in processing.
- Timely and accurate event closure by the Benefits Administration Quality Assurance team.
Important: ABCs were previously instructed to use the first day of the previous month. This is no longer correct. The eHire form now has a crosswalk that has been preloaded with the probationary period you reported to Benefits Administration. You can now enter the correct date of hire as the effective date in the eHire form.
Examples by Probationary Period Length
Example 1: 30-Day Probationary Period
- Hire Date: March 5
- Day 30 of Probation: April 3
- Eligibility Date: April 4
- Coverage Start Date: May 1
- Deadline to Submit Documentation: May 3
Example 2: 60-Day Probationary Period
- Hire Date: March 5
- Day 60 of Probation: May 3
- Eligibility Date: May 4
- Coverage Start Date: June 1
- Deadline to Submit Documentation: June 3
Example 3: 90-Day Probationary Period
- Hire Date: March 5
- Day 90 of Probation: June 2
- Eligibility Date: June 3
- Coverage Start Date: July 1
- Deadline to Submit Documentation: July 3
No Probationary Period
If the Local Government agency does not have a probationary period, the hire date and eligibility date are the same.
Example: No Probationary Period
- Hire Date: March 5
- Eligibility Date: March 5
- Coverage Start Date: April 1
- Deadline to Submit Documentation: April 4