Enrollment
Enrolling Basics
Overview
Get the facts on enrollment deadlines, when your benefits begin and when you can make changes.
How To Enroll
Before you can enroll, you’ll need to set up a Benefitfocus account.
Enrolling as a New Hire or Newly Eligible
WHat’s my Deadline?
You have 30 days from your full-time date of hire or promotion date to enroll in benefits. After your 30th day, you won’t be able to enroll in or make changes to your benefits until the next Open Enrollment, unless you experience a qualifying life event, such as getting married or having a baby.
When Do My Benefits Start?
Your benefits will be effective on your hire date or promotion date. The only benefits that do not follow this rule are Paid Time Off (PTO), the 401(k) Plan and AEO’s Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP).
Am I Automatically Enrolled In Any Benefits?
As a new hire, you’re enrolled in Basic Life and Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D) insurance, Short-Term Disability, Long-Term Disability and the 401(k) Plan.
Making Changes
After you enroll, you will not be able to make any changes during the plan year unless you experience a qualifying life event, such as having a baby or getting married.
When Benefits End
Basic and Supplemental Life and AD&D, Short-Term Disability, Long-Term Disability and FSA coverage end on the date you terminate employment or are no longer eligible. All other benefits end on the last day of the month after your employment ends or you’re no longer eligible.
Benefits Open Enrollment
Once a year in the fall, you’ll get the chance to enroll, waive or make changes to your coverage, which includes adding or removing dependents.
If you don’t actively enroll during Open Enrollment, most of your current benefits — except for Flexible Spending Account (FSA) and Health Savings Account (HSA) elections — will carry over for the next plan year. This includes medical, dental, vision, supplemental life and supplemental medical benefits.
Want to contribute to an FSA or HSA? You will need to elect your pre-tax contribution for the upcoming plan year — it does not carry over. You can change your HSA contribution any time during the plan year.
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Life Events
Whether you’re saying “I do” or growing your family, here’s what you need to know about how your life change affects your benefits.
Learn More