EIEA – August 2026 HR Brief
Question of the Month:
What Counts as a Mid-Year Qualifying Life Event (QLE)?
Answer:
Qualifying Life Events include changes such as marriage, the birth of a child, or loss of coverage. See the attached Mid-Year QLE Cheat Sheet for the full list and enrollment requirements.
Midyear Qualifying Events Cheat Sheet
Life doesn’t always line up neatly with open enrollment. When a significant life event occurs, employees may be able to update their benefits outside of open enrollment (known as a midyear election change or qualifying event). Two separate laws govern midyear changes.
5 Mental Health Trends for Employers in 2026
Employees are navigating economic uncertainty, workplace change driven by artificial intelligence, rising healthcare costs and years of accumulated stress. For employers, the moment calls for rethinking how mental health support fits into the employee experience. Here are five trends to watch:
