Note: To help you understand how life events may impact your benefits, examples have been included in this section. However, eligibility for plan benefits (be it retirement, medical or the other benefits listed here) is based on the terms of the particular plans, and a benefit being listed under the Life events tab does not mean that you are eligible for that particular benefit. For plan eligibility questions, please refer to the Benefits Handbook.

Congratulations on achieving domestic partnership status (you have either registered your domestic partnership or civil union in accordance with your state’s laws (if applicable) or have satisfied BP’s domestic partnership requirements for at least six months)! Entering into a domestic partnership with a person of the same sex or opposite sex is considered a qualifying status change and as such, you may make changes to your BP benefits so they align with the needs of your new family. Changes you make must be on account of, and logically relate to, your newly established domestic partnership. For example, when you enter into a new domestic partnership, you may enroll your partner for medical coverage, but you may not drop medical coverage for yourself.

Benefit	Available Changes	Deadline	Other Things to Consider
Medical Dental Vision	You may: Add your new domestic partner and any eligible dependent children if you are enrolled in a BP medical, dental and/or vision plan on the date you satisfy BP’s domestic partner requirements. Change medical and/or dental options.	Within 45 days of the life event	If you: Make your benefit changes within 45 days of the life event, the change is effective back to the date of the actual event. Miss the 45 day enrollment window, you may add eligible dependents at any time if you already have coverage for yourself and at least one other dependent at the time of the event. In this case, coverage for the newly added dependent takes effect on the date enrollment. If your domestic partner’s employer provides medical, dental or vision coverage, compare his or her coverage to the coverage offered through BP to determine which option makes the most sense for you and your new family. If you enroll your domestic partner or eligible dependent child who is not your dependent for federal income tax purposes, federal tax law requires your contributions be taken on an after-tax basis and that you have income imputed based on the value of company-provided coverage. To add a domestic partner, you and your domestic partner must either have registered your domestic partnership or civil union in accordance with the state law in which you reside (if applicable) or satisfy all of the requirements for at least six full months before signing a domestic partner affidavit. (You do not have to sign this form if you are certified as domestic partners by the county or state in which you live.)
Health Care Spending Account Dependent Care Spending Account	No changes are allowed.	N/A	N/A
Short-term Disability (STD)	No action is required.	N/A	N/A
Long-term Disability (LTD)	You may increase or decrease your optional LTD coverage.	Any time	If you increase the amount of your optional LTD coverage, you may be required to submit evidence of insurability (EOI) before the increased coverage is effective. You will be notified of any EOI that may be required.
Basic Life Accidental Death and Dismemberment (AD&D) Occupational Accidental Death (OAD)	No action is required. You may change your beneficiary designation for all or a portion of your life insurance plan benefits at any time. Please note that your beneficiary for OAD benefits is the same as for your basic life/AD&D insurance benefits. You may name a separate OAD beneficiary by completing the OAD designation form.	Any time	If you die before designating a beneficiary, your estate will be the beneficiary of these benefits. You can update your beneficiary at any time by accessing the BP Benefits Center online.
Group Universal Life (GUL)	You may: Purchase coverage for yourself or your domestic partner. Increase your coverage by one times your eligible pay. Change your beneficiary designations for all or a portion of your GUL benefits.	Any time	If you enroll: Within 45 days of the life event, you may enroll yourself and any eligible dependents, or increase your coverage by one times eligible pay, if you are already participating without providing evidence of insurability (EOI). More than 45 days after the life event, you will have to provide evidence of insurability (EOI). MetLife will inform you if any EOI is required. Regardless of when you enroll, if the coverage you elect is greater than the guarantee issue amount you must provide evidence of insurability (EOI). In some states, GUL coverage cannot be offered to domestic partners due to state regulations. Call MetLife for more information If you die before designating a beneficiary, your estate will be the beneficiary of these benefits.
Long-term Care (LTC)	You may add yourself or your eligible family members at any time.	Any time	You apply for this coverage through John Hancock. John Hancock may request a statement of health from the applicant’s doctor. If you enroll: Within 45 days of the life event, you may enroll yourself without providing evidence of insurability (EOI). More than 45 days after the life event, you will have to provide evidence of insurability (EOI). John Hancock will inform you if any EOI is required. EOI is always required when enrolling dependents.
Employee Savings Plan Retirement Accumulation Plan	You may: Change the beneficiary designations for all or a portion of your plan benefits. Increase or decrease your Employee Savings Plan contributions.	Any time	Your domestic partner does not automatically become your beneficiary. You must complete and return a beneficiary form. If you die before assigning a beneficiary, benefits will be paid to your estate.
Next Steps
*Review*	Your benefit options and allowable changes to determine what changes, if any, you'll make to your BP benefits. Your W-4 income tax withholding to determine if you should make changes. If you need to make additional changes, complete a new form, available at BPpeople (BPpeople can only be accessed by employees logged into the BP network).
*Remember*	You must make allowable changes to your medical, dental, vision and spending account participation within 45 days of the life event, otherwise you'll have to wait until the next annual enrollment. You may make changes to income protection and survivor benefits, such as long-term disability, Group Universal Life and long-term care insurance at any time. However, you may be required to provide additional documentation before coverage is effective. See each plan summary for specific information on when you may be required to provide evidence of insurability (EOI). Complete and retain a copy of the domestic partner affidavit for your records. Be sure to complete all required information on the form. (You do not have to sign this form if you are certified as domestic partners by the county or state in which you live.) A copy of this form is available by contacting the BP Benefit Center via phone. The Employee Assistance Program (EAP) is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week to help you and your family7 with any issues that may arise. For information, contact BP Care at 1-800-409-3687. You and your dependents who live with you are eligible for EAP services. You'll need your dependents' personal information including date of birth and Social Security number when enrolling. You may make changes to your Employee Savings Plan at any time. Generally, you may add or change a beneficiary for the Employee Savings Plan or Retirement Accumulation Plan at any time.
*Submit*	N/A
*Go to or call*	Call the BP Benefits Center to obtain a domestic partner affidavit. MetLife at mybenefits.metlife.com to enroll or make changes to your GUL participation. John Hancock at https://bp.jhancock.com (user ID: bp; password: my benefit) to enroll in or make changes to your LTC participation. BP Retirement Services at Fidelity at 1-877-272-3334 to make changes to your savings plan or to add or change a beneficiary for the savings plan or pension plan (as applicable). Ayco to find out more about Financial Education Seminars that will help you learn how to manage your new family's budget. The BP Benefits Center Online at http://resources.hewitt.com/bpbenefits to enroll in or make changes to your other benefits. Call the BP Benefits Center at 1-800-890-4100 to enroll in or make changes to your other benefits.

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