Late Applicant

A Late Applicant is an employee or dependent who applies for coverage under a Group Benefits plan after the deadline for initial eligibility has passed. In most plans, newly eligible employees (and their dependents) must enroll within a defined enrollment window, typically 30 or 31 days from their eligibility date (e.g., the end of a waiting period or date of hire). If they miss this window, they are considered a late applicant.

Late applicants are usually required to provide evidence of insurability (EOI), such as completing a health questionnaire or undergoing a medical exam. Coverage is not guaranteed and may be declined or limited based on the applicant's health status.

Key Features of a Late Applicant

‍Important Consideration

• ‍‍Some benefits, like Basic Life Insurance, may still be granted with limited amounts of coverage while the EOI is under review
• Employers should clearly communicate enrollment deadlines to new employees to prevent late applicant issues.
• Late applicants may be excluded from certain benefit enhancements or may be permanently declined for optional coverage.

Summary
A Late Applicant is someone who misses the standard enrollment window for group benefits and must undergo medical underwriting to qualify for coverage. Since approval is not guaranteed, enrolling within the initial eligibility period is the best way to secure full coverage without health screening requirements.