Eligibility & Enrollment

Hormel Foods’ benefits are designed to support your unique needs.

Who Is Eligible

Eligibility for you and your dependents for medical, prescription, dental, vision, and life insurance benefits are determined by the plan. Information on who qualifies as an eligible dependent can be found below.

When Coverage Begins

Open Enrollment: NOVEMBER 2 – NOVEMBER 16, 2026 AT 5:00 P.M. CT. The benefits you elect during Open Enrollment will become effective January 1, 2027. The effective date for life insurance may be later if a Statement of Health (SOH) is required for adding or increasing life insurance. When a Qualifying Life Event occurs, you have 60 days from the date of the event to request changes to your coverage or enroll a new dependent.

Eligible Dependents

Information on who qualifies as an eligible dependent can be found below.

Dependent children

medical, prescription, dental, vision, and life insurance — up to age 26, regardless of student or marital status

Your children
Stepchildren
Legally adopted children
Legal ward (custodian)
Children in the process of adoption who have been placed in your home
Children for whom you are legally required to provide coverage by a Qualified Medical Child Support Order (QMCSO)
For healthcare coverage only, disabled children who meet certain requirements as stated in the Summary Plan Descriptions for the medical and prescription drug plan and dental and vision plan

Spouse

Spouse

Your dependent children are eligible for medical, prescription, dental, vision, and life insurance coverage up to age 26, regardless of student or marital status. Their coverage will continue through the end of the month in which they turn age 26. This event is a Qualifying Life Event that allows them to enroll mid-year in a new health insurance plan through their own provider (certain restrictions, including timing restrictions, may apply).

Documentation Requirements

You will need to PROVIDE DOCUMENTATION to verify your dependents’ eligibility if adding them to medical or dental/vision coverage. ALL documentation must be provided no later than December 16, 2026. You must submit all the necessary documentation to verify your dependents before December 16, 2026. Examples of Documentation1 Include:

Spouse

Copy of registered marriage certificate
Copy of most recent 1040 tax return 2

Children

Copy of registered birth certificate showing names of parent(s)

Stepchildren

Copy of registered birth certificate showing names of parent(s)
Copy of registered marriage certificate

Legal ward children

Court or legal paperwork granting guardianship/ custodianship

Qualifying Life Events

Elections made (or if you waive coverage) during Open Enrollment may be changed during the year if you have a Qualifying Life Event (QLE). QLEs are determined by the IRS and/or may be allowed by the plan. A QLE may permit you to enroll, unenroll, or change your elections. Any changes must be consistent with the event you experience.

A change in the number of dependents (through birth or adoption or if a child is no longer an eligible dependent)
A change in your legal marital status (marriage, divorce, or legal separation)
A change in a spouse’s employment status (resulting in a loss or gain of coverage)
Entitlement to Medicare or Medicaid
Eligibility for coverage through the Marketplace (Healthcare.gov)

Changes in address or location that may affect coverage
Turning 26 and losing coverage through a parent’s plan
Death in the family (leading to change in dependents or loss of coverage)
Changes that make you no longer eligible for Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP)

How to Enroll

Oracle
After logging in to Oracle, from your Home screen, click on Me, then quick actions “show more,” and then Document Records. You’ll attach either a scan or a picture of the document to upload. Please upload one document at a time.
If you’re using the mobile app, click on Me, then quick actions “show more,” and then Document Records. The app allows you to take a picture of the document and upload. This is a secure method that does not save the image to your mobile device.
Reach out to the Horizon Solution Center at 866-449-7712 or with questions regarding specific life events and your ability to request changes. Don’t miss out on a chance to update your benefits!