period." 3.5 When Is The Election Period For The Plan? If you are a newly eligible Employee, the election period for the Plan will be the thirty (30) day period prior to the date you become eligible to participate in the Plan. See the Plan Administrator if you have any questions about the dates you become eligible to participate in the Plan. For existing employees, the Plan Administrator will establish an election period for a reasonable period of time prior to the beginning of each Plan Year, and such election period will be communicated to you in advance. 3.6 May I Change My Elections During The Plan Year? Generally, no. You cannot change the elections you have made after the beginning of the Plan Year. However, you are permitted to change certain elections if you experience an IRS defined "change in status" and/or other special events as described below. Examples of status changes include these events: (i) marriage; (ii) divorce, legal separation or annulment; (iii) death of your spouse or dependent child; (iv) birth, adoption or placement for adoption of a child; (v) termination of the employment of your spouse or dependent child; (vi) commencement of the employment of your spouse or dependent child; (vii) your or your spouse's or dependent child's commencement or return from an unpaid leave of absence from employment; (viii) adjustment to your or your spouse's or dependent child's work schedule, such as a switch between part- time and full-time work, a strike, a lockout or an increase or reduction in hours of employment, that causes a loss of coverage; (ix) a change in your or your spouse's or dependent child's worksite or residence that causes a loss of current coverage eligibility; (x) adjustments in dependent status through satisfying or ceasing to satisfy the age, student status or other requirements to qualify as a dependent under the Plan; (xi) significant change in your or your spouse's health coverage attributable to the spouse's employment; and (xii) leave of absence under the Family and Medical Leave Act. Your election may also be changed if one of these special events occurs: (i) the issuance of a judgment, decree or order that requires accident or health coverage for your dependent child. (ii) your or your spouse's or dependent child's entitlement to Medicare or Medicaid that causes a loss of coverage. (iii) your or your spouse's or dependent child's loss of eligibility for Medicare or Medicaid. (iv) a "significant" increase in the cost of any benefit under the Plan; provided that for the Dependent Care Assistance Account program, the increase in cost is imposed by a dependent care giver who is not your relative. No election change may be made as to the Health Care FSA Program on account of a significant cost change. *Note: If the cost of a health and welfare plan increases or decreases during the Plan Year, this Plan may, on a reasonable and consistent basis, automatically change your premium contributions in response to the change in cost. (v) "significant" improvement in coverage, such as the addition of new benefit plan, or significant improvement Page 6