Question for the OT HR folks

Background: I currently get health insurance through the wife. She is changing her employment status from full time to part time in middle of Sept, but any change in health insurance would occur Oct 1.

The question: When we planned this out earlier this year we assumed that her employer would no longer offer her insurance, and because of this, we would qualify to switch over to my employer plan as a qualifying event (I verified this with my-but not her-employer months ago). However I learned today that there will be no involuntary revocation of coverage, simply a big price hike in her monthly premium ($700+/month) to cover the difference from full time to part time.

Is this a qualifying event to add coverage?

Under worst case scenario we could pay the difference until open enrollment and then change, it's just a big PITA.

Thanks .