Dependent Coverage

ANSWER: No, parents are not eligible to participate as dependents under the Plan even if they are solely dependent upon you for support.

ANSWER: Yes, if your dependent grandchild is solely dependent upon you for support and can be claimed as a dependent for IRS tax reporting purposes.

ANSWER: Yes, foster children and adopted children are eligible for enrollment in this Plan.

ANSWER: Dependents should be added to the plan when you are first eligible for enrollment or, upon acquiring a new dependent, within 30 days after they first qualify for enrollment; otherwise your dependent(s) may not be added to the Plan until the next open enrollment period. There is, however, an exception for eligible dependents who decline enrollment because they have other health insurance coverage. In this case, the dependent may later request enrollment within a 30 day period after the other coverage ends.

ANSWER: If you have properly registered your domestic partnership with a state, county, city or other municipality that recognizes the rights of domestic partners, you may enroll her/him in the Plan. You must provide a copy of the registration and either 1) an affidavit of "dependency" for tax purposes or 2) advance remittance of at least six months of taxes the Plan Office determines are due on the additional imputed taxable income (including the employer's portion of the taxes) in order to enroll your domestic partner.

ANSWER: Coverage will end as of the date the final decree is entered. You do not have the option to continue coverage on behalf of your former spouse.

ANSWER: COBRA continuation coverage is available for up to 36 months from the date of the final decree.

ANSWER: Coverage for dependent children ends upon attainment of age 19, but is extended for full-time students up to attainment of age 25.

ANSWER: You will be requested to provide evidence of full-time student status each quarter or semester by providing a transcript from the educational institution your child is attending. The credits needed to establish full-time status is contingent upon the number of credits that are required by the school for full time student status.

ANSWER: COBRA continuation is available for up to 36 months. As an alternative, you may want to consider applying for private insurance because it may be more affordable than COBRA coverage, and because private insurance may become unaffordable should you later become sick. The COBRA rates are not adjusted for age or family size and are based on the actual composite premiums that are paid to the various carriers on behalf of plan participants. Both Kaiser and PacifiCare, as insured programs, offer conversion plans as well.

ANSWER: If your dependent child is incapable of self-sustaining employment because of a mental or physical disability at age 19, s/he may continue coverage up to age 25. You must periodically provide written evidence of continued disability to the Plan Office.