Do your dependent children still qualify for health insurance?
From Human Resources
Attention faculty and staff with dependents: Do you have a child graduating from college in May, graduating from high school and not planning to enter college in the fall, taking more than one term off from full-time college? If so, that child will no longer qualify as a dependent, for purposes of medical, dental and/or vision coverage. To ensure that your child is not left without coverage, you must notify the Benefits Team of the Human Resources Department. Please contact Jeanne Kittleson, (651) 962-6497.
Federal and state laws hold YOU responsible for notifying us within 60 days of the “qualifying event.” For dependent children, qualifying events include (but are not limited to) attaining age 19, or upon attaining age 25 if the dependent is a full-time student. NOTE: There are other events that require you to take action, but this article is only addressing the loss of dependent status issue.
When notifying us of your child losing dependent status, please include your child’s current mailing address and social security number. ARC, the UST COBRA administrator, will mail to the “former” dependent child COBRA papers that explain continuation rights.
The Federal COBRA laws and state continuation laws allow the child losing dependent status the opportunity to continue medical, dental and/or vision coverage for up to 36 months at their own cost. Failure to give us notice of a qualifying event, within the 60 day time period allowed, will result in the forfeiture of continuation rights for the child.
Dependent Optional Life Insurance through UnumProvident covers dependents to age 19, or to age 26 if a full-time student. If you have elected this coverage, please review the situation with your child and have him/her determine if they want to continue the coverage. Optional Life Insurance continuation options, if applicable, will be included in the COBRA paperwork. You are able to continue coverage for your other remaining dependents, as long as they remain eligible for the coverage.
Please note there are a number of employee notification responsibilities. If you are unfamiliar with your other responsibilities, please go to the Human Resources Department Web page or contact one of the Benefits Team members of HR for a copy of the COBRA Notice. This notice outlines various actions you must take upon the occurrence of certain events.
If you have questions regarding your dependent child, or any UST benefit coverage, please contact your Benefits Team.
