Employee Matters

Staff of the Employee Compensation and Benefits Services office prepare this column.

Dependent Status Changes
Has your child recently:

• Turned age 19 and is no longer enrolled as a full-time student?
• Enrolled or re-enrolled as a full-time college student?
• Graduated from college?
• Dropped out of college?
• Married?

Note: If one of these events occurs, reviewing your benefits is a must.

Is your child still eligible for benefits?
Eligibility is determined by age, full-time student status, financial dependency and, sometimes, marital status. Each plan has a definition of what constitutes an eligible dependent.

Where can you find eligibility information?
Refer to the Plan Description for the insurance plan that you are interested in reviewing. The Plan Descriptions can be found on the EC&BS Web site. Go to Employee Information, select Insurance, select the plan you want to review and select Plan Description.

Does each plan monitor your child’s eligibility?
No. Only your State Group Health plan monitors this. Your health plan provider will send you an annual dependent questionnaire in December or January to verify continued eligibility. Important: The health plan will terminate your dependent(s) coverage if you do not complete and return the questionnaire as instructed.

Please note: You must monitor your coverage in all other insurance plans. You are responsible for reporting any changes to your payroll and benefits coordinator.

Is your child considered a full-time student?
A full-time student is usually defined as one who is enrolled in an institution that provides a schedule of classes and whose principal activity is education for a specified number of credits. A person is usually considered enrolled on the first day of classes. Enrollment is considered continuing during any intervening vacation period, such as semester break or summer. Contact the institution directly if you are uncertain of your child’s enrollment status.

Why is reporting changes so important?
Because status changes can:

• Affect the premium amount that you pay
• Affect the premium amount the university pays
• Ensure an opportunity for your child to continue coverage when group coverage eligibility is lost

Before you make any changes:
First, review your current coverage levels and decide if you should continue them. Second, decide if you child needs to apply for continuation coverage.

• Example 1: You are single with family coverage. Your last dependent child loses eligibility and there are no other eligible dependents remaining. What should you do?

  Answer: Change your coverage from family to single.

• Example 2: You are single with family coverage. A child loses eligibility, but you still have other eligible dependents to cover. What should you do?

  Answer: Continue family coverage.

How soon should status changes be reported?
Most changes must be made within 30 days of the status change. Status changes are made by filing a new application form. Necessary form(s) can be downloaded from the EC&BS Web site: http://www.bussvc.wisc.edu, ordered from the EC&BS, Employee@bussvc.wisc.edu, 263-7556 or 262-5650, or obtained from your benefits coordinator.