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Employee Matters

November 18, 2003

The Employee Compensation and Benefits Services staff prepares this column.

Dependent status changes
Employees with dependents should review their benefits package as their dependents reach certain ages or have a change in status to ensure they are eligible. Employees should monitor these plans: state group health insurance, state group life insurance spouse and dependent coverage, individual and family life dependent coverage, major medical insurance and dental insurance.

Eligibility is determined by age, full-time student status, financial dependency and, sometimes, marital status. Each plan defines an eligible dependent.

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?
  • Attained age 25 this calendar year?

Review your benefits if this occurs.

Where is eligibility information?
Each insurance plan has a description on the EC&BS Web site, http://www.bussvc.wisc.edu/ecbs/. Go to Employee Information, select Insurance, select the plan you want to review and select Plan Description.

Does each plan monitor eligibility?
No. Your state group health plan and major medical plan provider monitor this. The provider will send a dependent questionnaire in December or January to verify eligibility. The plan will terminate coverage if you do not return the questionnaire.

Is your child 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. Contact the institution directly if you are uncertain of your child’s status. Students who enroll, and later drop out and receive tuition refunds are retroactively dropped from coverage.

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

  • Affect the premium that you pay.
  • Affect the premium the university pays on your behalf.
  • Ensure your child can continue coverage when group coverage eligibility is lost.
  • Ensure your dependent can become an eligible dependent again if circumstances change.

Before you make any changes, examine your coverage and decide if you should continue the current levels. Second, decide if your child needs to apply for continuation coverage.

How soon should status changes be reported?
Most changes must be made within 30 days. Filing a new application or information change form is necessary. Go to http://www.bussvc.wisc.edu/ecbs/. Go to Employee Information, select Insurance. Click on a plan to find the forms under the topic. Some forms may have to be ordered or obtained from your benefits coordinator.

What if I want more information?
Visit the EC&BS Web site: http://www.bussvc.wisc.edu/ecbs/sgh-student-status-inst-uw1022.html or e-mail: employee@bussvc.wisc.edu.

Correction
The formula given in answer to the question “How does the offset work?” was incorrect in the Nov. 5’s column on income continuation insurance and other benefits. It should read: “The ICI payment would be reduced to $166.80 ($1,500 less $1333.20 = $166.80).”