Benefits-eligible dependents can include:
- Your legal spouse of the opposite or same-sex
- Your common-law spouse of the opposite or same sex (affidavit required)
- Your domestic partner of the opposite or same sex (affidavit required)
- Your child* up to the end of the year in which they turn age 26
- Your child* age 26 or older who is enrolled in an accredited educational institution as a full-time student
- Your disabled child* age 26 or older who is unmarried, claimed as a dependent on your tax return, and receiving benefits from Medicare or the Social Security Administration due to disability.
- Please note that the disability must have existed before the child turned 26 or while the child was a full-time student.
A child is defined as your natural child, stepchild, or domestic partner’s child; legally adopted child or child placed in your home for adoption; your foster child; your child for whom you have legal guardianship; or your natural child for whom a court order is to be covered.
Eligible children may be covered through Dec. 31 of the year they reach age 26 without tax implications. Coverage for children who are full-time students or disabled can continue as long as they continue in that status. however, there are tax implications for those who do not qualify as tax dependents per IRS rules.
When and how long can dependents remain on plan(s)?
Your eligible dependent child may remain on your health and dental plans until the end of the year they turn 26. If the dependent is a full-time student or is disabled, they can remain on the plans until they are no longer in that status.
| Turned 26 | Full-Time Student/Disabled | When to REmove Adult Child | HOw to remove adult child |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nora turned 26 on Aug. 7, 2023 | No | During open enrollment for 2024 benefits. | Work your annual open enrollment event and uncheck the box next to Nora's name under health and dental coverage. If applicable, Nora may remain a beneficiary for Life, Voluntary, and AD&D insurance. |
| Elias will turn 26 on Mar. 30, 2024 | No | Either when Elias gains other coverage or during open enrollment for 2025 benefits. | If Elias gains other coverage during the year (2024), the employee will submit a Benefits Change Request through Employee Self Service within 30 days of Elias gaining new coverage. This will allow the employee to have a mid-year qualifying event and the ability to remove Elias effective the first of the month following the event date (gain of coverage). If Elias does not gain other coverage, he may remain on the plan until 12/31/2024. The employee will work their annual open enrollment event in November 2024 and uncheck the box next to Elias's name under health and dental coverage. If applicable, Elias may remain a beneficiary for Life, VTL, and AD&D insurance. |
| Mei turned 26 on Nov. 30, 2023. | Yes. Mei is in a graduate program full-time at the University of Iowa. The employee covering Mei on their plans will receive a letter from our office twice yearly asking to verify the full-time student status. The employee must send a copy of Mei's class schedule each semester to continue their coverage of the University plans. |
Once Mei is no longer a full-time student (either graduated or dropped out of the program) or gains other coverage. | The employee must submit a Benefits Change Request through Employee Self Service within 30 days of Mei's being no longer in full-time student status. This will allow the employee to have a mid-year qualifying event and the ability to remove Mei effective the first of the month following the event date (no longer eligible). |