Welcome to the University of Iowa’s guide on eligible dependents for benefits coverage. We are committed to providing comprehensive benefits to our faculty and staff, ensuring their families receive the support they need. This page explains who qualifies as an eligible dependent, including spouses, domestic partners, and children. Understanding these definitions will help you make informed decisions about your benefits.

Eligible Dependents

Benefits-eligible dependents include:

• Your legal spouse
• Your common-law spouse (affidavit required)
• Your domestic partner (affidavit required)
• Your child up to the end of the year they turn 26 
• Your child age 26 or older who is a full-time student at an accredited educational institution
• 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. 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; a legally adopted child, a child placed in your home for adoption; a foster child, a child for whom you have legal guardianship; or your natural child for whom a court order is to be covered under your plans.

Coverage Duration

• Spouses, common-law spouses, and domestic partners: Eligible spouses and partners may be covered until the end of the month in which the marriage or relationship ends or terminates by a legal divorce. 
• Children up to age 26: Eligible children may be covered through December 31 of the year they turn 26 without tax implications. 
• Full-time students or disabled children over age 26: Coverage can continue as long as they remain in that status. However, per IRS rules, there are tax implications for those who do not qualify as tax dependents.

Verification Process

• Spouses, common-law spouses, domestic partners, and dependent children: The employee covering the spouse, partner, or child(ren) must complete the dependent eligibility verification by submitting documents to University Benefits through Employee Self-Service within four weeks of enrolling their dependent. Once you have verified, you will not need to do so again.  
• Full-time Students: The employee covering the dependent will notification from University Benefits twice a year to verify the full-time student status. To maintain coverage, the employee must submit the class schedule each semester. 
• Disabled Children: The employee covering the disabled child will receive notification from University Benefits twice a year requiring the verification of the child's disabled status.

Review the Dependent eligibility verification process and required documents

Removing Dependents

• When dependents are no longer eligible: The employee must submit a Benefits Change Request through Employee Self-Service within 30 days of the dependent no longer being eligible (e.g., no longer a full-time student, gaining other coverage, finalized divorce). The change will take effect the first of the month following the event date. 
• Annual Open Enrollment: Employees should review and update their dependent coverage as needed during the annual open enrollment period. Changes will take effect on January 1 after open enrollment.  

Examples

• Dependent Child #1: Turned 26 on August 7, 2024. They are no longer eligible for health and dental coverage and should be removed during the 2025 open enrollment. 
• Dependent Child #2: Will turn 26 on March 30, 2025. If they gain other coverage, the employee must submit a Benefits Change Request within 30 days of the event. If not, the dependent remains on the plan until December 31, 2025, and should be removed during the 2026 open enrollment.
• Dependent Child #3: Turned 26 on November 30, 2024, and is a full-time graduate student at the University of Iowa. The employee will be prompted to submit the child's class schedule each semester to maintain coverage.