Benefits Overview

You can enroll your dependents in plans that offer dependent coverage. Eligible dependents include your legal spouse and eligible children who reside in your household and depend primarily on you for support. This includes:

• Your biological children
• Legally adopted children
• Stepchildren
• A child for whom you are the legal guardian
• A child for whom the court has issued a Qualified Medical Child Support Order (QMCSO) requiring you or your spouse to provide coverage

Choose your benefits carefully. Medical, Dental, Vision, and Flexible Spending Account (FSA) contributions are made on a pre-tax basis. Under IRS rules, you can change these pre-tax elections during the year only if you experience a Qualified Life Event.

Qualified Life Events

• Marriage or divorce
• Death of your spouse or dependent
• Birth or adoption of a child
• Your spouse terminating or obtaining new employment (affecting eligibility for coverage)
• You or your spouse switching employment status from full-time to part-time or vice versa (affecting eligibility for coverage)
• Significant cost or coverage changes
• Your dependent no longer qualifies as an eligible dependent

Action required: Notify and submit any required forms/documentation to the Office of Human Resources within 30 days of the event. The office will review your request and determine whether the change is allowed. Only benefit changes consistent with the Qualified Life Event are permitted.

Some medical, dental, and vision plans allow you to use any provider. Using an in-network provider can lower your costs:

• Your out-of-pocket share is based on negotiated fees, which are usually lower than standard charges.
• Out-of-network providers may bill above Usual, Customary, and Reasonable (UCR) charges—you may be responsible for the difference.
• Out-of-network care may require you to submit claim forms.