Domestic Partner
Rules vary by Plan; check with your employer to see if domestic partners are covered by your plan.
For those plans that do cover domestic partners, rules vary by Plan regarding who qualifies as a domestic partner. A Plan may cover domestic partners of the same-sex, opposite-sex, or both. Check with your employer to find out the rules that apply under your Emeriti Plan. Domestic partners may be either dependent or non-dependent (see below for definitions).
- Dependent Domestic Partner: Your Dependent Domestic Partner is any individual to whom you are not related and who for the calendar year: (1) receives over 50% of his or her financial support from you; (2) uses your home as his or her principal place of abode; and (3) is a member of your household; provided you have lived together for at least 6 months prior to enrollment and you have designated the individual as your Domestic Partner by calling 1-866-EMERITI. An individual who meets these requirements is eligible to benefit under the Plan in most respects in the same manner as a Spouse in terms of access to the Emeriti Health Insurance Plan Options and reimbursement of Qualified Medical Expenses from your Accounts.
- Non-Dependent Domestic Partner: Your Non-Dependent Domestic Partner is any individual to whom you are not related and who for the calendar year: (1) uses your home as his or her principal place of abode; and (2) is a member of your household; provided you have lived together for at least 6 months prior to enrollment and you have designated the individual as your Domestic Partner by calling 1-866-EMERITI. (Note that these are the same requirements as a Dependent Domestic Partner, except that there is no 50% support requirement.) The requirements of (1) and (2) above will continue to be satisfied if the individual resides in an assisted living facility immediately following a period in which he or she satisfied the requirements of (1) and (2) above. Non-Dependent Domestic Partners are not eligible for reimbursement of Qualified Medical Expenses from your Accounts. A Non-Dependent Domestic Partner may be eligible for the Emeriti Health Insurance Plan Options, but Federal law requires that his or her premiums be paid out-of-pocket by electronic ACH Transfer, not from your Accounts.
Please note: You must call an Emeriti specialist at 1-866-EMERITI to verify the status of your Domestic Partner over a recorded line (and, if requested, submit an affidavit or other verification). It is your responsibility to call this number to provide notice of any change in an individual's status as a Dependent Domestic Partner or Non-Dependent Domestic Partner.
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Eligible Dependent
An eligible dependent may be a Spouse, Domestic Partner, Dependent Child, or Dependent Relative, depending on your employer's Emeriti Plan rules. Complete definitions of each type of eligible dependent may be found here in this glossary. Check with your employer to find out what dependents are covered under your Plan.
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Spouse
Federal tax laws governing the Plan require that your Spouse be a person of the opposite sex to whom you are legally married (or were legally married upon your death). A common law spouse is not considered a Spouse under the Plan.
If you are divorced or legally separated, your former Spouse loses his or her rights to coverage under the Plan (subject to continuation coverage rights for coverage in the Emeriti Health Insurance Plan Options under COBRA). If you are divorced and later remarry, your new Spouse may be eligible for coverage under the Plan (i.e., the Emeriti Health Insurance Plan Options and reimbursement of Qualified Medical Expenses).
If you die, your Spouse at the time of your death will be considered your Spouse under the Plan until he or she dies (regardless of subsequent marital status).
Please note: You must call 1-866-EMERITI to designate your Spouse (you may be required to submit verification).
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