DEPENDENT VERIFICATION

The Office of Group Benefits (OGB) has implemented a new Dependent Verification policy that requires all active and retired employees to provide written proof that every dependent covered by your OGB health plan or life insurance is actually your legal dependent.

During April 2008, active employees and retirees can voluntarily remove any ineligible dependents from OGB coverage with no penalty and no questions asked about the authenticity of the dependents.  OGB will not ask the plan member to repay premiums or claims paid for ineligible dependents dropped from coverage by April 30, 2008.

Between April 1, 2008 and November 30, 2008, all employees must provide appropriate written verification for each currently covered dependent to the Office of Human Resources.  Effective December 31, 2008, coverage for all unverified dependents will be terminated.

Original and certified (true) copies of documents should be brought to your Personnel Liaison or to an employee in the OHR/Employee Administration Unit to make copies.  Liaisons must complete and sign a GB-01 form when making copies.  This is to verify that copies were made from originals.  Employees are not allowed to make their own copies. 

Below are categories of Dependents and Documents you must present to cover or continue to cover your dependents:

1.  Spouse

     * Certified copy of marriage license indicating date and place of marriage.

2.  Never-married child under age 21 who is dependent on you for support

     a) Natural or legal adopted child of plan member

         * Certified copy of birth certificate listing plan member as parent or certified

            copy of legal acknowledgment of paternity signed by plan member or

            certified copy of adoption decree naming plan member as adoptive parent.

            Birth cards are not acceptable

    b) Stepchild

         * Certified copy of marriage license to spouse and birth certificate listing

            spouse as natural or adoptive parent.

    c) Child placed with your family for adoption by agency adoption or irrevocable

        act of surrender for private adoption who lives in your household and/or will

        be included as dependent on your federal income tax return for current or next

        tax year.

         * Certified copy of adoption placement order showing date of placement or copy

            of signed and dated irrevocable act of surrender.

   d) Child for whom you have been granted guardianship or legal custody, including

        provisional custody, who lives in your household and/or will be included as

        dependent on your federal income tax for current or next tax year.

         * Certified copy of signed legal judgment granting your legal guardianship

            or custody.

   e) Grandchild for whom you do not have legal custody or guardianship but who is

       dependent on you for support and whose parent is a covered dependent.

        *  Certified birth certificate or adoption decree showing parent of grandchild is

            dependent child and certified copy of birth certificate showing dependent child

            is parent of grandchild.

3.  Never-married child over age 21 but under age 24 years of age, who is enrolled and

     attending classes as a full-time student and is dependent on you for support.

     * Proof as described in 2. a) through d) above.

     * Must also submit letter from registrar as proof of full-time student status within

        30 days of start date of each semester/quarter.

 4. Never-married child age or older who is incapable of self-sustaining employment due

     mental retardation or physical incapacity who was covered prior to age 21.

     * Proof as described in 2 a - d above.

     * Must also apply for continued coverage prior to age 21 and provide supporting medical

        documentation.

     * Must provide additional medical documentation of child’s condition periodically upon

        request by OGB.