Eligibility Definition
Associates:
Full-time associates working 30 – 40 hours a week or 0.75 – 1.00 full-time equivalent (FTE); part-time benefits-eligible associates working 20 – 29 hours a week or 0.50 – 0.749 FTE. Benefits are available after you have satisfied your new hire waiting period.
Spouse:
Your legal spouse.
Dependent Children:
Dependent children may be covered to the last day in the month in which the child turns 26. To be covered beyond the age of 26, a child must be certified as disabled prior to the age of 26 AND must be primarily supported by the associate.
The following children are eligible to be covered under the Nemours benefits plans, regardless of residence or financial dependency:
- An associate’s biological or adopted child
- An associate’s step-child (defined as the child of your legal spouse)
- An associate’s legal ward
- An associate’s foster child (to age 18 only, letter of placement required)
- A child for whom an associate has a Qualified Medical Child Support Order
According to the above requirements, the following dependents would NOT be eligible for coverage under Nemours benefits plans:
- Opposite-sex and same-sex domestic partner
- Common law spouse
- Divorced or legally-separated spouse (where permitted by law)
- Children who live in the associate’s home and are financially dependent but who are not legal wards of the associate (for example, grandchild or child of opposite-sex or same-sex domestic partner)
Dependent Verification
Any dependents added to the Nemours benefits plans—spouses and children — are subject to an eligibility verification process. If you elect dependent coverage, you will be asked to provide documentation (see chart) to verify your dependents’ eligibility. Please note, your dependents will not be enrolled for benefits until you have provided the required documentation and their eligibility has been verified. Dependent verification for new hires and those who experience a status change, must be completed within 30 days of their date of hire or status change date. For QLEs, documentation must be provided within 60 days of the date of the qualifying life event.
Spousal Surcharge
If your spouse is eligible for medical insurance through his/her/their employer but you elect to cover him/her/them on the Nemours medical plan, you will pay an additional $300 per month ($150 semi-monthly) in payroll contributions for this coverage. The surcharge is not applicable if your spouse does not have coverage available through his/her/their employer; your spouse does not work; your spouse works at Nemours; or your spouse is self-employed.
For Example
When Sabrina signed up for her benefits, she opted to cover her spouse, as well. Adding her spouse to Sabrina’s plan increased the total premium cost — not just for Sabrina, but also for Nemours. The premium cost that Sabrina is responsible for is what’s left after Nemours has paid its contribution, plus a spousal surcharge as Sabrina’s spouse is also offered coverage through a different employer. Sabrina must also submit documentation verifying that her spouse is an eligible dependent, in order for her spouse to have coverage on Sabrina’s benefits plan.