Employees

Your spouse and dependent children (to age 26) are qualified dependents. Some plans allow you to add your domestic partner (same-sex or opposite -sex).

Yes, through the Affordable Care Act, plans and issuers must make the coverage available until the adult child (married or unmarried) reaches the age of 26 regardless of full-time student status.

Once your dependent is no longer eligible for coverage on your plan, they would be eligible to continue coverage through COBRA. The COBRA coverage could last for a maximum of 18 months based on the qualifying event. You also have the option of purchasing an individual plan for your dependent directly from a carrier or through the Health Insurance Marketplace. We can help you review your options.

Yes, you can change your enrollments during the group’s annual Open Enrollment. The Open Enrollment is typically during the month before the plan effective date. During this time, you can add or delete a dependent or change plan if you employer offers multiple plans.

Most HMO plans require members to choose a Primary Care Physician. Most carriers allow you to change your Primary Care Physician on a month to month basis. With a PPO plan you do not have to choose a Primary Care Physician and can visit any physician. However, you will receive the richest benefit if you visit a physician who is in the PPO network.

If you have been added to your group policy but do not have an ID card yet, you may provide some identifying pieces of information to your doctor’s office and they can contact the carrier to verify benefit coverage. A doctor’s office will typically ask for the employee’s date of birth, social security number and group number. You can ask your benefits administrator for the member services phone number where you can call and get your ID number over the phone. Most carriers offer website access where you can register and print a temporary ID card meanwhile you receive your ID card.

Most plans will cover the cost of treatment if the patient is receiving treatment for a life-threatening emergency condition. Before seeking treatment for a non-life threatening emergency, we recommend that the patient first call the insurance provider (member services phone number can be found on the ID card) to inquire about the plan’s provisions for treatment of that emergency outside of the members home region.

Yes. Most carriers allow you to carry over your deductible if you switch carriers in the middle of the year. Each carrier has certain deadlines as to when you can do this. You will need to submit a copy of your current carrier’s Explanation of Benefits with the deductible amount that you have already met along with any forms that your new carrier requires.