Family members become ineligible for UC-sponsored benefits through divorce, the end of a domestic partnership, death, or when children become too old (generally age 26).

Whenever a family member loses eligibility to participate in UC-sponsored plans, it is your responsibility to de-enroll that family member using form UPAY 850 [PDF]; otherwise, you are liable for any excess UC costs and for any plan expenses incurred by the ineligible family member. If you have questions, contact your Benefits Office.

Spouse
Your spouse's eligibility stops on the last day of the month in which a divorce, legal separation, or annulment is final. Be sure to de-enroll your spouse from all plans in which he or she is enrolled (medical, dental, vision, dependent life, AD&D, and legal).

If you are an active employee and you are required by legal decree to maintain health coverage and/or life insurance for your former spouse or any other ineligible family member, you must make private arrangements for such coverage. You may not keep your former spouse or other ineligible family member on your UC plans. However, your former spouse and any other ineligible family members may be able to continue group coverage, at their expense, through the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985 (COBRA), as amended. See COBRA Continuation below.

Domestic Partnership
If your domestic partnership ends, your partner is no longer eligible for University-sponsored benefits and should be de-enrolled. Be sure to de-enroll your domestic partner from all plans in which he or she is enrolled (medical, dental, vision, dependent life, AD&D, and legal).

Child or Grandchild
Eligibility stops at the end of the month in which the child reaches age 26 (unless eligible to continue coverage because of disability) or age 18 for legal wards, or when the child marries or no longer meets all eligibility requirements to participate in UC-sponsored benefit plans.

COBRA Continuation
Divorce, legal separation, annulment, termination of domestic partnership and a child's loss of eligibility are all COBRA qualifying events. In order for these individuals to apply for COBRA Continuation, you or they must submit form UBEN 109, Notice to UC of a COBRA Qualifying Event [PDF], within 60 days of the date of the qualifying event or the date coverage is lost, whichever is later.

More information about COBRA continuation privileges is available here. The University makes no contribution to this coverage.

Quick Links

• A Complete Guide to Your UC Health Benefits [PDF]
• Family Changes Benefits Checklist [PDF]
• COBRA