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 Home < Famiy Member Eligibility Verification < FAQ
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General Questions About The FMEV Project
Family Member Eligibility
General Questions About The FMEV Project
1. Why is the University of California verifying family member eligibility for UC benefits? Rising medical, dental, and vision health care costs are a problem for employers and members nationwide. The University of California's health & welfare benefits program for employees and retirees is no exception. The University has a fiduciary responsibility to the people of California, as well to its employees and retirees, to ensure the best possible management of its health care benefits. To responsibly manage UC resources, it is essential that health plan members enroll only those family members who are eligible for UC-sponsored health insurance. The Family Member Eligibility Verification process is an opportunity for the university to update family member information and then monitor it for the future.
2. Why did the University of California decide to use an outside vendor for the Family Member Eligibility Verification process? UC chose Secova Inc. because of their demonstrated experience in family member verification projects for large organizations, their commitment to customer service and their state-of-the-art security processes to protect the confidential data of our employees and retirees.
3. Where should I send my Cover Sheet for Family Member Eligibility Verification and required documents? Submit them directly to Secova by fax, online, or mail as follows: Please DO NOT send your verification documents to the University of California.
4. Will my personal information be safe with Secova? What will Secova do with my documents? Yes, your personal information will be safe with Secova. Do not send original documents to Secova, send only photocopies. All documents sent via secure fax are automatically uploaded electronically so that no paper copy is created. Documents uploaded online are moved to a secure folder. When Secova receives your paper documents, they are scanned to an electronic image. All documents sent electronically or converted to an electronic image are stored in a secure Document Management System with password-protected access. Paper documents are stored in an access controlled secure storage room. After the verification process is complete, Secova will destroy all paper copies. Secova ensures the confidentiality and privacy of all documents submitted during this process.
5. Who can answer my questions about the definition of an eligible family member? First, review the Definitions and Required Documents sheet. If you still have questions, please call (from the US) 1-877-632-8126 (toll-free) or (from outside the US) 323-781-3921. Representatives are available Monday through Friday from 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM PT to assist you. Translation services are available in 150 languages. Your conversation is always confidential. Please do not contact the University of California.
6. How does Secova know about my University of California benefits eligibility requirements? The Secova team received many hours of training from UC staff on UC benefits eligibility standards. Further, a team from UC traveled to New Jersey to provide hands on training with regards to the UC culture.
7. Will I receive confirmation once my Family Member Verification is complete? Yes. Secova will send a confirmation if you complete the verification process for all eligible family members by the required deadline. If your Cover Sheet for Family Member Eligibility Verification and/or required documents are incomplete, Secova will send you a notice that lists all additional information needed to complete the process. You may also check the status of the verification process at https://verify.secova.com/uc.
8. What happens if I do not return my Cover Sheet for Family Member Eligibility Verification and required documentation or I have not provided proper documentation to complete the verification process by the deadline? If you do not return the Cover Sheet for Family Member Eligibility Verification and required documents by the deadline, you and your family members risk de-enrollment from UC-sponsored coverage. If you submit the Cover Sheet but do not provide proper documentation, your family members risk de-enrollment.
9. What do I need to do if one or more of my enrolled family members no longer meet the eligibility requirements and what will happen to their coverage? You must check the "No" box on the Cover Sheet for Family Member Eligibility Verification and return it to Secova. Secova will notify the University of California and your family member(s) will be de-enrolled from UC-sponsored coverage.
10. What will happen if an employee or retiree is found to have enrolled an ineligible family member? Ineligible family members will be de-enrolled from UC coverage.
Family Member Eligibility
11. Which family members are not eligible? Any family member not specifically listed on the Definitions and Required Documents is not eligible.
12. My spouse/domestic partner/child works for the University of California and is benefits eligible. Can I still cover him/her under my UC-sponsored health plan? Yes. However, UC rules do not allow duplicate coverage. If you are covered as your spouse's/domestic partner's eligible family member and then become eligible for UC-sponsored coverage yourself, you have two options. You can either opt out of the automatic employee coverage and remain covered as your spouse's/domestic partner's family member or make sure your spouse or domestic partner de-enrolls you from his or her UC-sponsored health plan before you enroll yourself.
13. My child goes to school in another state and lives there for nine months of the year. Is he/she eligible for coverage under UC-sponsored health plans, and if so what documentation do I need to provide to prove eligibility? Yes. Your child is not required to reside with you in order to be covered under UC-sponsored health plans. Please refer to the Definitions and Required Documents to ensure your child meets the eligibility requirements under one of the family member types and refer to the list of acceptable documentation you can submit to verify eligibility.
14. The court decree (or settlement) regarding my divorce/legal separation/termination of domestic partnership requires me to provide benefits for my spouse/former spouse/domestic partner. Can I cover him/her under my UC-sponsored health plan? No. A former spouse/domestic partner (or spouse/domestic partner from whom you are legally separated) is not an eligible family member under our plan. Eligibility stops on the last day of the month in which a divorce, legal separation, annulment, or termination of partnership is final. Be sure to de-enroll your former spouse/domestic partner from all plans in which he/she is enrolled. Your former spouse/domestic partner may be eligible for COBRA coverage if you make the request within 30 days of the date of divorce/legal separation/termination of partnership. For information about COBRA continuation privileges, see the At Your Service website or contact your Benefits Office.
15. My domestic partner and I currently are not registered as domestic partners with the State of California Domestic Partners Registry. Is he/she eligible for coverage under UC-sponsored health plans, and if so what documentation do I need to provide to prove eligibility? Yes. You can cover your unregistered domestic partner under UC-sponsored health plans. Please refer to the Definitions and Required Documents for a list of acceptable documentation you can submit to verify eligibility of your domestic partner. If you still have questions, please call Secova at 1-877-632-8126 (toll-free) or (from outside the US) 323-781-3921. Representatives are available Monday through Friday from 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM PT to assist you. Your conversation is always confidential. Please do not contact the University of California.
16. Can I cover my domestic partner's child or grandchild under my UC-sponsored health plans? Yes. You may enroll your domestic partner's child or grandchild even if you do not enroll your partner; however, your partner must be eligible for UC-sponsored coverage, and you must provide the appropriate documents to prove your domestic partner is eligible for coverage under UC-sponsored health plans, as well as documentation to prove your domestic partner's child is eligible.
17. Why does eligibility for a child for whom the plan member is legal guardian end at age 18 when it continues to age 26 for other children? California law stipulates that legal guardianship ends when a child reaches age 18. Group insurance for a child under legal guardianship stops at the end of the month in which the child turns 18.
18. Can I cover my parents under my UC-sponsored health plan? In most cases the answer to this question is "No". The one exception is if you are covering an adult dependent relative that was enrolled by December 31, 2003.
19. If I remove one or more family members from my coverage, will my benefits coverage category automatically change (for example, from family coverage to single coverage)? If appropriate, your coverage category will be changed and your monthly premium will be reduced, if needed, at the time your family member(s) is de-enrolled from UC-sponsored health plans.
Documentation To Prove Eligibility
20. Why is the University asking for documentation that includes personal financial information? The University does not want and does not need any personal financial information to verify eligibility for benefits. Please black out all such information, including social security numbers, before sending it in.
21. How to submit a copy of a Federal Tax Return: If you mailed your tax return: Please use a black marker to hide financial and Social Security Numbers on the tax return before submitting it to Secova. (See sample Tax Return below). Please note that it is a felony to falsify the information in IRS tax forms. You may black out information for the purposes of this review. Sample Tax Form With Financial And Personal Information Blacked Out 
If you filed your tax return online: submit the front sheet (blocking out financial information) along with the confirmation e-mail receipt.
22. What do I do if I am out of the country? If you are out of the country you can contact Secova at 323-781-3921 to request an electronic copy of your Verification Packet. They will send this to the e-mail address you provide to them.
23. What if I am on sabbatical or vacation and do not have access to the required documentation? Call Secova at 1-877-632-8126 (toll-free) or 323-781-3921(from outside the US) to let them know about your issue. They will help to develop a solution for you.
24. Can an electronically submitted tax return (such as Turbo Tax) be submitted as verification documentation? Yes, in addition to the first page of your electronically filed tax return, we will also need a copy of the signature (transmission) page, or confirmation page which provides proof of e-filing.
25. How do I submit required documentation?
General Questions About Secova, Inc.
26. What was the process for selecting Secova? UC Human Resources worked with UC Procurement and followed standard procedures for contracting with an outside vendor. In contracting with Secova, UC Human Resources followed the standard university process for selecting professional services, including review of proposals from a number of vendors. A Request for Proposal was developed; multiple vendors responded, proposals were reviewed, and finalists were interviewed before Secova was finally selected.
27. Is it true that Secova is an Indian company? No. Secova with which the University of California has contracted, is an American company registered in Delaware with headquarters in California. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of Secova eServices, also a U.S. company registered in Delaware. The parent company of Secova eServices is Secova eServices Private Ltd., a company registered in India.
28. Why doesn't the material being mailed by Secova have the traditional University Seal? It does not look like it is from the University of California. The University has recently changed its branding and the seal is no longer used for this type of mailing.
29. Where will UC employee and retiree responses, verification data, and documentation be held?
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