An important message from MSUAASF Teamster’s Business Agent Kari Seime:
Beginning this Thursday, August 1, 2013, the state of Minnesota will recognize same-sex marriages. Employees may now submit application to add a same-sex spouse and/or the children the employee’s same sex spouse.
You may find two different situations in which an employee with a same-sex spouse may add the same-sex spouse and new dependent(s):
- Employees legally married to a same-sex spouse on or before August 1, 2013 may enroll their same-sex spouse and the children of that same-sex spouse between August 1 and August 30, 2013. Forms must be received at MMB by August 30, 2013 and coverage will be effective on August 1, 2013.
- Employees who marry a same-sex spouse after August 1, 2013 may request coverage for their new spouse and/or dependent stepchildren within 30-days of their marriage date. Coverage will be effective the date of marriage, provided the form is received at MMB within 30-days of the marriage date.
If the 30-day enrollment period is missed the next opportunity to add a spouse or a dependent will occur during the next Open Enrollment period or upon another qualified life event.
Any employee experiencing a qualified life event may change their coverage by submitting the appropriate form within the 30-day special enrollment period. Use the Basic Application when the request to add a new dependent will change the coverage from single to family. Use the Dependent Change Form if the employee already has family coverage and is adding an additional dependent. Use the Optional Application to add Spouse Life and/or Child life for new dependents.
Employees adding coverage as of August 1st and who are paid through the statewide payroll system will not see the deduction for family coverage on the August 9th check, but will experience a double deduction on the August 23rd check. Please note the delay in deduction will not impede the coverage of a new same-sex spouse and/or new stepchild. Claims incurred prior to the receipt of health plan member cards may be resubmitted to the health plan administrator once the employee receives the card(s) or they appear in the system.
Once an employee submits the forms to add a spouse or dependent to their coverage SEGIP will send them a request to verify dependent eligibility. If the verification information is not submitted or not approved coverage will not be approved and the next opportunity to add a spouse and/or dependent will occur during the next Open Enrollment period (life insurance is available via submission of evidence of insurability).
We are still waiting for guidance on the issue of imputing income from the federal government for the value of medical and dental insurance benefits for same-sex spouses and/or dependent stepchildren. Once direction has been received, we will share it with you.
Forms to add coverage are located here and should be faxed to 651-797-1313.
http://www.mmb.state.mn.us/forms
Questions may be directed to MMB at 651-355-0100. Thank you.
Sincerely,
SEGIP Management
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