Q. Who is eligible to be my dependent?
You can cover a spouse, child, or other family member as a dependent on your plan as long as the family member qualifies according to Internal Revenue Service rules. For additional information, look up the definition for "dependents" in your Benefit Plan Document.
In general, an eligible dependent is the covered employee's:
- Legally recognized spouse
- Unmarried, blood-related child, stepchild, legally adopted child, or child for which the employee has legal guardianship whose age is less than the limiting age
- Child whose age is less than the limiting age and who is entitled to coverage under the provisions of the plan because of a medical child support order
- Grandchild, as long as the employee's covered dependent, who is the parent of the grandchild, qualifies as a dependent of the employee
Special rules apply for dependents who are mentally and physically disabled or otherwise incapable of taking care of themselves. See your Plan Benefit Document for details.
