How to Add or Drop Dependents
Who is eligible?
You are eligible to enroll in Sharp Health Plan if you meet the eligibility criteria established by your employer. Your dependents are eligible to enroll in Sharp Health Plan if they meet the definitions provided here and if your employer offers coverage for dependents.
Child
| • | The naturally born, legally adopted, or step-children of the eligible employee. |
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Children for whom the eligible employee has been appointed a legal guardian. |
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Children for whom the eligible employee is required to provide health coverage pursuant to a qualified medical support order. |
If your employer covers dependents, your child dependents can remain enrolled in Sharp Health Plan up to age 26, regardless of marital or student status. This age change goes into effect with all employer policy renewals beginning on or after October 1, 2010. You can check with your human resources department or call Sharp Health Plan Customer Care to find out the effective date of this change for your employer. A child who is totally disabled may remain enrolled as a dependent until no longer totally disabled.
Spouse
An eligible employee’s legally married husband or wife.
Domestic Partner
The eligible employee and domestic partner must meet all of the following requirements:
1) Both persons have a common residence.
2) Both persons agree to be jointly responsible for each other’s basic living expenses incurred during the domestic partnership.
3) Neither person is married or a member of another domestic partnership.
4) The two persons are not related by blood in a way that would prevent them from being married to each other in this state.
5) Both persons are at least 18 years of age.
6) Both persons are capable of consenting to the domestic partnership.
7) Either of the following:
a) Both persons are members of the same sex.
b) One or both of the persons meet the eligibility criteria under Title II of the Social Security Act as defined in 42 U.S.C. Section 402(a) for old-age insurance benefits or Title XVI of the Social Security Act as defined in 42 U.S.C. Section 1381 for aged individuals. Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, persons of opposite sexes may not constitute a domestic partnership unless one or both persons are over the age of 62.
8) Neither person has previously filed a Declaration of Domestic Partnership with the Secretary of State pursuant to this division that has not been terminated under Section 299.
9) Both file a Declaration of Domestic Partnership with the Secretary of State pursuant to this division.
Domestic partner also includes individuals who meet criteria 1-6 above and sign an affidavit attesting to that fact, if the employer has elected this option.
Adding a dependent to your plan
You can add a spouse, domestic partner or child to your plan under certain circumstances.
| • | You can add your eligible dependents to your plan during your group’s open enrollment period. Contact your employer to find out when your next open enrollment period will be held. |
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If you decline enrollment for yourself or your eligible dependents because of other group medical coverage, you may be able to enroll yourself and your eligible dependents in Sharp Health Plan if you involuntarily lose eligibility for that other coverage. |
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You can add yourself and a new eligible dependent as a result of marriage, birth, adoption or placement for adoption |
You must request enrollment within 31 days of a qualifying event. Please contact your employer as soon as possible to request to add your dependent. Your employer is responsible for notifying Sharp Health Plan to add your eligible dependent(s) to your plan.
Dropping a dependent from your plan
You can discontinue coverage for a spouse, domestic partner or child during open enrollment and during other times of the year, if permitted by your employer. Contact your Human Resources department to find out when you can drop a dependent from your plan. Your employer is responsible for notifying Sharp Health Plan to drop your eligible dependent(s) from your plan.
