Eligible Dependents

Eligibility

[ Back] [ Up] [Next]

	Eligible Dependents
	Divorce

ELIGIBLE DEPENDENTS
The following family members are eligible for coverage if they are dependent on the member for support and maintenance:
1.	Legal spouse (The Fund does not provide eligibility for "common-law" spouses or domestic partnerships).
2.	Unmarried natural children under 19 years of age who reside in the member's household, or if a qualified medical child support order* requires the member to furnish medical coverage.
3.	Unmarried step-children under 19 years of age who reside in the member's household.
4.	Biological children and step-children from 19 up to 26 if they are full-time students in an accredited institution of learning and reside in the member's household or at school (verification from the school is REQUIRED), or if a Qualified Medical Child Support Order* requires the member to furnish medical coverage Full time is defined as 12 or more units and children will also be covered up to their 26th birthday if they are on missionary assignment. In order for the coverage to be extended under this provision, necessary proof of missionary assignment must be submitted to the Fund Office prior to leaving on the assignment. Contact the Fund Office for more details on this extension. Coverage will be extended for a dependent who is a full-time student and takes the designated semester break (as scheduled by the school the student attends), subject to verification of enrollment as a full-time student at the beginning of the next semester following the break.
5.	Legally adopted children - children in the process of being legally adopted must live with the eligible participant or they cannot be covered.
6.	Foster children - you must provide a copy of the court order which establishes you as a foster parent. Usually foster parents are paid a subsistence for the child and the government agency will furnish medical coverage.
7.	Legal Guardianship - you must provide the court order which, pursuant to State Law, establishes Legal Guardianship.
8.	Physically or mentally handicapped dependent children may be covered under certain circumstances. Contact the Fund Office for additional information.
DIVORCE
If you and your spouse obtain a divorce, or dissolution of your marriage, it is extremely important that you notify the Fund Office immediately. COBRA: A divorced spouse may obtain COBRA Continuation Coverage of his or her medical and dental benefits for up to 36 months by paying the required fee. However, the Fund must be notified of the divorce with 60 days of the divorce date. Dependent Children: If there are dependent children who will no longer live in the operating engineer's household, the Fund must receive a Qualified Medical Child Support Order* from the court requiring the participant to provide health coverage. If this document is not provided, the dependent children cannot be covered by the Fund. You can obtain a sample Qualified Medical Child Support Order* on the "Forms" page of this website. Benefit payments for ineligible spouse: If the Fund is not notified of a divorce and pays claims on the divorced spouse or other ineligible dependent after the date of the divorce, you will be responsible to repay the Fund for this expense. Beneficiary forms: In the event of a divorce, you may wish to change your beneficiary for Health & Welfare, Pension and/or Vacation-Holiday benefits. The form is available on the "Forms" page of this website.
In order to pay benefits in accordance with a medical child support order, the Plan must determine that the order is a Qualified Medical Child Support Order (QMCSO)*. A medical child support order is a court order that provides for medical child support or health benefit coverage with respect to your dependent child. You may obtain a copy of the Plan’s procedures for determining whether or not an order is qualified by contacting the Administrative Office. There is no charge to obtain the procedures.