Eligibility

Dependents are eligible for coverage as follows:

• Your lawful spouse, or domestic partner (dental and health only, also must meet criteria and complete affidavit),
• your child, newborn child, stepchild, legally adopted child, or a child for whom you have been court-appointed as legal guardian or legal custodian, who is under 19 years of age. Eligibility will automatically terminate at the end of the calendar year the dependent has his/her 19th birthday, or will extend:
• until the end of the calendar year in which the child reaches age 25, if the child is dependent on you for support and is a full-time or part-time student, or has established residence with you,
• a child until the end of the calendar year they turn 26 years old
• a grandchild is covered, from birth until the age of 18 months, only if the parent is your qualified dependent and the grandchild and the child are residing with you and are dependent on you for support,
• your children, who due to a disability, are incapable of self-support.

New employees may enroll in any benefit plan for which they are eligible provided they make the election within their eligibility period. All employees may make changes during open enrollment. The IRS rules regulating pre-tax premium plans do not allow for changes to be made to benefits elections with out a qualified life style event. Changes must be made within 30 days of the event. The following events are some but not necessarily all qualified life style changes.

• Birth, placement for adoption
• Marriage
• Death
• Divorce
• Dependent starting a new job
• Dependent terminating a job
• Reduction of work hours
• Moving outside HMO service area
• Dependent's open enrollment period with significant financial impact
• Dependent losing eligibility

If you experience a qualified event you must contact Risk Management and complete the necessary paperwork and provide the supporting documentation. The paperwork must be completed within 30 days of the event. If more than 30 days have passed you will have to wait until the next open enrollment period to make the change to your coverage.

Alachua County Employees can access the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) through UF Health, formerly Shands at Vista. The employee assistance program is a confidential counseling and referral service available to Alachua County employees and can be used to deal with any problem an employee may be facing, such as drug/alcohol abuse, grief, divorce, financial problems, work issues, marital conflicts, children, etc. The plan allows for four free visits per plan year (October 1 - September 30).