Health Benefits: Dependent Certification
To determine if your dependent is eligible for coverage under the university's health plans, review the Dependent Eligibility Guidelines (pdf).
If your dependent meets the guidelines, use the links below to learn about what benefits they can participate in and how to enroll.Dependent Eligibility Certification Process
Update: January 9, 2012
The university will continue to verify eligibility for covered dependents. The university began the Dependent Eligibility Certification Process in 2010, when all faculty and staff were asked to certify covered dependents were eligible. This was followed by a Verification Phase that required 20 percent of those who certified covered dependents to provide documentation such recent federal tax returns, copies of birth certificates, marriage certificates, affidavits of same-sex domestic partnership or sponsored dependency, and proof of joint ownership.
Each year, the university will continue to ask a 20 percent random sample those who completed the Certification in 2010 to verify their dependents until all covered dependents have been verified. Human Resources is finalizing the dates of group that will participate in 2012; if you are included in this group, you will receive a packet from ACS via mail. In addition to this group, each month, faculty and staff with newly added dependents due to new enrollments will be asked to verify dependent eligibility.
Please continue to check this website for updates.
Update: April 6, 2011
Those faculty and staff required to provide proof of eligibility for the dependents they are covering on the university’s health plan must complete their documentation and return it to ACS HR Solutions, postmarked by April 15.
As a reminder, a random sample of 20 percent of faculty and staff who completed the Certification Phase last year, along with those who have any newly added dependents to the university health plans, will be required to provide verification for dependent(s) they are covering on the health plan(s).
Required documentation includes applicable information from recent federal tax returns, copies of birth certificates, marriage certificates, affidavits of same-sex domestic partnership or sponsored dependency and/or proof of joint ownership.
ACS HR Solutions mailed Verification packets to the home addresses of those required to provide information the week of March 14 and a reminder packet this week. These faculty and staff should follow the instructions in the packet to verify the eligibility of their dependents.
All documentation must be submitted through the mail.
Failure to provide required documentation will result in terminating coverage for the dependent(s) not certified.
If you have questions or would like more information, please contact the ACS Helpline at 1-877-248-1595.
Note: Each year, the university will continue to require a new 20 percent random sample of faculty and staff to verify their dependents until all covered dependents have been verified. Additionally, each month, all newly covered dependents will be required to be verified.
Update: March 14, 2011
Ohio State recognizes that health care coverage is critical for everyone and the university’s objective is to provide affordable, high-quality health care by preserving benefits funds and ensuring access for its faculty, staff and dependents who meet the plans’ specified definition of eligibility.
With an average annual cost of $3,200 for each dependent enrolled, it has been estimated that covering ineligible dependents may be costing the plan $3-5 million each year.
Beginning in March, the university will require a random sample of 20 percent of faculty and staff who completed the Certification Phase last year, along with those who have any newly added dependents to the university health plans, to provide verification for any dependent(s) they are covering on the health plan(s).
The university contracted with ACS HR Solutions to perform the eligibility certification last year and they will continue to perform the eligibility certification on behalf of the university.
Faculty and staff required to provide verification should receive the following at their home addresses:
- Week of March 7: postcard from ACS HR Solutions announcing the Dependent Certification process
- Week of March 14: Verification packet from ACS HR Solutions
Required documentation will include applicable information from recent federal tax returns, copies of birth certificates, marriage certificates, affidavits of same-sex domestic partnership or sponsored dependency and/or proof of joint ownership.
Failure to provide required documentation will result in terminating coverage for the dependent(s) not certified.
If you have questions or would like more information, please contact the ACS Helpline at 1-877-248-1595.
Note: Each year, the university will continue to require a new 20 percent random sample of faculty and staff to verify their dependents until all covered dependents have been verified. Additionally, each month, all newly covered dependents will be required to be verified.
