Enrollment & Eligibility

You may also enroll eligible dependents in certain benefits.

*Please consult your worksite employer for your specific eligibility.

Eligible Dependents

• Your spouse;
• Your same-sex or opposite-sex domestic partner;
• Your dependent children up to age 26* (regardless of marital status), including a natural child, stepchild, domestic partner’s children, a legally adopted child, a child placed for adoption or a child for whom you or your spouse are the legal guardian;
• Your unmarried children age 26* or older who are mentally or physically disabled and who rely on you for support and care; and/or
• Children of a same-sex or opposite-sex domestic partner relationship, up to age 26* (regardless of marital status).
  • Note: Your domestic partner must also be enrolled in order to cover their child.

*In New York and Florida, you can cover children up to age 30 under your benefits. In Florida, covered children must be unmarried, have no dependents and live with their parents or have student status. In New York, covered children must be unmarried and residents of New York.

Domestic Partner Coverage

You may cover your same-sex or opposite-sex domestic partner for certain benefits. IRS regulations mandate that the value of the health care benefits are considered taxable income. Contributions for the domestic partner and domestic partner’s children need to be made on an after-tax basis.

Making Changes to Your Benefits

The benefit choices you make upon initial enrollment or during the annual Open Enrollment period will remain in place until the next annual Open Enrollment unless you experience a qualified life event (QLE). QLEs can include:

• Marriage
• Divorce or legal separation
• Birth or adoption
• Child reaching benefits age limit
• Change in spousal employment status
• Death
• Gaining U.S. legal status
• Changes in residence:
  • Moving to a different ZIP code or county
  • A student moving to or from the place they attend school
  • A seasonal worker moving to or from the place they both live and work
  • Moving to or from a shelter or other transitional housing

To review additional QLEs, please click here.

Should you or your dependents experience a qualifying life event, it is your responsibility to contact your AspenHR Representative within 30 days of the qualifying event to ensure continued coverage for those who are eligible.

States Dependent Eligibility

New York Dependents

To be eligible, the parent(s) of the dependent must be actively covered under a New York-issued group health contract. If the dependent is not covered under a New York contract, the dependent is not eligible to extend dependent coverage.

Dependent(s) must:

• Be less than age 30;
• Be unmarried;
• Have no dependents of their own;
• Not be provided coverage as a named subscriber, insured, enrollee or covered person under any other health plan, student, or franchise health plan, or individual health benefits plan or is not entitled to benefits under Medicare. Note: Mandate does not apply to standalone dental (not bundled with Medical), standalone vision products.

States with Extended Eligibility

Certain states allow dependent coverage to extend past the age limit.

• Nebraska, Pennsylvania, South Dakota and Wisconsin allow coverage to age 30, but there is no ET leg requiring coverage for plans sitused outside the state.
• New Jersey allows coverage to age 31, but there is no ET leg requiring coverage for plans sitused outside the state.
• New Jersey and Pennsylvania offer overage coverage; however, Aspen dependents are not eligible–both require the dependent be covered under their contract situs.

Florida

Florida coverage is available for dependent children until the end of the calendar year following their 30th birthday. Law applies to everyone with a traditional-based Florida contract (whether or not they are Florida residents), as well to all residents of Florida (regardless of contract state).

Dependent(s) must:

• Be less than 30 years of age;
• Be unmarried;
• Have no dependents of their own;
• Be a resident of FL, or if not a resident of FL, be enrolled as a full- or part-time student;
• Not be provided coverage as a named subscriber, insured, enrollee or covered person under any other health plan, student, or franchise health plan, or individual health benefits plan or is not entitled to benefits under Medicare. Note: Mandate does not apply to standalone dental (not bundled with Medical), standalone vision products.

Illinois

Illinois dependent eligibility is age 26, except for military dependents.

New York

For dependents under a NY situs plan, a letter is sent to the employee advising of the upcoming termination. This letter is sent at 60 days (and again at 30 days) before the member termination date. The dependent is put on a separate plan and is billed directly at a single rate.

For all other situs states, a letter is sent 30 days prior to the dependent reaching the allowable maximum age.