Endowed Health and/or Dental Plan Reminder for Dependents Graduating from College
Do you have a dependent child who is graduating from college? Do you have
a dependent child who is over age 19, under age 25 and no longer a full
time student? Does your dependent have coverage under your Cornell endowed
health care and/or dental plan and do you want to continue health care
and/or dental coverage for him or her? If these questions fit your situation,
you should contact Benefit Services for advice.
Cornell endowed health care and dental plans are required under federal
regulations to offer health care and dental coverage to your dependent,
who reaches age 19 and is no longer a full-time student. This special
coverage is often called "COBRA" coverage named after the law
that originally mandated the requirement for employer-sponsored health
and dental plans. COBRA coverage is used by most people to protect their
dependents from the burden of unexpected health and/or dental care costs
as they seek employment or during a break in studies. The cost of COBRA
includes both the employee and employer shares plus a 2% administration
fee. In order for your dependent to receive COBRA materials from Aetna,
the COBRA Administrator for the Endowed Health Plans (includes HealthNow)
and the First Ameritas Dental Plans, you must complete an enrollment form(s)
removing the dependent including supporting documentation within 60 days
from the date they are no longer eligible. By removing your dependent,
Aetna will be notified to send COBRA materials to the dependent at the
address listed in our PeopleSoft system.
Graduating Dependent for the Aetna Plans
If your dependent is graduating, he/she is able to continue coverage under
your Aetna plan for three (3) months following the end of the month he/she
ceased to be an eligible dependent. In order to receive this extension,
however, you must complete an Aetna enrollment form to remove your dependent
and include documentation (copy of diploma, letter from the college/university)
within 60 days from the date of graduation. This will insure your dependent
receives the three-month extension of coverage by Aetna.
Graduating Dependents for the HealthNow Plan
If your dependent is graduating, he/she is able to continue coverage under
the HealthNow plan. HealthNow sends a Student Certification to be completed
annually in April. HealthNow provides the three-month extension to graduating
dependents based on information provided on the Student Certification.
Endowed Health Care and/or Dental Plan Participants With a Dependent
Turning Age 19 and/or Not a Full-Time Student
In order to protect your COBRA right to this coverage for your dependent,
you must complete an enrollment form(s) to remove your dependent from
your Aetna or HealthNow Plan and the First Ameritas Dental Plan and include
documentation (i.e. verification no longer full time student) within 60
days from the loss of eligibility. By removing your dependent, Aetna will
be notified to send COBRA materials to the dependent at the address listed
in our PeopleSoft system.
Be sure to call Benefit Services at (607) 255-3936 and a Benefit Resource
Specialist can help answer your questions and guide you through the application
process.
Please contact Benefits Services at (607) 255-3936 or benefits@cornell.edu if you have questions.