Employer Bulletin

State Agencies and Local Health Employers
Vol. 19, No. 23
December 12, 2002

Annual Student/Disabled Dependent Status Letters

The Department of Employee Trust Funds (ETF) annually requires participating health insurance plans to send out the full-time student/disabled dependent status letter, which is attached for your reference. This mailing is scheduled to take place between December 16, 2002 and January 15, 2003. Plans are permitted to terminate dependents if no reply is received by February 15, 2003. The termination date for former dependents is the last date of eligibility, which in most cases is December 31, 2002.

Plans are directed to forward to each employer a list of employees whose coverage has automatically been changed from family to single because the subscriber no longer has a covered dependent. In this case, the employer must request a Health Insurance Application (ET-2301) from the employee changing from family to single coverage. In addition, the employer must issue a Continuation/Conversion Notice (ET-2311) to the dependent.

When family coverage remains in force but a dependent is removed from coverage, the employer must have the subscriber complete an Information Change Form (ET-2329) deleting the dependent from the existing family contract. The employer must also issue a Continuation/Conversion Notice (ET-2311) to the dependent.

If evidence of the dependent's eligibility is later provided, the plan will reinstate coverage back to the date of termination.

Please call the Employer Communication Center at (608) 264-7900 with questions.