Coverage for Your Dependents

• Your spouse. If he or she is an eligible public school retiree, you will be covered together on one contract.
• Your unmarried child by birth or legal adoption until December 31 of the year in which he or she turns age 19.
• Your unmarried child by legal guardianship until age 18. 
• Your unmarried child by birth or legal adoption until December 31 of the year in which he or she reaches age 25 if a full-time student and dependent on you for support. 
• Your unmarried child by birth or legal adoption who is totally and permanently disabled, dependent on you for support, and unable to self-sustain employment. 
• Either your parent(s) or parent(s)-in-law residing in your household - one set of parents or the other, but not both.

Coverage for your eligible dependents will be the same as yours. 

In the case of legal adoption, a child is eligible for coverage as of the date of placement. Placement occurs when you become legally obligated for the total or partial support of the child in anticipation of adoption. A sworn statement with the date of placement or a court order verifying placement is required.

Note: Recent national health care extends coverage to adult children through the age of 26 for active employee plans, but this does not apply to retirees.

Required proof.

You will be asked to provide photocopies of the following: marriage certificate if you're adding a spouse, birth certificates as proof of age and relationship, tax returns as proof of dependency, school records as proof of full-time attendance, court orders to prove legal guardianship, and driver's license or tax returns as proof of residence for your parent(s) or parent(s)-in-law. If you are enrolling an incapacitated child age 19 or older, you will also need to provide proof of disability. Click here to view the comprehensive list of documents you need to submit for an insurance dependent.

Additional notes about insurance for your dependents.

• If you choose the survivor option, insurance benefits continue for your eligible dependents upon your death. These dependents will continue to be eligible for insurances until either the named survivor dies or until the dependent no longer meets the eligibility requirements.
• A federal law known as COBRA (Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act), allows your dependent the option of paying for continued health insurance coverage for up to 36 months after a qualifying event. The insurance carrier may also offer a conversion policy. Your dependents will be notified of these options.
• If you divorce, your former spouse's coverage ceases as of the divorce date. He or she may be eligible for COBRA continuation, however. Be sure to send ORS your divorce papers as soon as they are available.
• If you marry after your retirement pension begins you may name a new spouse as a survivor pension beneficiary under certain conditions. This person would be eligible for insurance coverage after your death (with certain restrictions) but must pay the full, unsubsidized monthly premiums. Read more information now.