Life Events

GETTING MARRIED

Getting married can bring changes to your benefits. Click the tabs in the section below for more information on the changes you might need to make.

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POTENTIAL PENSION CHANGES

Once you are married, your spouse automatically becomes your primary beneficiary if you do not file a new Beneficiary Designation Form instructing otherwise (see below).

DOCUMENTS TO COMPLETE

Once you are married, you may need to complete a new Beneficiary Designation Form, if you would like either of the following:

  • To ensure your new spouse is eligible to receive death benefits from the Pension Plans in the event of your death, it is very important that you file a new Beneficiary Designation Form with your new spouse listed as a beneficiary.
  • If you do not want your new spouse to be your sole Pension Plans beneficiary, you must receive their consent and file the spousal waiver on page 3 of the Beneficiary Designation Form.

ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATIONS

The information on this page is only a summary of Pension Plans rules. For detailed information, please refer to:

POTENTIAL HEALTH PLAN CHANGES

  • You can add your spouse and your spouse’s child(ren) as dependents under your Health Plan.
  • You have 31 days from the day you are married to enroll your spouse and your spouse’s child(ren) with the Health Plan. If you miss the 31-day deadline to enroll your new dependent(s), you will not be able to add them until your next open enrollment period.
  • If you choose not to initially cover your spouse under your health coverage because he or she is covered under other health coverage, you will be able to add him or her to your coverage at the time that the other coverage ends. You must notify the Health Plan within 60 days after the other coverage ends and you must provide a copy of your spouse’s Certificate of Coverage from the other health plan.
  • An additional premium is due to cover your dependents. The amount of the premium is based on the number of dependents that are enrolled under your coverage and the type of Health Plan coverage you have:
    • If you are on earned coverage, the dependent premium is as follows:
      • $390 semi-annually or $780 per year for one dependent
      • $600 semi-annually or $1,200 per year for two or more dependents

      The dependent premium will not be prorated for shorter periods of coverage.

    • If you are on COBRA or self-pay coverage, please refer to the premium schedule identified in your open enrollment letter or contact the Health Plan’s Eligibility Department at (877) 866-2200, Ext. 502. 

DOCUMENTS TO UPDATE

  • To enroll your spouse, you will need the following documentation:
    • A Dependent Enrollment Form. Complete and return this form along with a copy of your certified marriage certificate and dependent premium payment.
    • A new Coordination of Benefits Form. Return this form via myPHP, mail or email to Eligibility@dgaplans.org.
    • A copy of your certified marriage certificate. At enrollment, you will be asked to provide a copy of your marriage certificate. If you do not have a certified copy at that time, you can provide an uncertified copy, but a certified copy will be required within 6 months. If you are enrolling your spouse’s child(ren) under your coverage, the Health Plan will need copies of their birth certificates.

ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATIONS

HEALTH ACTION ITEMS

  •  Complete and submit a Dependent Enrollment Form within 31 days of your marriage date.
  •  Include your certified marriage certificate with your Dependent Enrollment Form.  If you do not have a certified copy at that time, you can provide an uncertified copy, but a certified copy will be required within 6 months. If you are enrolling your spouse’s child(ren) under your coverage, the Health Plan will need copies of their birth certificates.
  • Complete and submit a new Coordination of Benefits Form.
  •  After your Dependent Enrollment Form and all accompanying documents have been submitted and processed, look out for an invoice for the additional premium amount due for your new dependent(s).

PENSION ACTION ITEMS

  •  Complete and submit a Beneficiary Designation Form, if you would like to ensure your new spouse is eligible to receive survivor benefits from the Pension Plan.

POTENTIAL PENSION CHANGES

Once you are married, your spouse automatically becomes your primary beneficiary if you do not file a new Beneficiary Designation Form instructing otherwise (see below).

DOCUMENTS TO COMPLETE

Once you are married, you may need to complete a new Beneficiary Designation Form, if you would like either of the following:
  • To ensure your new spouse is eligible to receive death benefits from the Pension Plans in the event of your death, it is very important that you file a new Beneficiary Designation Form with your new spouse listed as a beneficiary.
  • If you do not want your new spouse to be your sole Pension Plans beneficiary, you must receive their consent and file the spousal waiver on page 3 of the Beneficiary Designation Form.

ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATIONS

The information on this page is only a summary of Pension Plans rules. For detailed information, please refer to:

POTENTIAL HEALTH PLAN CHANGES

  • You can add your spouse and your spouse’s child(ren) as dependents under your Health Plan.
  • You have 31 days from the day you are married to enroll your spouse and your spouse’s child(ren) with the Health Plan. If you miss the 31-day deadline to enroll your new dependent(s), you will not be able to add them until your next open enrollment period.
  • If you choose not to initially cover your spouse under your health coverage because he or she is covered under other health coverage, you will be able to add him or her to your coverage at the time that the other coverage ends. You must notify the Health Plan within 60 days after the other coverage ends and you must provide a copy of your spouse’s Certificate of Coverage from the other health plan.
  • An additional premium is due to cover your dependents. The amount of the premium is based on the number of dependents that are enrolled under your coverage and the type of Health Plan coverage you have:
    • If you are on earned coverage, the dependent premium is as follows:
      • $390 semi-annually or $780 per year for one dependent
      • $600 semi-annually or $1,200 per year for two or more dependents

      The dependent premium will not be prorated for shorter periods of coverage.

    • If you are on COBRA or self-pay coverage, please refer to the premium schedule identified in your open enrollment letter or contact the Health Plan’s Eligibility Department at (877) 866-2200, Ext. 502. 

DOCUMENTS TO UPDATE

  • To enroll your spouse, you will need the following documentation:
    • A Dependent Enrollment Form. Complete and return this form along with a copy of your certified marriage certificate and dependent premium payment.
    • A new Coordination of Benefits Form. Return this form via myPHP, mail or email to Eligibility@dgaplans.org.
    • A copy of your certified marriage certificate. At enrollment, you will be asked to provide a copy of your marriage certificate. If you do not have a certified copy at that time, you can provide an uncertified copy, but a certified copy will be required within 6 months. If you are enrolling your spouse’s child(ren) under your coverage, the Health Plan will need copies of their birth certificates.

ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATIONS

HEALTH ACTION ITEMS

  •  Complete and submit a Dependent Enrollment Form within 31 days of your marriage date.
  •  Include your certified marriage certificate with your Dependent Enrollment Form.  If you do not have a certified copy at that time, you can provide an uncertified copy, but a certified copy will be required within 6 months. If you are enrolling your spouse’s child(ren) under your coverage, the Health Plan will need copies of their birth certificates.
  • Complete and submit a new Coordination of Benefits Form.
  •  After your Dependent Enrollment Form and all accompanying documents have been submitted and processed, look out for an invoice for the additional premium amount due for your new dependent(s).

PENSION ACTION ITEMS

  •  Complete and submit a Beneficiary Designation Form, if you would like to ensure your new spouse is eligible to receive survivor benefits from the Pension Plan.