Same-sex partners to receive benefits

The Public Employees Benefits Board (PEBB), which met May 23, made three changes that will affect some UW employees. All changes become effective Jan. 1, 2001

Same-sex domestic partners will be eligible to participate in PEBB employee medical and dental plans. Administrative rules for verification of domestic partner status are under development.

“The UW has supported the addition of all domestic partners to the employee plans,” says Kathleen Dwyer, assistant director of human resources for benefits, “but we consider this action an important first step.

“The question of costs proved to be an obstacle in adding other domestic partners. The board reasoned that same-sex domestic partners simply have no alternative because they cannot legally marry. The board acknowledged that benefits for other domestic partners will need to be considered - but only when funding from the Legislature is available.”

The board also decided that retirees who opt out of the PEBB medical plans will be able to re-enter the plan if they show proof of continuous enrollment in an employer-sponsored medical plan. Currently, only retirees who return to work at PEBB-covered employers can temporarily opt out of the retiree medical plan.

“Many retirees who work for other employers after retirement continue to pay for both the PEBB coverage and the private employer’s coverage, to ensure that they retain the right to PEBB retiree coverage once they retire,” Dwyer says. “But this can be very costly. The new rule will allow a retiree to return to PEBB coverage after other employment ends, as long as the retiree provides proof of continuous coverage.”

The third change involves medical benefits for employees who leave employment within 18 months of eligibility for retiree income. Under the new ruling, employees will be able to purchase health insurance (under a program known as COBRA) as a bridge, for up to 18 months, then move directly to retiree medical benefits, so long as they are eligible at that point to start retirement income.

For example, a PERS 2 member eligible to begin retiree income at 65, could terminate employment at age 64, pay for 12 months of COBRA as a bridge, then move into retiree medical coverage at age 65 when he or she would be eligible to apply for PERS 2 retirement income.

Watch for more information about these changes this fall during the annual medical/dental open enrollment period. ¶