Dependents

Who is a dependent How to add a dependent Child in college

The Plan covers you and your eligible dependents. For purposes of this Plan, your eligible dependents are:

Your legally recognized spouse.
Children who are wholly dependent upon you for support and maintenance in accordance with the tax code, including:
Your unmarried children (having never been married) to age 19;
Your unmarried children (having never been married) to the earlier of three months following termination of full-time student status or to age 25, who are full-time students in an accredited school. You will be required to submit proof of full-time student status to the Plan to continue coverage.
Children, including stepchildren, legally adopted children, and children over whom you have legal guardianship, provided that they reside with you in a normal parent/child relationship. Eligibility is subject to appropriate legal documentation.
A child for whom you are required to provide health insurance under a Qualified Medical Child Support Order.
A child who is physically or mentally incapable of self-support and is 19 years or older, subject to a Doctor's written certification.
Additions of a spouse or dependent children due to a qualifying event will be effective as of the date of the qualifying event, provided that you notify Cooper within 31 days of the qualifying event. If you do not notify Cooper within 31 days of the qualifying event, you must wait until the next open enrollment period to add these dependents.

The benefits you choose are in effect for the entire year, unless you experience a qualified status change such as the gain or loss of a dependent. If you want to change coverage when you experience a qualified status change, you must change your benefit choices within 31 days of the event. If you do not change your benefit choices within 31 days of a qualified status change you will not be eligible to make a change until the next annual open enrollment.

Child in College

You should soon be receiving a letter asking you to confirm your child’s status as a college student for medical benefits coverage. Your student will need to visit the student affairs office and obtain verification of full-time student status. Universities are accustomed to providing this information. Verification should be sent to Health Design Plus before enrollment begins. This will help eliminate the potential for pending claims for your college student. This information will need to be completed every year that your child is a college student and eligible for Cooper’s medical benefits.