Definition of a Domestic Partner: An intimate, committed, family-type relationship, of two unrelated partners who share the necessities of life, live together, and have an emotional and financial commitment to one another, and who have maintained a relationship for at least six months and plan to continue to do so.
Medical Benefits only are provided by this plan and shall continue uninterrupted until such time as the plan is terminated. It is agreed that before CWA terminates this benefit, there will be a 60-day notice of termination.
Common Characteristics of a Domestic Partnership:
Dependents: Children of domestic partners will be eligible for medical benefits on the same basis as children of employees if they are primarily dependent upon the employee or domestic partner for support.
Retirees: Employees who retire may continue their current enrollees. However, retirees are not eligible to enroll new domestic partners or their children.
Taxation: Employees who receive benefits for their unrelated domestic partners will have to pay taxes on these benefits. The amount will be determined by taking the family medical rate and subtracting the single rate. The difference would be the taxable amount charged to the employee as income. This income is subject to both Social Security and Federal income tax withholding, as well as reported taxable earnings on the W2 form.
Termination of Benefits: It is the responsibility of the employee to notify Human Resources of any change in domestic partner status as it relates to termination of partnership. Also, as it relates to termination of coverage for children. Domestic partners/dependents are not eligible for COBRA benefits.
Enrollment: Employees seeking to enroll a domestic partner and children of a domestic partner for benefits must submit an eligibility form (provided by the employer) and may not enroll a new domestic partner until 365 days after the disenrollment of existing domestic partner/children.
The following was taken, in part, from the Domestic Policy Memo dated October 1998:
To enroll a domestic partner or children of a domestic partner, please complete the attached Affidavit of Domestic Partnership and return it to Human Resources along with two (2) forms of proof of this relationship. Proof may be a shared residence document, joint checking account, investment account, credit cards, wills, etc.
Once these documents are provided, Human Resources will give you Information Change cards to complete. Once completed, return to Human Resources for submission to BSBSNCA. The Accounting Department will be advised of the amount to use for taxing this benefit.
If you have any questions concerning this policy, please contact the Human Resources Department