Ever Have to Verify Your Marriage or Prove the Kids Are Yours?
Business Week is working on a story about the booming trend of companies adding “dependent eligibility audits” to their health care plans. These require employees to send in documentation (marriage certificates, birth certificates, tax returns, etc.) to verify that they’re still married, that their kids aren’t over the college-age limit, that they’re not trying to cover their second cousin twice removed, etc.
The reporter would speak to people who found the process of digging up these documents a little onerous (they got married in Hawaii, say, or had to deal with finding birth certificates that had been lost in a house fire).
Any leads or responses needed by 2 pm eastern on 11/13. This could be someone who would be willing to share the story of the effort in responding to the requirements, or an experience of having a dependent removed from the health benefit rolls, for whatever reason.
Please contact Jena directly at jena_mcgregor@businessweek.com
I went thru that with my previous employer. I never returned the paperwork. I figured if they were going to question my dependants, they could have them!
What if you want to lose them? How do you prove you’re not married to her or the kids are not yours…?
@Beverly: how silly, they say they need the paperwork then don’t follow up and ask for it? Goog thing they left.
@Winston: no such luck – you keep the kids and the mother but they don’t insure them!
Good Christ. All I have to do is cock my head at them and say “Who the fuck ELSE would put up with them? Is anyone applying for the job? Because if they are, I sure want to know about it.” That sort of shuts people up.
ROTFLMAO – you poor baby!
I don’t think there’s anything wrong with businesses verifying dependents. There is so much fraud going on within the insurance industry that verification of dependents will help control costs in the long run.
This type of verification is no different than when one is applying for Social Security or disability payments.
People should always retain copies of their birth certificates, marriage certificates, divorce decrees etc. and keep them in a safe place, i.e. safety deposit box. They may need those same documents at time of death to prove survivorship and estate claims.
I agree, employers have to do what they can to protect fraud, what I read is that the reporter wants to talk to people who had a hard time providing the proof.
Excellent point about having dups. Fireproof safes aren’t that expensive. Or good old fashioned bank lock boxes.
My parents house burnt down a few months after I moved out. I have a folder in a fireproof box that I keep all my important stuff (car titles, birth certificate, etc.)
It’s just good to know it won’t be lost.
some hilarious responses above though!)