Dependent Definition (Benefit Tips ® - © 2000)

Most health plans cover the employee as well as their spouse and dependent children.

 

Spouse

The most common definition for spouse is the person to whom the employee is legally married or the person the employee has been living in a conjugal relationship for at least 12 continuous months and publically represents as their spouse.

 

Children

The most common definition for dependent children include: natural children legally adopted children step-children other child that lives with the employee in a regular child-parent relationship

 

Exclusions

Some plan sponsors exclude dependents that:

• do not reside with the employee
• are employed for 30 or more hours per week.