Benefits eligibility and enrollment

Carolyn Craig Franklin Library Garden Courtyard and Fountain

See the benefits that apply to you and your family

Benefits eligibility for your family

Eligible dependents

  • Spouse or registered domestic partner as defined by the State
  • Note also that what the university pays for your domestic partner’s benefits is considered imputed income to you, so corresponding taxes come out of every paycheck.
  • Coverage for dependent children through age 26 terminates at the end of the month
  • Coverage for disabled dependent children may be continued beyond the age limit (26), provided the child is physically or mentally disabled. To receive continued coverage the following must be true:
  • The child was covered under the Plan prior to the age limit
  • The child became disabled and incapable of self-sustaining employment prior to the limiting age
  • The child continues to otherwise qualify as a dependent, financially
  • Eligibility ends if any of the conditions above cease to exist (i.e., divorce, child turning 26, etc.).

How to verify your family members

When you add family members (called “dependents” in Workday), you’ll be asked to document these relationships within 5 business days by submitting government-issued documents to HR Service Center.

We know that sometimes it takes months to get certain government-issued documents. But, don’t delay enrolling in your benefits while you wait! In some cases, provisional documents may be acceptable for temporary enrollment. 

  • Failure to provide final official documents (see table, below) within three months of the date your coverage started will result in your coverage being canceled.
  •  Examples of provisional documents include a copy of application for marriage license, a copy of a church certificate, the hospital birth certificate, and more. Contact the HR Service Center for help.


Dependent documentation – what you need to submit 

Dependent relationship Required verification documents 
Spouse 
Your legally married spouse 
Required: A copy of a government-issued marriage certificate. 
 
Provisional (valid for only 90 days from the event): Completed/ Signed off Marriage License 
State Registered Domestic Partner (RDP)  
Your eligible, unrelated domestic partner 
A copy of the state-issued domestic partnership certificate.  
 
The birth certificate must include the employee’s name, the employee’s spouse’s name, or the RDP’s name as a parent. If the birth certificate lists the employee’s maiden name, please provide a marriage certificate. 
 
No provisional documents are accepted.  
Biological Child (Birth to age 26)   A government-issued birth certificate.  
 
The birth certificate must include the employee’s name, the employee’s spouse’s name, or the RDP’s name as a parent. If the birth certificate lists the employee’s maiden name, please provide a marriage certificate. 
Step- Child/ Child of Domestic Partner (Birth to age 26)   A government-issued birth certificate showing the parents’ names, a copy of a marriage certificate, or a state-issued domestic partnership certificate. 
Adopted Child (Birth to age 26)   Court documents name the employee, spouse, or RDP as legal guardian/ custodian.  
Disabled Adult Child (over age 26, extension for already covered dependent)  
Onset of disability must be prior to the child attaining age 26 
A government-issued birth or adoption certificate names the employee, spouse, or RDP partner as the child’s parent.  

Request for Continuation of Coverage for Disabled Dependent form. The required forms are provided below by medical plan.
– Kaiser
– Anthem HMO
– Las Vegas 
– USC VHH
– USC EPO and PPO 
 
Please take the applicable forms to your dependent’s physician for completion and certification. Once completed by the physician, submit the form to the HR Service Center at uschr@usc.edu or 213-821-8100.
 
For USC PPO and USC Trojan Care EPO Plans, please take the applicable forms to your dependent’s physician for completion and certification. Once completed by the physician, submit the form to the Health Plans office at healthplans@usc.edu or 213-740-0035.

A tax document that shows the financial dependency of the dependent on the employee. 
Biological Birth or Adopted Child Subject to a Qualified Medical Child Support Order (QMSCO) Current court order stating employee to provide medical insurance. 
Legal Guardianship/ Custody  (Birth to age 18Court documents that name the employee, spouse, or RDP as the legal guardian/custodian. 

If required documentation is still in process, provisional documentation may be valid for up to 90 days from the qualifying event (provisional documents accepted: marriage license and hospital birth announcement).

Legal statements

ERISA Summary Plan Description

Benefits programs are subject to change at any time by the university, at its discretion, without prior notice or liability, to the extent permitted under applicable law. In the event of a discrepancy between the benefits and limitations described on this website and a plan document or collective bargaining agreement, the terms of the plan document or collective bargaining agreement will govern. Employees of other entities that have entered into agreements with the University of Southern California to provide payrolling service are subject to the policies and procedures adopted by their employer.