Marriage and Partnership

Getting Married

When you get married you may add or make changes to your benefits coverage. Contact your departmental administrator to change your name.

Civil Union Partnership

The University of Chicago health plans are governed by federal ERISA statutes; federal law treats health insurance benefits for civil union partners as taxable income to the employee. In addition, the contributions the University makes toward health coverage for Civil Union Partners is also considered taxable income to the employee by the Internal Revenue Service.

Medical, Dental and Vision Insurance

If you are a medical, dental and/or vision plan participant, you may add your spouse/partner to your coverage or drop your medical, dental and/or vision coverage should you choose coverage under your spouse's plans.

• Verification of relationship is required when adding a spouse or partner to your health, dental and/or vision coverage. Documentation includes a marriage certificate.

• Copies of all necessary documentation should be scanned into Workday within 31 days of the marriage.

Group Life Insurance and/or Personal Accident Insurance

You may want to change your beneficiary designation(s) and/or increase the level of your coverage because of a recent marriage. These changes may be made anytime during the year.

• If you wish to increase your level of Life Insurance coverage, you must complete the Evidence of Insurability process through VOYA. VOYA will contact you with information regarding the Evidence of Insurability process and must approve your application before your increased level of coverage takes effect.

You may wish to consider/elect: 

• Voluntary Spouse or Civil Union Partner Life Insurance. You may elect coverage for your spouse or civil union partner in $10,000 increments up to $150,000. You must complete the Evidence of Insurability process through the VOYA. VOYA will contact you with information regarding the Evidence of Insurability process and must approve your application before the increased level of coverage takes effect. You, as the employee, pay the full cost for this coverage through after-tax payroll deductions.

• Voluntary Dependent Child (ren) Life Insurance. You may elect coverage for your eligible dependent child(ren) (up to age 26) in $2,000 increments up to $10,000. Voluntary Dependent Child(ren) Life may cover one child or multiple children in your family. You will only pay premium based on one level of coverage. So, if you choose the $2,000 level of coverage, you will only pay premium based on $2,000, yet you will have $2,000 coverage on each eligible child in your family. There is no Evidence of Insurability required for children. You, as the employee, pay the full cost for this coverage through after-tax payroll deductions.

Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)

If you are getting married and anticipate a change in your health care expenses, you may participate in a Health Care or Limited Purpose FSA or increase/decrease your current contributions.

If your new spouse has children who will become your dependents and you anticipate day care expenses, you may want to begin participating in the Dependent Care FSA, or increase/decrease your current contributions to the Dependent Care FSA.

Special Notes:

This change can only be made in the case of marriage. To make changes to your benefits log into Workday with your CNet ID and password, within 31 days of the qualifying event.

Retirement Benefits

Under federal law, your spouse has certain rights with respect to your retirement benefits. Accordingly, it is important that you notify TIAA of your new spouse as soon as possible after your marriage. You may also want to update your beneficiary designation with TIAA.

• Contact TIAA 800.842.2252 directly to obtain the requisite paperwork. The TIAA representatives also can identify for you the persons currently designated as your beneficiary(ies).

Domestic Partnership

Partnership must have been registered with the University of Chicago's Benefits Office on or before December 31, 2016.

Updates to Domestic Partnership Program

As of January 1, 2017, partners need to be married or be in a civil union to receive University of Chicago benefits. The only exception to this was the grandfathered group of employees who registered their partner with the University prior to December 31, 2016.

Updated: Domestic Partnership Program - Frequently Asked Questions

A Domestic Partnership is defined as:

• Two individuals of the same sex who live together in a long-term relationship of indefinite duration; and

• Both partners have an exclusive mutual commitment in which they agree to be jointly responsible for each other's common welfare and share financial obligations; and

• The partners are not related by blood to a degree of closeness which would prohibit legal marriage in the state in which they legally reside; and

• The partners may not be married to any other person.

• Individuals who meet the criteria listed above must also demonstrate joint responsibility for each other's common welfare and financial obligations.

What benefits are my Domestic Partner and the child(ren) of my Domestic Partner eligible for?

Faculty

If you are a benefits-eligible faculty member, your partner (registered with the University of Chicago's Benefits Office on or before December 31, 2016) and the child(ren) of your partner may be added to your medical, dental and vision insurance. If you are eligible for the Laboratory School Tuition Remission, or the Faculty Child Scholarship, eligibility will extend to your Domestic Partner and/or the child(ren) of your Domestic Partner. Housing, gymnasium, and library privileges will also be extended.

Staff

If you are a benefits-eligible staff member, your partner (registered with the University of Chicago's Benefits Office on or before December 31, 2016) and the child(ren) of your partner may be added to your medical, dental and vision insurance. If you are eligible for Laboratory School or Staff Children at the College Tuition Programs, eligibility will extend to the child(ren) of your Domestic Partner. Domestic Partners and their child(ren) will also be entitled to housing, gymnasium, and library privileges.

Faculty and staff may add Domestic Partners (registered with the University of Chicago's Benefits Office on or before December 31, 2016) and their child(ren) to their coverage under the Maroon Plan, Maroon Savings Choice Plan, the University of Chicago Health Plan, HMO Illinois, the MetLife Dental Plans (Copay and PPO), and/or VSP Vision Plans (Base and Premier). Domestic Partners (registered with the University of Chicago's Benefits Office on or before December 31, 2016) may also be covered under the Spouse/Partner Life Insurance and the University’s Personal Accident Insurance Plan.

What happens if my partner and I terminate our relationship, or my relationship no longer meets the criteria of a Domestic Partnership?

You must notify the Benefits Office within 31 days of the termination of the relationship. Your ex-domestic partner will no longer be eligible for gymnasium, library, and housing privileges, and you must remove your ex-domestic partner and his or her child(ren) from all University benefit plans. These rules also apply to the termination of a marriage through divorce or legal separation.

The University will extend the same health insurance coverage to ex-domestic partners and their children that it does to ex-spouses and their children under COBRA. Specifically, ex-domestic partners and their children will be eligible to continue health benefits for up to 36 months after filing a Statement of Termination of Domestic Partnership.

What impact does registration of a Domestic Partner have on my taxes?

The contributions the University makes toward health coverage for the Domestic Partners (registered with the University of Chicago's Benefits Office on or before December 31, 2016) of faculty and staff will be considered by the Internal Revenue Service in many cases as taxable income to the faculty/staff member who cover a Domestic Partner. Children of domestic partners may qualify as dependents. Please consult a tax advisor before enrolling your Domestic Partner and/or your partner's child(ren).

For additional information, contact the Benefits Office at 773.702.9634 or benefits@uchicago.edu.