Can I cover my fiancee under an employer dental plan?

I don't want to ask HR if this is a no-brainer and embarass myself, but I've been living with my gf for 2 years now, and we're engaged (waiting to be in a better financial spot so we can do a proper wedding), but she doesn't have dental. Under a typical plan, could I cover her, or do we have to be married?





Thanks!

Can I cover my fiancee under an employer dental plan?
Normally, no - but it is possible.





Most employers only cover spouses and dependants (usually minor children under some specified age - 24 if they are still in school.) However, there have been some employers (number is going up) who will cover non-related persons in a household if certain requirements are met. The requirements vary by employer, but usually at a minimum you have to provide documentation that the non-related person has been living in your household (at the same mailing address) for 12 consecutive months. Employers have been allowing this option to cover same-sex partners, but language in these provisions cannot exclude opposite sex partners because of non-discrimination requirements mandated by Title 7. One employer that I know of that offers such benefits is Harris Bank - a subsidary of the Bank of Montreal.





However, such expansion of benefits coverage is at the discretion of each individual employer. You will need to read your summary plan description to identify if you work for such an employer. Ask your employer (HR) for a copy of the dental plan's summary plan description and look under the coverage and eligibility section.





As a side note, you may have to wait until your open enrollment period to cover her, that is if you employer plan allows it at all, since most plans do not allow you to change your coverage status unless a major life change has occurred - i.e., marriage, birth of a child, change in employment status, etc.





As for one of the above answers stating that you can cover domestic partners - again this is not mandatory. An employer does not have to cover a domestic partner. There is no law that such a benefit must be provided regardless of how you file your taxes.
Reply:typically if it is a group insurance offered by your employer...they do not allow fiance's to be covered on your insurance. I know I could not get insurance for my now husband while he was just my fiance'. We had to wait to get married in order for them to offer coverage.
Reply:go ahead and embarass yourself. HR is the best source to ask. They'll give you a definitive yes or no. Since you are engaged, I'd be surprised if they said no. She may get coverage, but limited coverage until you two are married.





Congrats and good luck.





Dave
Reply:Normally, yes. Probally will cost alittle extra. Like 50 bucks a month.





my website is http://www.tbirdsonline.com if you care.
Reply:Short answer is no you can't cover her. The reason that HR is there, is so you can ask questions. Don't ever feel stupid going to them to ask, it's their job.
Reply:If you claim her as a domestic partner, you can put her on your insurance. You will also need to file taxes in that way. I would talk to HR about it, but you will also need to talk to your accountant. You can do it, though. Especially if you are engaged.
Reply:I am in HR myself...and this might depend on your company's plan, but it may just be a straightforward policy from what I've seen. Basically you can add a spouse or domestic partner and/or children - other than that you are out of luck. Unless you and your fiance' file for a domestic partnership, which is almost the same as being married but now....you probably won't be able to add her onto the plan. That is the way our medical/dental plan works.





*However, you should note that you cannot JUST say you are in a domestic partnership - they do require legal documentation in order to prove this.
Reply:Actually, it's all going to come down to the state law of the locality in question.





Some states will allow domestic partners to be listed on each others' policies, while other states require that a couple be legally married before they can be listed.





Ask HR. It's not a silly question. However, even if she may be added, you will only have a 30-day open-enrollment period per year in which to do so (unless there is a "qualifying event", like if you two got married -- still, you'd only have 30 days after the qualifying event to make any changes also.)