Supreme Court Announcement:
The Office of Employee Benefits is pleased to announce that following the U.S. Supreme Court's June 26 opinion in Obergefell v. Hodges, the Chancellor, in consultation with the Office of General Counsel (OGC), has approved a proposal to amend the UT System Employee Group Insurance Program plan documents, vendor contracts, and policies to allow benefits eligible employees and retired employees to enroll their same-sex spouses, as well as dependent children of these spouses, in all Benefit Program coverages and services currently available to opposite-sex spouses.
The plan amendment will take effect on Wednesday, July 1, 2015. That day, under the OEB policies on mid-year enrollments due to a change in status, UT benefits offices may begin enrolling same-sex spouses of benefits eligible employees and retired employees in all self-funded coverages upon application and presentation of a valid marriage certificate. Benefit eligible employees and retirees who enter into a valid same-sex marriage after July 1 may enroll their spouse and eligible dependent children within 31 days following their marriage date. Employees may also take advantage of enrolling their spouse or dependent children during Annual Enrollment, July 15-July31, for a September 1 effective date.
Employees and retired employees will be eligible for premium sharing for same-sex spouses on the same basis as premium sharing is available for opposite-sex spouses and will be responsible for payment of the same out-of-pocket premium charged for similarly situated opposite-sex spouses. Premium payments for same-sex spouse coverage will be payable through premium reduction under the UT System Cafeteria Plan in the same way to reduce employer and employee taxes.
Please contact your Campus Benefit Office for additional information.
