Benefits Change Connection

Student Status

A dependent child who reaches age 19 is only eligible for IU-sponsored dependent benefits if he or she is considered an income tax dependent, or qualifies as a disabled child. After reaching age 19, the university will request to verify income tax dependent or disabled status to employees with children enrolled in medical and/or dental care plans. Based on the response, the university will initiate the following actions:

• If the child is not an income tax dependent and not disabled, the child’s medical and/or dental coverage is discontinued; COBRA is offered; and the child is no longer eligible for the IU Tuition Benefit.
• If the child is an income tax dependent, the child continues to be eligible until reaching age 24, so long as the child remains a tax dependent.
• If the child is fully disabled, the child continues to be eligible so long as the disability continues and the child is a financial dependent of the employee.
  

Note: The employee is always responsible for notifying the university within 30 days when a child marries or stops being the employee’s dependent under the IRS support test.

If a child loses student eligibility and subsequently returns to tax dependent status, the employee may add medical/dental coverage outside Open Enrollment so long as the child continues to meet all other eligibility requirements.

 

Forms and Publications

Change of Status form