Working Spouse Premium: Does It Apply to You?
Additional premium for some spouses
added to 2020 medical plans.
In 2020, employees will continue to have the option of covering employed spouses under our medical plans. However, rising medical costs have made covering these spouses more challenging in recent years. For that reason, we are adding new tiers in 2020 for spouses who have access to medical coverage through their employer but choose not to enroll in it. This additional premium will help offset costs while still allowing these spouses to receive primary coverage through Purdue.
Why this is necessary:
Claims data reflects that spouses on our plan costs an average of $2,000 more per year than the cost of covering an employee.
The additional premiums for employees who wish to cover a working spouse in 2020 are:
- $750 annually for employees who earn less than $45,500 and elect the employee/spouse or family plan.
- $1,500 annually for those who earn $45,500 or higher and elect the employee/ spouse or family plan.
Will I pay the Working Spouse premium in 2020?
With this new process, we know there will be questions on whether or not it applies to you. You will have the Working Spouse Premium added only if all of these factors apply to you:
- Your spouse is employed or self-employed with access to a group plan
at their place of employment, and - Your spouse’s employer pays at least 50% of an employee-only
premium, and - Your spouse opts not to enroll in their employer’s plan, and
- Your spouse has primary coverage through Purdue
In a few weeks when you complete your enrollment for 2020 in Benefitfocus, you will be asked to indicate the status for your spouse, which will then determine the total premium you will pay as you complete your enrollment.
Do I need to submit a Working Spouse Premium Waiver Form?
If you will be covering your spouse through Purdue in 2020, you will need to provide a Working Spouse Premium Waiver form ONLY if:
- Your spouse is employed or self-employed, outside of Purdue, but does not have access to an employer group plan where at least 50% of the premium is paid for on their behalf. In this case, you are eligible for a waiver of the Working Spouse Premium by submitting this validation from your spouse's employer. Coverage through Purdue will be their primary coverage, OR
- Your spouse is employed or self-employed, outside of Purdue, has access to a group plan where at least 50% of the premium is paid for on their behalf, AND he/she takes the coverage through their employer. In this case, you are eligible for a waiver of the Working Spouse Premium by submitting this validation from your spouse's employer that he/she is taking their plan. Coverage through Purdue would be secondary to their employer's plan.
The Working Spouse Premium Waiver form must be completed and uploaded directly into Benefitfocus if one of the above situations applies to you. The form is available now and we encourage you to print and complete it in advance of open enrollment. The form needs to be uploaded into Benefitfocus between September 30 and December 2, 2019. Instructions for uploading will be available on the benefit enrollment website by September 30.
NOTE: Your spouse’s employer must also complete a section and sign the form.
Employees who are not covering a spouse, have a Purdue employed spouse or their spouse is not employed will attest to this within the BenefitFocus platform during open enrollment. A waiver form will not be necessary.
Still not sure if the Working Spouse Premium applies to you?
Download our Working Spouse Guide here.
If you still have questions, contact us at hr@purdue.edu or by phone at
765-494-2222, or by contacting your regional campus Human Resources Department.