Will my domestic partner be included in the eligibility audit?
If you have enrolled your domestic partner as a dependent in your health, dental, vision, etc. coverage, then yes, you would see them included in the dependent eligibility audit.
Please note, not all employers include domestic partner coverage in their health plans. It's possible your domestic partner is not eligible for coverage. If it wasn't clear in the process, did you confirm with your HR department if domestic partner was an eligible dependent when enrolling in benefits?
If you enrolled your domestic partner in coverage and domestic partner is not an eligible relationship for participation in your employer-sponsored benefit plans, this will be revealed in the audit process and your domestic partner's coverage will be terminated back to the coverage effective date.
If this is an eligible dependent relationship for your benefit plans, be prepared to provide proof of relationship in the audit process. This will include an Affidavit of Domestic Partnership. That affidavit will require proof of cohabitation and proof of financial interdependence. Document types may vary depending on insurance carrier, but can often include several of the following:
- Driver's licenses
- Tax returns
- Proof of joint bank account
- Proof of joint credit card
- Proof of joint loan obligation
- Proof of joint ownership of residence (or other real estate)
- Listing of both partners as tenants on lease of the shared residence
- Shared rental payments of residence
- Proof of shared household expenses (utility bills, etc.)
- Proof of joint ownership of a motor vehicle
- Other items illustrating proof sufficient to establish financial interdependence