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DELAYED Until Summer 2014
If you participate in a health or life insurance plan offered through the State of Illinois Department of Central Management Services (“CMS”), you are encouraged to read this communication carefully if you insure any dependent(s) under a CMS plan.
CMS announced the upcoming audit of all dependents enrolled in the health and life insurance plans provided by the State of Illinois. This “Dependent Eligibility Verification Audit” period will begin on January 22, 2014 and end on February 21, 2014.
By law, the State of Illinois can only cover members and their eligible dependents in the state plans. To ensure only eligible dependents are covered, CMS contracted with HMS Employer Solutions (“HMS”) to conduct this independent Dependent Eligibility Verification Audit. HMS will be requesting that you provide specific documentation to confirm each of your dependents’ eligibility. HMS will be mailing a letter to University employees beginning on January 22, 2014 and YOU MUST WAIT UNTIL YOU RECEIVE YOUR LETTER WITH YOUR UNIQUE IDENTIFIER TO CONTACT HMS OR LOG INTO THEIR WEBSITE.
Failure to provide the required documentation to HMS will result in termination of your dependent coverage. Per CMS, neither CMS nor the University can forward documents to HMS, nor can they provide you with copies of any previously submitted documents.
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What can you do NOW to prepare for the Dependent Audit?
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· If you do not have a dependent covered on one of the University health or life insurance plans (through CMS), you do nothing.
· If you do have a dependent covered on one of the University health or life insurance plans (through CMS), please do the following:
- Verify that your mailing address is correct on your CMS Benefit Statement.
- If not correct, update your mailing address in NESSIE. This NESSIE address change will also update your CMS record. The CMS online Benefit Statement is updated the first Friday of each month with information on the CMS insurance database as of the first day of that month.
- If your mailing address is correct in NESSIE but not on your CMS Benefit Statement send an email to benefits@uillinois.edu providing your correct mailing address.
- You will receive a verification form from CMS when this update is complete.
- Review the documentation that will be required during the Dependent Audit (see table below), and obtain any necessary documents that you do not have readily available.
- Please Note: the required documentation differs from documents you may have provided when adding the dependent. For example, a marriage certificate is not acceptable documentation to verify a spouse for the purposes of this audit.
- Watch for a letter from the State of Illinois to arrive at your home around January 22, 2014. Below is an image of the return address on the envelope:
· This letter will contain a unique identifier assigned by HMS that must be used when contacting HMS or logging into the HMS website after January 22, 2014. This unique identifier will be located in the upper right hand corner of all the communications sent to you by HMS.
· HMS has a secure website for use with this audit. By registering on this website after January 22, 2014, you will find more details regarding the audit, as well as assistance in locating and submitting your documentation. You may also opt for paperless communications and/or upload documentation on the HMS secure website. YOU MUST WAIT UNTIL YOU RECEIVE YOUR LETTER WITH YOUR UNIQUE IDENTIFIER TO LOG INTO THIS WEBSITE.
· When you receive any correspondence from HMS Employer Solutions, please read it carefully as there are specific due dates when certain information needs to be submitted. Failure to follow the instructions could result in loss of coverage for your dependents.
· See the CMS website for updates, and frequently asked questions about the Dependent Audit.
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Table of Documentation Requirements
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All Required Documents MUST include date and/or year, employee name, and dependent's name. The signed form and all required documentation must be submitted directly to HMS by the due date on the letter.
Social Security Numbers (SSN) are required. Allowable exceptions are limited to newborns within 60 days of their birth and dependents deemed ineligible to receive a SSN due to their VISA status. A letter from the Social Security Administration stating the qualified reason must be submitted to HMS.
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Relationship
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Required Documentation
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SPOUSE
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1. A copy of the front page of your 2012 federal tax return transcript* identifying this dependent as your spouse
AND
2. A document dated within the last 60 days showing current relationship status such as a bank, mortgage, or credit card statement listing both names, or a Property Tax Statement issued within the past 12 months listing both names.
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CIVIL UNION PARTNER
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1. A copy of your Civil Union Partnership Certificate
AND
2. A copy of the front page of your 2012 state income tax return identifying your relationship to this dependent,
OR
A document dated within the last 60 days showing current relationship status such as a bank, mortgage or a credit card statement listing both names
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DOMESTIC PARTNER
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1. Two forms of documentation that prove that the member and partner are jointly responsible for each other’s common welfare
AND
2. Shared financial obligations
OR
A Cook County Domestic Partnership Certificate and one form of documentation as stated in the first domestic partner bullet point.
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CHILDREN (up to age 26)**
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1. A copy of the child’s birth certificate (or hospital birth record) or adoption certificate naming you or your spouse/civil union partner as the child's parent,
OR
A copy of the court order naming you as the child’s legal guardian.
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CHILDREN (age 26 and older)**
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DOCUMENTATION NOTED FOR “CHILDREN” ABOVE AND DISABLED CHILDREN:
AND
1. A copy of the front page of your 2012 federal tax return transcript* identifying the child as a dependent,
AND
2. Copy of the child’s Medicare card,
AND
3. Statement from the Social Security Administration with the social security disability determination,
OR
A U.S. Court order adjudicating the child’s disability.
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ADULT VETERAN CHILDREN (eligible ONLY until the 30th birthday)
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DOCUMENTATION NOTED FOR “CHILDREN” ABOVE
AND
1. Proof of Illinois residency,
AND
2. A copy of the dependent’s Veterans’ Affairs Release form (DD 214) or equivalent,
AND
3. A copy of the front page of your 2012 federal tax return transcript* identifying the child as a dependent if declaring the adult veteran child as an IRS dependent.
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OTHER
(Organ Transplant)
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DOCUMENTATION NOTED FOR “CHILDREN” ABOVE
AND
1. A copy of the front page of your 2012 federal tax return transcript identifying the child as a dependent,
AND
2. Proof of organ transplant performed after June 30, 2000.
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OTHER: DEPENDENTS ADDED BEFORE 1983
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A copy of the front page of your 2012 federal tax transcript* identifying the dependent as a tax dependent.
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* Note #1: Where “tax return transcript” documentation is required, you must order the official “transcript” from the IRS. To request a transcript online go to the IRS website. Fill in the required information and a copy will be mailed to the address listed on your most current tax return within 7 to 10 days. If you have moved since your 2012 tax filing, please complete and mail in the Request for Transcript of Tax Return Form instead. You may also call the IRS at 800-908-9946 to order a tax transcript. There is no charge for this document.
** Note #2: If you are covering a stepchild and your spouse or civil union partner is not a covered dependent, you must also provide documentation of your current relationship to your spouse or civil union partner as requested above.
Contact your campus UPB Benefits Services office:
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