The State Comptroller's office issued administrative and operational procedures on the arbitrated SEBAC V award, which provides the opportunity for health insurance and certain pension benefits for same sex domestic partners of active and retired State employees effective March 10, 2000. Memorandum #2000-13.

The benefit permits employees who meet specific conditions in the Affidavit (Form CO-1049) to add a same sex domestic partner and the partner's eligible dependent children to their existing medical and/or dental insurance plan. In addition, the pre-retirement death benefits and spousal waivers for employees in the State Employees Retirement System (SERS) are affected.

Affidavit: UConn employees who wish to file a Domestic Partner Affidavit for health insurance or pension benefits must submit the attached Affidavit form to the Department of Human Resources, 9 Walters Avenue, Depot Campus or U-5075. Human Resources will submit the Affidavit to the Comptroller's office, the centralized approval source.

Health Care Insurance: To add a domestic partner and his/her eligible children to medical and/or dental insurance, an employee must also submit "Change" forms for each provider. Forms may be obtained from the receptionist at Human Resources, or from the Benefits Unit at (860) 486-0400 or benefits@uconn.edu. Consequent to adding individuals, new payroll deductions for medical/dental premiums will be taken. Premiums are on the Human Resources web site at http://www.hr.uconn.edu/med-rate.html. Graduate Assistants should refer to their rates at http://www.hr.uconn.edu/gradrt07.pdf. Tax implications for health insurance are described in the attached Comptroller's Memorandum.

The Affidavit and the medical change forms should be submitted together. However, employees do have 30 days after submitting the Affidavit to submit medical change forms. If unable to meet the 30 day deadline, employees must wait until the annual May open enrollment period. Medical insurance will be effective the first of the month after the affidavit is signed.  Of course, enrollment in medical insurance will depend upon the Comptroller's approval of the Affidavit.

Pension Benefits: The pre-retirement death benefits and the spousal waivers impact will affect only those employees enrolled in the State Employees Retirement Plan (SERS). Questions regarding the pension benefit, may be directed to Terry Stewart at terry.stewart@uconn.edu.

Medical and dental insurance questions should be directed to the Benefits Unit at (860) 486-0400, benefits@uconn.edu or to Benefits Officer Tony Velez at tony.velez@uconn.edu.