Benefits expanded to eligible partners, other dependents

COLUMBUS – The university Board of Trustees adopted a measure today (7/9) to begin providing access to benefits to a broader range of dependents of faculty, staff, graduate associates and students as well as subsidized coverage for eligible domestic partners and their children.

In proposing the benefits extension, President Karen A. Holbrook told the board the issue has been a high priority of her administration because of its value in recruiting and retaining world-class faculty, staff and students, major elements of the university’s Academic Plan and Diversity Action Plan, as well as being a way to create a positive work/life environment for all employees. “We know that there is an incredible diversity of family, life partner and household arrangements in our faculty, staff and student populations, and we want to be sure to address that diversity with appropriate access to benefits.

“While the relative increase in additional healthcare dollars to the university is minimal, the return will be enormous for its positive effect on our campus,” she said. The program is estimated to increase the university’s budget for healthcare benefits by one-half to three-quarters of 1 percent. The university’s total annual cost increase is estimated at $900,000 and no state-appropriated funds will be used for the subsidy.

The university’s proposal has three program elements. First, faculty and staff will be able to enroll same-sex domestic partners and their children into the faculty/staff medical, dental and vision plans, with the same university subsidy as for spouses and children, beginning Oct. 1. Additionally, graduate associates will be able to enroll the same group of dependents into student health plans effective Sept. 15, also with the same university subsidy as for spouses and children. Those eligible must sign an affidavit stating, among other things, that they have been in a committed sole relationship for at least six months, are financially interdependent and share a common residence.

A second element allows faculty and staff to enroll other sponsored dependents into faculty/staff medical, dental and vision plans without subsidy and at a group premium rate that is determined by an actuary, effective Jan.1, 2005. Individuals who could be included are opposite-sex domestic partners, relatives by blood, grandparents-in-law, parents-in-law, brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law who meet eligibility requirements. To be eligible, individuals must complete an affidavit stating they have resided with the faculty/staff member for at least six months and are financially dependent as defined by the Internal Revenue Service.

The third plan element allows students to enroll same-sex domestic partners and their children into the student health plans, which are and remain unsubsidized, effective Sept. 15.

Additionally, students will be able to enroll their opposite-sex domestic partners and their children – also unsubsidized – effective Jan. 3, 2005. Students must sign the same kind of affidavits as faculty and staff and meet the same eligibility requirements.

Executive Vice President and Provost Barbara R. Snyder said the action allows the university to join the ranks of the majority of Big Ten institutions, as well as the American Association of Universities, where 45 of the 60 top American research universities provide health care benefits for domestic partners. “We also have to compete for talent with the private sector, and many of those companies provide these benefits as well,” she said.

According to the Chronicle of Higher Education, 40 percent of Fortune 500 companies offer benefits to eligible domestic partners. In central Ohio, several large employers allow some additional access to benefits, according to the Human Rights Campaign Foundation, including Battelle Memorial Institute, Limited Brands, Longaberger, Nationwide, National Revenue Corporation, Online Computer Library Center Inc (OCLC), and SARCOM.

Larry Lewellen, associate vice president for human resources, acknowledged the recent action by Miami University, Ohio University and Cleveland State University to offer the benefits. “Health benefits are an extremely important part of employment packages, and this will help Ohio State compete with institutions in Ohio, the nation and the world,” he said.

The Office of Human Resources estimates that at least one-third of faculty and staff may at some stage in life need expanded access to coverage.