Other Qualified Adult (OQA), 2008 Eligibility

click here for 2009 Simplified OQA Eligibility

A person who:

• Shares the same primary residence as you and has shared a residence with you for at least 6 months
• Is not eligible to inherit from you under the laws of intestate succession in the state of Michigan.*
• Is not legally married to another individual.
• At least one of the following is true:
  • Shares a joint checking account with you
  • Shares a joint credit account with you
• At least one of the following is true:
  • You have durable power of attorney for health care for each other
  • You have durable power of attorney for financial management for each other
• You have designated as your primary beneficiary for at least one of the following:
  • A life insurance contract you hold; or
  • A retirement contract (including IRA, 401(k), 403(b), or pension plan) you hold
• You cannot legally marry in Michigan

* The following individuals do not fall within the eligibility criteria for OQA under the laws of intestate succession in the state of Michigan:

• Spouse
• Children and their descendents (i.e., children, grandchildren)
• Parents
• Parents' descendents (i.e., siblings, nieces, nephews)
• Grandparents and their descendents (i.e., aunts, uncles, cousins)
  

Questions and Answers (PDF)

New Simplified Other Qualified Adult Eligibility Criteria, effective January 1, 2009
Under the Other Qualified Adult (OQA) program, a U-M employee who does not already enroll a spouse in the health or other benefit plans may enroll one adult individual for benefit coverage if all of the following eligibility criteria are met:

• The employee is eligible for U-M benefits; and
• The Other Qualified Adult, at the time of proposed enrollment, shares a primary residence with the employee and has done so for the previous 6 continuous months, other than as an employee or tenant.

The following individuals are not eligible for participation in the OQA program if they are the employee’s or the spouse of the employee’s:

• Parents
• Parents’ other descendents (siblings, nieces, nephews)
• Grandparents and their descendents (aunts, uncles, cousins)
• Renters, boarders, tenants, employees
• Children** or their descendents (children, grandchildren)

**Eligible children of an Other Qualified Adult may also be enrolled. Eligibility for children is defined by the eligibility criteria for dependent children. (see Your Dependent's Eligibility).

Questions and Answers OQA 2009 (PDF)