Children who are considered eligible dependents under legal guardianship include all unmarried children who are your dependents under a court-ordered legal guardianship, who:

• live with you,
• are claimed as your dependents on your most recently filed federal income tax return,
• or will qualify in the current year for dependency tax status.

Coverage under your benefits can continue through the end of the year in which the child turns age 18, or until the expiration date stipulated by the court within the Letters of Guardianship, but in no event beyond the end of the month the child reaches age 26.

When you accept legal guardianship of a child, the child should be added to your coverage within 30 days of the date the petition is signed by the court by completing and submitting the Benefits Enrollment/Change Form. When the legal guardianship ends, complete and submit the Benefits Enrollment/Change Form within 30 days to remove the child from your benefits. If you do not submit your completed form within the 30-day deadline, you must wait until the next Open Enrollment period to make changes to your benefits enrollments.

For information about paid parental leave following placement of a child for legal guardianship, visit Maternity (Childbirth) and Parental Leave.