REMINDER - DEPENDENT BENEFIT AUDITS ARE IN PROCESS
In prior issues, we informed you that total insurance costs for active employees
and retirees will reach nearly $1 billion during the next year, highlighting
the need to carefully review plan costs and identify opportunities to reduce
costs. One of the areas identified to realize savings was to audit dependents
covered by the State's plan and remove ineligible dependents. The Dependent
Benefit Audit is currently underway.
Employees with dependent coverage will receive, via United States mail, a statement showing currently enrolled dependents, a certification statement, eligibility guidelines, and information describing required documentation. Employees are required to review their dependent coverage statement, provide copies of required documents, sign the certification statement, and return the information to the DCS Internal Audit Division by the date specified.
The audit is being rolled out in phases. The Department of Civil Service and the Office of the State Employer participated in the pilot audit for dependent benefit coverage. The audit of Department of Community Health employees commenced May 16, 2005. The audit of additional departmental employees is tentatively scheduled as follows:
| June 20, 2005 | Department of Human Services |
| July 25, 2005 | Department
of Attorney General Department of Civil Rights Department of Education Department of Environmental Quality Office of the Governor Department of Information Technology Bureau of State Lottery Department of Management and Budget |
| September 12, 2005 | Department
of Labor and Economic Growth Department of State |
| October 3, 2005 |
Department of Military
& Veterans Affairs |
| October 10, 2005 | Department
of Agriculture Auditor General Department of History, Arts, and Libraries Michigan Department of Transportation Department of Natural Resources |
| December 12, 2005 | Department of Corrections |
All employees with dependent benefit coverage must provide documentation (e.g., a copy of your marriage certificate, birth certificate(s), adoption or guardianship records, etc.) to validate the continued eligibility of enrolled dependents, even if you have previously provided this documentation. If you are unable to locate the required documentation, the State of Michigan Vital Records has records of births, deaths, marriages, and divorces that occurred in Michigan. Records may be ordered online at www.michigan.gov/mdch using a debit or credit card. You may print the on-line application and mail your request, or call the Vital Records Office directly at 517-335-8666. If the birth or other vital event occurred in another state, an online service for ordering documents is available at www.vitalchek.com.
We urge you to timely return all required documentation to avoid potential problems with your coverage.