Full Time Student Certification

Eligibility 

• Full-time students that are unmarried and over the age of 26 may be covered on your medical and/or dental insurance. 
• These students are eligible for coverage through the end of the month in which they are no longer a full-time student or they get married.
• Undergraduate students qualify as full time if they are registered for 12 credit hours per semester. Graduate students may qualify as full time if they are registered for nine credit hours per semester. We accept each institution’s definition of a full-time student.

Enrollment: 

To enroll your unmarried, over the age of 26, full-time student in medical and/or dental insurance, please return the following to your HRA within 30 calendar days from the life event:

• Completed Full-Time Student Certification Form (212.42 KB) .pdf

• A copy of the transcript or class schedule showing the number of registered credit hours for the current or upcoming semester. Review Acceptable documents  (239.97 KB) .pdf for more details.
• If your full-time student qualifies as your dependent for federal income tax purposes, documentation is required. See Tax Consequences below.

Documentation must be submitted annually for a full-time student to be enrolled in medical and/or dental insurance.

Tax Consequences: 

Only certain individuals, other than yourself and your spouse, may receive medical and/or dental insurance on a tax-favored basis. For additional information about tax consequences, refer to Tax Treatment of Health and Dental Insurance. If you have any questions, contact your tax advisor or your HRA.

• If your full-time student qualifies as your dependent for federal income tax purposes, documentation is required. Submit a copy of your Form 1040 from your prior year’s federal tax return with your student’s name listed. Sensitive information can be redacted.
• If your full-time student does not qualify as your tax dependent, per the IRS, you will be taxed on the fair market value for the dependent’s coverage. This excess value will be included in your gross income.

Important:

If at any time during the year, your dependent is no longer registered for classes full-time, has graduated or gets married, they will no longer be eligible to remain covered on your medical and/or dental insurance. It is your responsibility to notify your HRA in writing within 30 calendar days and submit a benefit change in Workday. Taxables will be removed effective the first of the month following the notification in writing to your HRA.

Health Flexible Spending Account: 

• Expenses for a non-qualified student may not be claimed under the Health Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA).

COBRA Coverage: 

• The covered dependent has 36 months of COBRA eligibility. An annual mailing is sent to those qualifying for COBRA. 

If you have any questions, please contact your Human Resources Associate (HRA).

The Department of Administrative Services – Human Resources Enterprise is providing this information about the State of Iowa’s benefits. The information on this web page is subject to change. Nothing herein shall be construed as a guarantee of benefits. This webpage is not a complete description of the State of Iowa’s benefit plans. Nothing on this web page supersedes or changes any of the terms and conditions of any plan documents, insurance policies, or other legal agreements. If the wording in this web page contradicts any plan documents, laws, regulations, administrative rules, insurance policies, or other legal agreements, the wording in the official documents and agreements will govern.