Eligibility, Enrollment and Making Changes
No Double Coverage
If you and your spouse/same-sex domestic partner work for Caterpillar (excluding Solar), you must each enroll in your own plan — neither of you can be covered as a dependent of the other.
Dependent children can be covered under your or your spouse/same-sex domestic partner’s plan, but not both.
Eligibility Rules
Who Can Enroll in Health Care and Life Insurance Benefits
You’re eligible to enroll in Caterpillar’s benefits if you’re a regular full-time or regular part-time employee. Note: Part-time employees are not eligible for life insurance or disability benefits.
Your eligible dependents include:
- Your legally-recognized spouse or registered same-sex domestic partner
- Your children until the end of the month in which they turn age 26, and who are:
- Your biological children
- Your stepchildren
- Your legally-adopted children, or those who have been placed with you for adoption
- Your registered same-sex domestic partner's children
- Your biological children
- Your unmarried dependent children over age 26 who became physically or mentally disabled prior to age 26 and depend on you for support (as defined by IRS federal tax guidelines)
Dependent Verification Required
If you enroll a spouse, same-sex domestic partner or child, you’ll be required to provide proof of their eligibility (e.g., marriage license, birth or adoption certificate, etc.) before they’ll be enrolled in the plan. After you enroll, you’ll receive a letter from the Caterpillar Benefits Center with further instructions.
Spousal Surcharge
If your spouse/same-sex domestic partner has access to employer-sponsored group insurance coverage, but declines it and instead enrolls in the Caterpillar plan, you’ll pay a spousal surcharge ($145/month). After you enroll, you’ll receive a letter from the Caterpillar Benefits Center with further instructions.
Making Changes
If you or a dependent experience a life event described below, you may make mid-year changes to your benefits (consistent with your life event), provided you notify the Caterpillar Benefits Center within 31 days of the event.
Life Events
Examples of life events for which you can make changes to your benefits include:
- Marriage or new affidavit of a same-sex domestic partnership
- Birth, adoption or placement for adoption
- Divorce
- Loss of coverage through a spouse or domestic partner’s plan
- Dependent reaches age 26
In addition, you have special enrollment rights and unique deadlines in specific situations other than those described here. Please refer to the Special Enrollment Rights for more details.