1419 - Group Legal Services Insurance (Historical View)

** Effective: 3/5/2019 2:27:13 PM - 3/5/2019 2:37:19 PM **

Status: Active

Change Notes

Resource updated: Updated link to form

Category

Benefits and Insurance

Audience List

Synopsis

This policy

Introduction

The Group Legal Services Insurance (Plan), administered by the Department of Human Resources (CalHR), is a voluntary, employee-paid plan that provides comprehensive legal coverage to active and retired state employees. It is designed to meet the most common personal legal needs of an individual and their family.  Coverage is provided by ARAG Insurance Company.

Statement

Eligible current employees may enroll in the Plan during the annual open enrollment period.  Newly hired eligible employees may enroll in the Plan within the first 60 days of employment.

Eligibility Criteria

Employees eligible to enroll in the Plan include:

Employees off work or on a leave of absence cannot enroll until they return to active status. However, if an employee is on military leave and is not available during the specified enrollment period, their spouse/domestic partner (with power of attorney) may enroll during the open enrollment period on their behalf.

State of California retirees/annuitants who are members of the Public Employees Retirement System (PERS), Judges Retirement System (JRS I and II), or Legislators’ Retirement System (LRS) are eligible to enroll.

Dependent Eligibility

Eligible dependents are defined as:

a. Children include natural, stepchildren, adopted children, or children for whom the employee is the legal guardian, and children of the domestic partner; and

b. Any economically dependent child 26 years of age or older, if he/she is incapable of self-support because of a physical disability or mental incapacity who has never been married and is chiefly dependent on the eligible employee for support and maintenance.

Family members not eligible include the eligible employee’s/retiree’s parents and grandparents, children under the age of 26 who are married, or who have been married, and children over the age of 26, unless disabled as specified above.

Employees should be reminded that they are responsible for notifying their department’s personnel office and completing the necessary paperwork when a dependent child loses eligibility.

Retirees are responsible for notifying ARAG Insurance Company of any changes.

Premium Rates and Administrative Fee

The monthly premium rates, which include the 85 cent administrative fee, are as follows:

OPEN ENROLLMENT

Open enrollment for the Plan is held annually March through April.  During open enrollment, eligible employees may enroll in the Plan and currently enrolled employees can change their coverage options to add or delete dependents.  Employees and retirees already enrolled are not required to re-enroll during open enrollment in order to continue their coverage.  Employees can cancel coverage any time throughout the year.

Effective Date of Coverage

The employee’s effective date of coverage will begin on the first day of the pay period following the first premium (payroll) deduction.

*Enrollment forms signed, dated, and received by the personnel office by April 30, will be processed by SCO through May 10 with an effective date of June 1.

Employee Communications for Open Enrollment

Eligible employees not enrolled in the Plan will receive an enrollment packet with a Plan letter, a detailed flyer, enrollment instructions, and an enrollment authorization form.

Fill and Print Enrollment Authorization Form

A fill and print enrollment authorization form is available on ARAG’s website (use Access Code 10202soc) or visit CalHR’s website.  Employees can complete the form online, print it, sign it, and give it to their personnel office. This form must have an original signature or SCO will not process it.

Ordering Enrollment Kits

Personnel offices should always maintain an adequate supply of the current marketing and enrollment materials during the annual open enrollment, for employees who become newly eligible to enroll throughout the year, or for an employee who may wish to cancel the Plan coverage.  CalHR does not maintain these materials for distribution to departments. Please order supplies directly from ARAG Insurance Company by:

Your request must include your department name, name of contact person, the actual physical street address with zip code, room number or mail station, telephone number and extension, and the quantity of enrollment kits needed.  ARAG ships via UPS ground delivery and supplies are not deliverable to a P. O. Box (allow five to ten business days for delivery).

Application

Not Applicable.

Authorities

Resources

Forms

PML

Web Pages

Authorized By

Desi Rodrigues
Program Manager, Benefits Division

Contact Person

Patty Rosales-Abila
Program Manager, , Group Legal Services Insurance
Phone: 916-324-5553
Fax: 855-238-3276
Email: patty.rosalesabila@calhr.ca.gov

Superseded Policies

Not Applicable.