Fact Sheet for Surviving Spouses

The university will continue to provide a monthly contribution to offset the total premium for the medical plan (please see SURVIVING SPOUSE RATE CONTRIBUTION CHART below).  There is no university contribution provided for the CU dental plans.

• There are no active employment length of service requirements for eligibility under this benefit.
• The employee must have been actively participating in the University of Colorado 401(a) plan.
• The surviving spouse and dependents are required to be enrolled in a CU medical plan and/or CU dental plan at the time of the employee’s death. 
• Surviving spouse and dependent children are required to continue enrollment in the same medical and/or dental plan they had at the time of employee’s death for the remainder of the plan year (July 1-June 30) unless they fall under these exceptions: 
  • Surviving Spouse changes their residence making them ineligible for the plan (i.e., moving out of state). The surviving spouse may enroll in the CU Health Plan – High Deductible, which has in and out-of-network benefits.
  • If Surviving Spouse is enrolled in the CU Health Plan – Extended, this plan is not eligible for continuation of coverage under the surviving spouse policy. You must elect another plan. NOTE: Surviving spouse/ dependent may continue the CU Health Plan – Extended under the provisions of COBRA.  
• If the surviving spouse and/or dependent children become Medicare eligible, they are required to enroll in a CU Medicare plan option and follow the eligibility requirements for enrollment. 
• Surviving spouse and dependent children are eligible to change plans during the university’s annual Open Enrollment (April/May).  
• Surviving dependent children are not eligible for coverage as a surviving dependent only. Surviving dependents can be enrolled only as a dependent of the surviving spouse and are required to meet dependent eligibility requirements. 
• For two years (24 months) following the employee’s death, the surviving spouse will receive 100% of the university’s contribution for active employees enrolled in the CU medical plans.      
• Commencing on the third year (25th month) after the date of the employee’s death, the surviving spouse will receive a varied university contribution, based on the number of retirement-eligible years of CU service prior to the employee’s death. For example, if the employee had 10 years of CU-eligible service, CU will contribute 50% of what the university would contribute for the active employee’s medical plan.  The surviving spouse is responsible for the remaining 50% of university’s cost.   

The university will continue to provide medical and/or dental plan benefits and contribute the same percentage amount toward the medical plan premium as was contributed to the deceased’s retiree medical plans. There is no university contribution provided for the CU dental plans.

• The surviving spouse and dependents are required to be enrolled in a retiree CU medical plan and/or retiree CU dental plan at the time of the retiree’s death. 
• Surviving spouse and dependent children are required to continue enrollment in the same medical and/or dental plan they had at the time of retiree’s death for the remainder of the plan year (July 1-June 30) unless they fall under these exceptions: 
  • If surviving spouse and dependent children are non-Medicare eligible, and enrolled in the CU Health Plan – Medicare/High Deductible plan, they can enroll in a non-Medicare plan.
  • If surviving spouse changes their residence making them ineligible for the plan (i.e., moving out of state).  The surviving spouse may enroll in the CU Health Plan – High Deductible, which has a national network.
  • If the surviving spouse and/or dependent children become Medicare eligible, they are required to enroll in a CU Medicare plan option and follow the eligibility requirements for enrollment.
  • Surviving spouse and dependent children are eligible to change plans during the university’s annual Open Enrollment (April/May).
• Surviving dependent children are not eligible for coverage as a surviving dependent only.  Surviving dependents can only be enrolled as a dependent of the surviving spouse and are required to meet dependent eligibility requirements.