Dependent Eligibility
Pfizer recognizes the importance of being able to care for your family. You can get coverage under your health and insurance benefits as well as under certain benefits in the Pfizer Benefit Extras Program for your spouse/partner and children. This includes:
Your dependent children up to age 26, or beyond age 26 for a disabled dependent.
Your Dependent Children
Dependent children up to age 26 who are eligible for coverage include:
- Your biological children;
- Your legally adopted children;
- Your step-children;
- Your domestic partner’s children*;
- Children placed with you for adoption;
- Your foster children (including children placed with you by an authorized placement agency or by judgment, decree, or other order of any court of competent jurisdiction); and
- Any other children up to age 26 who have a relationship with you as described in Section 152(c)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code (IRC) and who are supported primarily by and permanently live with you. Please contact your personal tax advisor regarding questions about the IRC.
How to Enroll a Domestic Partner, or Disabled Dependent Child Age 26 or Older
You can’t enroll an eligible domestic partner or disabled dependent child online; you must enroll them by calling 1-866-476-8723 and following the Colleague Services prompts for Benefits at Fidelity to reach the Pfizer Benefits Center. If you are enrolling a domestic partner, you will be required to complete the Affidavit of Domestic Partnership and Declaration of Tax Status for Domestic Partner and/or Children of a Domestic Partner forms.
If you are enrolling a disabled dependent child or wish to continue coverage for a disabled child once they reach age 26, you will also need to submit proof of eligibility for approval. If adding a new child and this application is approved, coverage is generally retroactive to your coverage start date. To begin this process or get more information, call Fidelity at the Pfizer Benefits Center.
Pfizer Families
If you, your spouse/domestic partner, and/or your children are Pfizer colleagues who are eligible for benefits, you can only be covered under Pfizer’s U.S. plans once. You may not be covered as a colleague and a dependent at the same time under any coverage, including life insurance. Additionally, your children who aren’t eligible Pfizer colleagues can be enrolled only under one parent’s coverage. You may enroll:
- In coverage as a family under one colleague; or
- In separate coverage with one colleague in individual coverage, and the other colleague in individual coverage or family coverage covering any eligible dependents.
Changes to Covered Dependents’ Eligibility Status
It’s your responsibility to report any changes in your covered dependents’ eligibility status, such as a divorce. You have 31 days from the date of the event to report changes to the Pfizer Benefits Center. Failure to submit proof when requested or to report any changes may result in disciplinary action, up to and including termination. Additionally, you’ll be responsible for repaying any health and insurance claims paid from the effective date of the eligibility status change.
Dependent COBRA Coverage up to Age 30
Once your child turns age 26, they are no longer eligible for coverage under your benefit plan. Instead, they will be offered continued Pfizer medical coverage under COBRA up to age 30. A special dependent child COBRA rate is available for the medical plan coverage. Continued dental and/or vision coverage (if enrolled in these plans) under COBRA will be available until age 29. You will receive a notification from the Pfizer Benefits Center approximately 60 days prior to your covered dependent child turning age 26 with additional information.
* Imputed income may apply if you cover your domestic partner, or your domestic partner’s children who aren’t your tax dependents. For more details, including eligibility requirements and enrollment instructions, refer to the Domestic Partner Enrollment Kit located in the Reference Library on netbenefits.com.
For More Information
For more information on dependent eligibility, go to netbenefits.com and access the Reference Library for the applicable summary plan description or call 1-866-476-8723 and follow the Colleague Services prompts for Benefits at Fidelity to reach the Pfizer Benefits Center.
Call 1-888-926-2525 for information about your dependents’ eligibility for Benefit Extras dependent.
Your eligible domestic partner (same or opposite sex) is defined as a person who is:
- At least 18 years of age;
- Not related to you by blood to a degree of closeness that would prohibit legal marriage;
- Exclusively living with you and has done so for the prior 12 months with the intent to do so indefinitely;
- Not married to someone else or engaged in another domestic partnership or civil union, as applicable; and
- Financially interdependent with you.
Need More Help?
