Eligibility
MSU-recognized same-sex domestic partners of regular faculty and applicable staff, and retirees, who meet the following criteria will be eligible for benefits. They :
- are same-sex and for this reason are unable to marry each other under Michigan law,
- are in a long-term committed relationship, have been in the relationship for at least 6 months, and intend to remain together indefinitely,
- are not legally married to others and neither has another domestic partner,
- are at least 18 years of age and have the capacity to enter into a contract,
- are not related to one another closely enough to bar marriage in Michigan,
- share a residence and have done so for more than 6 months,
- are jointly responsible to each other for the necessities of life, and
- provide a signed "partnership agreement" that obligates each of the parties to provide support for one another, and provides for substantially equal division, upon termination of the relationship, of earnings during the relationship and any property acquired with those earnings.
Domestic partners' children will be eligible for health and dental benefits if they:
- are qualified and claimed as an IRS-defined dependent by the domestic partner,
- are members of the household or a full-time student, and
- are unmarried and under the age of 19 (if a full-time student, up to the end of the calendar year they turn age 23 for health plan and dental plan coverage, or up to the end of the calendar year they turn 25 by purchasing a health plan rider).
Benefits
Domestic partners and their eligible dependents will be eligible for the following benefits:
Family and medical leave
The University will permit leaves similar to those required by the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) for MSU-recognized same-sex domestic partners* and their dependent children. Questions may be referred to MSU Human Resources Employee Records (517-353-4330).
Health/dental coverage
An employee’s or retiree's** domestic partner and eligible dependent children of the same-sex partner may enroll in health and dental coverage with a University contribution. The "fair market value" of this coverage will be taxable income to the employee and retiree.
The taxable amount will be as follows. The additional tax paid will depend on the employee’s or retiree's tax bracket:
- Adding 1 person: single premium of the applicable plan
- Adding 2 people: two-person premium of the applicable plan
- Adding 3 people or more: family premium of the applicable plan
Example: A faculty member with single person PHP coverage adds a domestic partner. Since he/she is adding one person, the monthly taxable amount is $183.04. The amount times his/her tax bracket (15%, 28% or 31% plus state, city, if applicable, and FICA) will determine the additional amount of tax deducted each month.
Refer to the taxation summary to calculate your taxable amount. You may wish to contact your accountant for more information.
Health/dental coverage continuation (COBRA)
If a domestic partnership is terminated, the employee or retiree is deceased, or a domestic partner’s dependent child reaches the maximum age for coverage or is no longer a dependent for IRS purposes, the domestic partner and/or eligible dependents will be eligible to continue health and/or dental coverage for up to 36 months by paying 102% of the premium to MSU Human Resources Benefits.
Course fee courtesy
A domestic partner and eligible dependent children may apply for Course Fee Courtesy (CFC). CFC allows for half tuition toward the first bachelor degree (maximum of 120 credits attempted). Faculty/academic staff and request CFC forms through Academic Human Resources (517-355-1526). Support staff and retirees request CFC forms from MSU Human Resources Benefits (517-353-4434). The amount of tuition waived through CFC for the domestic partner and the domestic partner’s eligible dependent children will be taxable income for the employee and retiree.
ID cards
A domestic partner may obtain an MSU identification card by bringing in the employee's or retiree's ID card or coming with the employee or retiree to MSU Human Resources Benefits from 4:00 - 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Access to library, recreational and athletic facilities
A domestic partner will have access to these facilities with his/her MSU ID card.
University Apartments
An employee and domestic partner may apply to rent a University apartment together. Contact the Housing Services office (517-355-9550) for specifics.
Parental, sick and bereavement leaves
An employee may apply for parental, sick and bereavement leave for the illness or death of his/her domestic partner and eligible dependents. Please refer to the Faculty Handbook or the MSU Human Resources Policy and Procedure for FMLA, sick, and bereavement leave.
Childcare services
An employee may apply for childcare services for the dependent children of his/her domestic partner. Please contact the Family Resource Center at 432-3745 for more information.
Life insurance
Employees and retirees may add their domestic partner and the domestic partner’s eligible dependent children as dependents on their Employee-Paid Life and Accidental Death and Dismemberment (AD&D) coverage. Employees and retirees who currently have the dependent option and are paying the additional premium on these two plans will not see an increase in the premium amount. (Retirees can maintain Employee-Paid Life until they reach age 70).
Enrollment
To enroll for domestic partner benefits, you will need to submit the following materials to MSU Human Resources Benefits: