The Extended Spousal benefit provides Senior Performers Health Plan benefits to your qualified dependents when you meet certain requirements at the time of your death. A qualified dependent includes your dependent children and your surviving spouse, provided you and your spouse were married for at least 12 months immediately preceding your death. Same-sex domestic partners are not eligible for the Extended Spousal benefit.

The Extended Spousal benefit is provided to your qualified dependents if, at the time of your death, you were age 65 or older and had at least 20 Pension Credits.

If, at the time of your death, you were age 65 or older and had at least 15, but less than 20 Pension Credits, your qualified dependents can obtain Extended Spousal coverage by paying a premium equal to 25% of the actual cost of the coverage. Please contact the Plan Office regarding these premium payment procedures.

Exception: If you had at least 10 Pension Credits as of December 31, 2001 and were age 55 or older as of December 31, 2002, your qualified dependents will also be eligible for the Extended Spousal benefit with no premium. At the time of your death, you must be age 65 or older.

For deaths on or after January 1, 2006, the Extended Spousal benefit is also provided to your qualified dependents if, at the time of your death, you were at least age 50, you had at least 20 Pension Credits and your age plus years of Pension Credit was at least 75. Coverage for your dependents starts when you would have reached age 65 had you lived.

In all cases, coverage for the spouse and dependent children continues until the spouse remarries or dies. However, coverage for dependent children will terminate sooner if they no longer qualify as dependents. The Plan Office requests verification of the spouse’s marital status annually. Eligibility will not be generated until a completed form is received by the Plan Office.

In some cases, additional benefits may be available under the Self-Pay Program. Qualified dependents will be notified by the Plan Office if this additional coverage is available.

Extended Spousal eligibility may be replaced with Earned coverage if the minimum Covered Earnings or Days of Employment requirement is met. Your dependents will receive Plan I coverage. If you are not required to pay the Senior Performers premium, you will not be required to pay the Earned Health Plan premium. If you are required to pay the Senior Performers premium, your premium will be reduced to Earned Plan I amount.

Important: Pension Credits earned under the Alternative Eligibility Program do not count toward eligibility for the Extended Spousal benefit.