Employee and Dependents Eligibility

• Any full-time regular Miami-Dade County employee who has completed 60 days of employment, is eligible. Medical coverage becomes effective as of the employee’s hire date; all other benefits become effective the first of the month following or coincident to 60 days of employment
• Any part-time employee who is scheduled to work at least 60 hours biweekly, is eligible. Medical coverage becomes effective as of the employee's hire date; all other benefits become effective the first of the month following or coincident to 60 days of employment. The part-timer must continue to satisfy the minimum number of working hours requirement to remain eligible for benefits
• Variable Hour Employees (VHE), as defined under the Affordable Care Act, are measured for 26 pay periods to determine benefits eligibility. At the completion of the measurement period, if the total hours worked average 60 or more hours per pay period, the employee is eligible for benefits. Medical coverage becomes effective as of the date the employee becomes eligible; all other benefits become effective the first of the month following or coincident to 60 days of eligibility
• Employees must be actively at work for disability and group life benefits to become effective
• All employees are eligible to participate in the deferred compensation plan
• Upon certain Qualifying Events, ex-spouses, children who cease to be dependents, employees going from full-time to part-time status and dependents of a deceased employee may be eligible for coverage under the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA)
• Contact your Department Personnel Representative (DPR) for questions regarding your eligibility for group medical, dental, vision, life insurance, disability and group legal, or to participate in a flex spending account

You may cover your Spouse or Domestic Partner, and dependent children, under your medical, dental, and vision plans. Refer to the Benefits Handbook for additional information regarding dependent eligibility document requirements and domestic partner benefits. Premiums for adult dependent children, domestic partners and children of a domestic partner will be deducted post-tax and subject to imputed income tax.

Coverage for a Spouse or Domestic Partner ends on the effective date of the divorce or dissolution of domestic partnership.

The limiting age for dependent children is the end of the calendar year that the child reaches age 26 for medical, dental and vision. Medical coverage may be extended to age 30, under the conditions listed below.

Adult Dependent Children Age 26 to 30 (Florida Statute 627.6562)
Medical coverage may be continued for adult children age 26+ through the end of the calendar year the child turns 30, if the child:

• is not married and has no dependents (i.e. children, spouse\domestic partner), and
• is not provided or otherwise have available other major medical health insurance, and
• is either a resident of Florida or is a student in another state.

To enroll a new dependent not currently enrolled in a County medical plan, age 26 to 29, proof of other continuous creditable coverage (without a gap of more than 63 days) must be submitted to the health plan provider.

Dependent children who are incapable of sustaining employment because of mental or physical disability, and are dependent upon the employee for support, may continue to be covered beyond the limiting age, if enrolled prior to age 26. Proof of disability must be submitted to the plan on an ongoing basis.

It is the employee’s responsibility to contact their benefits specialist or human resource office when one of your enrolled dependents becomes ineligible for benefits coverage. Dependents may be eligible to continue their medical, dental and vision coverage through COBRA (continuation coverage) if you notify your benefits specialist or human resources office within 60 days of a qualifying event.

Enrollment or continuation of an ineligible dependent may result in loss of benefits, disciplinary action, and repayment of claims. 

Note: Miami-Dade County is committed to offering a comprehensive benefit package to you and your family, but also realizes many dependents may no longer be eligible for coverage due to life status changes. We conduct Dependent Eligibility Audits. Employees will be required to provide documentation, such as birth or marriage certificates, for any dependents enrolled for healthcare benefits.