Employee Benefits - Domestic Partners

Domestic Partner Benefits
Information Sheet

General Eligibility

All of the criteria listed below must be met before benefits can be extended to the domestic partner of a Lane employee.  The employee will need to certify in writing that: 

• Both parties are 18 years of age or older; and
• Are each other's sole domestic partner living together in a spousal equivalent relationship; and
• Share a close relationship and are responsible for each other's common welfare; and
• Are not related by blood closer than would bar marriage in the State of Oregon; and
• Are not legally married to anyone else; and
• Have jointly shared the same permanent residence for at least six months immediately preceding the date of the affidavit and intend to continue to do so indefinitely; and
• Are jointly responsible for "basic living expenses;" including including food, shelter and medical expenses

Insurance Eligibility

Insurance benefits will be available to domestic partners and their legal dependents on the same basis that they are available to legal spouses and the legal dependents of those spouses.  In other words, if you qualify for dependent insurance coverage, your domestic partner can be added to your coverage on the same basis as a legal spouse.  Your partner's legal dependents can be added on the same basis as other dependent children. For specific information about insurance eligibility, refer to your union contract or working agreement or contact Human Resources.

Insurance Enrollment

To add a domestic partner and/or the partner's dependents to your coverage, the insurance company's affidavit of domestic partnership * (35k pdf) must be completed and submitted along with the appropriate insurance enrollment application or change/enrollment forms.  These forms are available in the Human Resources Office.  Completed forms should be returned to the Human Resources Office according to the timelines below.

Domestic partners and their legal dependents can also be added during the regular open enrollment period for each employee group or according to the insurance carrier's normal rules for adding dependents outside open enrollment.  For more information about enrolling a partner/dependent, contact Sharon Daniel at 463-5190 or Heidi Morales at 463-5592. 

Taxation of Insurance Benefits

The IRS requires the college to tax the value of domestic partner benefits as income.  For more information about the taxable value of insurance benefits, contact Sharon Daniel at 463-5190 or Heidi Morales at 463-5592. 

Termination of Domestic Partnership Benefits 

If the partnership terminates, the signing employee must notify Human Resources within 30 calendar days.

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