Retiree Medical Home

Medical Benefits for Surviving Dependents

Your dependents will be eligible for PG&E-sponsored medical coverage only if they’re enrolled under your coverage when you die. Surviving dependents of retirees may not enroll new dependents.

WHEN SURVIVING DEPENDENTS LOSE ELIGIBILITY

Surviving spouse and surviving registered domestic partners lose eligibility for PG&E coverage if they:

  • Remarry or register a domestic partnership;
  • Have other medical coverage (except Medicare);
  • Don’t enroll in a PG&E-sponsored medical plan when first eligible; or
  • Cancel coverage for any reason.

Surviving spouses and dependents who become ineligible for PG&E-sponsored coverage should call the PG&E Benefits Service Center right away to avoid penalties: 1-866-271-8144.

EXAMPLE: A surviving spouse becomes ineligible for PG&E coverage at the end of the month he or she marries or enters into a domestic partnership—even if the new spouse or domestic partner has no other coverage.

Surviving spouses or dependents who drop PG&E-sponsored survivor medical coverage won’t be eligible to re-enroll for PG&E-sponsored survivor medical coverage in the future.

PAYING FOR SURVIVING DEPENDENT COVERAGE

Your spouse* or other dependents will need to pay the full monthly premium. PG&E doesn’t contribute toward the cost of medical coverage for surviving spouses except in these three cases:

  1. If your spouse has a remaining Retiree Medical Savings Account (RMSA) balance and isn’t eligible for Medicare:
    Your spouse can continue to use the RMSA to help pay for PG&E-sponsored coverage until:
    • The account is used up,
    • Your spouse becomes eligible for Medicare, or
    • Your spouse becomes ineligible for PG&E coverage—whichever occurs first.
  2. If you have a Retiree Health Account:
    Your spouse will be eligible to inherit it if your enrolled spouse keeps PG&E-sponsored coverage after you die. Your spouse will be able to use remaining credits until the account is used up or until your spouse no longer has PG&E-sponsored medical coverage.
  3. If you have a remaining Retiree Premium Offset Account (RPOA) balance:
    Your spouse will be eligible to inherit if your enrolled spouse keeps PG&E-sponsored coverage after you die. Your spouse will be able to use it to help pay for premiums for PG&E-sponsored coverage. The RPOA benefit only applies if you retired before 2011, and you haven’t used it up.

*Spousal RMSA, Retiree Health Account and RPOA benefits also apply to registered domestic partners.