BNY Mellon Benefits Guide
Coordination of Medicare and BNY Mellon Medical Coverage
If you or your covered dependent is enrolled in both Medicare and a BNY Mellon health plan, whether the BNY Mellon health plan or Medicare is the primary claims payer will generally depend upon your employment and domestic partner status.
If you are an active employee (regardless of age) and you or your eligible covered dependent (who is not a domestic partner) is enrolled in both Medicare and a BNY Mellon health plan, your BNY Mellon health plan will be the primary payer.
The only exception to this rule is if you or an eligible covered dependent (who is not a domestic partner) is eligible for Medicare coverage due to end-stage renal disease and is also covered by a BNY Mellon health plan. In this case, your BNY Mellon health plan will be the primary payer for the first 30 months of end-stage renal disease Medicare eligibility. After 30 months, Medicare will be the primary payer.
Medicare's rules for domestic partners with group health insurance coverage are:
  • Medicare pays first if a domestic partner is entitled to Medicare on the basis of age and has group health plan coverage based on the current employment status of his/her domestic partner.
  • Medicare generally pays second:
    • When the domestic partner is entitled to Medicare on the basis of disability and is covered by a large group health plan on the basis of his/her own current employment status or the status of a family member
    • For the 30-month coordination period when the domestic partner is eligible on the basis of end-stage renal disease, and is covered by a group health plan on any basis
    • When the domestic partner is entitled to Medicare on the basis of age and has group health plan coverage on the basis of his/her own current employment status.
BNY Mellon's plans follow the non-duplication method when coordinating benefits—in cases where a BNY Mellon plan is determined to be the secondary coverage, BNY Mellon will pay only the difference between the amount normally reimbursed by BNY Mellon and the amount reimbursed by the primary coverage. This means if you are covered under two plans, you may not necessarily receive more benefits than you would if BNY Mellon were your only coverage.
Changes to Dependent Care FSA Elections
You may make changes to your Dependent Care FSA election if you experience a qualified life event (as long as it adheres to the consistency rule) or in any of the following additional situations:
  • Provider Change. If you switch to a new dependent care provider that charges a different rate than your previous provider, you may adjust your Dependent Care FSA contributions accordingly.
  • Provider Rate Change. If your dependent care provider's rates change, you may adjust your FSA contributions accordingly. (Note: If your dependent care provider is a relative, you are not permitted to increase your contributions during the year, even if his or her rates increase.)