QMCSOs

[Guest kbs]

We have a health plan that has medical, dental and vision tied up in one option. We have received a QMCSO which requests dependent coverage for purposes of dental benefits only. Can anyone give some ideas on how to handle this? Do we reject the QMSCO, or do we enroll the dependent in the health plan, even though medical and vision was not ordered? I don't see this issue addressed anywhere. Any help would be appreciated. Thank you.

[QDROphile]

The QMCSO statute says the a plan cannot be required to provide a benefit under a QMCSO that it is not desigend to provide. If your plan does not provide stand alone dental benefits, the MCSO is not qualifed and can be rejected.

But the plan could separate benefits specially for QMCSOs if you want. If so, the written QMCSO procedures (you have these, of course, because ERISA requires them) should specifiy, and it would not be a bad idea if the plan said so, too.