Eligibility Requirements & Resources for Replacement Documents

What Documents Are Required?

For all eligible dependents whom you wish to continue to cover under the BU plans, you must upload the following documents:

  • Spouse: Marriage certificate (government issued)
  • Common Law Spouse: Common law marriage certificate (only for those married in a state that accepts common law marriage)
  • Child: Birth certificate or adoption certificate or certificate of live birth
  • Stepchild: Birth certificate of child plus marriage certificate of current spouse
  • Ward: Court ordered document of legal custody
  • Former spouse: Both your original government issued marriage certificate and judgement of divorce nisi

Eligibility Requirements: A Reminder

As stated in the Boston University Faculty & Staff Benefits Handbook, dependents must meet the following eligibility requirements:

Eligible Family Members by Plan
Plan Eligible Dependents
Health Plan and Dental Health Plan
  • Your legally married spouse
  • To the extent required by law, your children up to age 26 who are:
    • Your biological children
    • Your legally adopted children
    • Your stepchildren
    • Your legal ward
  • Your unmarried, dependent children age 26 and over who are mentally or physically handicapped and unable to support themselves as determined by the health benefits provider, e.g., Blue Cross Blue Shield. (To continue coverage, your child must have been handicapped before age 26 and you must contact Human Resources before your child’s 26th birthday.)
  • Your former spouse only if your former spouse was covered under your health and or dental plan at the time of your divorce and if neither you nor your former spouse remarries. If you or your former spouse remarry, your former spouse’s eligibility for coverage ends.

Resources for Obtaining Replacement Documents

Below are some resources available to assist you in obtaining replacement documentation if your copies have been misplaced. Obtaining replacement marriage or birth certificates is your responsibility and may take time.

  • County Clerk/Recorder
  • State Vital Records
  • U.S. State Department
  • USA.gov – Replace Your Vital Documents – This site gives details about replacing lost or destroyed documents such as birth, adoption or marriage certificates. There may be a fee associated with obtaining a replacement document for which you are responsible to pay.
  • National Center for Health Statistics provides direct access to offices in individual states and territories where you can obtain documents.
  • VitalChek is a private company which provides a convenient service allowing Americans to easily and securely order official copies or replacements of government-issued birth, death, marriage and divorce records. They do this as an official service provider for hundreds of government agencies throughout the United States and US Territories. There may be a fee associated with obtaining a replacement document for which you are responsible to pay.

Documents Written in Languages other than English

If your document is written in a language other than English, you are responsible for providing a certified English translation.

A certified translation consists of the following parts: 1) the original (source-language) text; 2) the translated (target-language) text; 3) a statement signed by the translator or translation company representative, with his or her signature notarized by a Notary Public, attesting that the translator or translation company representative believes the target-language text to be an accurate and complete translation of the source-language text.

The certification format should include the certifier’s name, signature, address, and date of certification.