Who is eligible to participate in The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf® Benefit Plans?

Team Members:

All fulltime, regular new hires are eligible for coverage on the first day of the month following 30 consecutive days of fulltime employment.  You have 31 days from your date of eligibility to enroll in your benefit plans.

Spouses of Team Members:

The team member’s opposite-gender legal spouse is eligible for coverage.

Domestic Partners of Team Members:

There are specific criteria that must be met to be considered a Domestic Partner.  You establish domestic partnership by sharing the same principal residence with one partner (of the same or opposite gender), being responsible for the other’s welfare, being financially interdependent on each other, and being each other’s sole Domestic Partner for a period of at least twelve (12) consecutive months. 

 
Children of Team Members:

 A biological or adopted child (or a child for whom the Team Member has been granted legal custody by a court of competent jurisdiction) of the Team Member or the Team Member’s spouse/domestic partner, as long as that child meets one of the following criteria:

• Is under age 26 AND does not have coverage available through his/her own employer
• Has reached the age of 26 and is incapable of self-support due to a mental or physical disability incurred prior to his/her 26th birthday AND is a tax dependent of the Team Member.

The Plan requires you to submit proof that your spouse, domestic partner, or child qualifies as a dependent when you enroll them in the plan for the first time, whether as a new employee or during Open Enrollment.  Additionally, the Plan may require proof, from time to time, that your spouse, domestic partner, or child continues to qualify as your dependent. Click here to download the Dependent Documentation Requirements.

Any dependent not meeting the eligibility requirements is an ineligible dependent.  Examples of ineligible dependents include:

• Spouse/domestic partner who is covered by the same plan
• Children who are also covered by the plan as a dependent of another Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf® employee
• A dependent who is currently on active duty in the Armed Forces
• Ex-spouse
• Fiancé
• Boyfriend
• Girlfriend
• Cousin
• Brother
• Sister
• Parent
• Grandparent
• Niece
• Nephew
• In-laws
• Aunt
• Uncle
• Children over the age of 26 (married or unmarried)
• Child age 19 to 26 who has access to employer provided health coverage
   

Tax Consequences of Covering A Domestic Partner or Same-Gender Spouse:

• In the vast majority of cases, you must pay taxes on the value of the coverage provided to your domestic partner or same-gender spouse. An exception exists in the rare case that your domestic partner or same gender spouse qualifies as your dependent for federal income tax purposes under the Internal Revenue Code.
• Please contact your tax advisor to determine whether or not your domestic partner qualifies as your tax dependent
• If you cover a domestic partner or same gender spouse, the Company will assume that he/she does not qualify as your tax dependent.  Therefore, the value of the coverage will be included in your gross income and reported on your IRS Form W-2.  Consequently, it will be subject to federal income tax withholding and employment taxes.  If your domestic partner/same gender spouse also qualifies as your tax dependent, contact the Human Resources department for additional guidance.