When married employees (or domestic partners in certain situations) both work for The University of Iowa in benefits-eligible positions (or when one spouse works for The University of Iowa and one works for another State of Iowa agency), they may want to take advantage of the Double Spouse Credit (DSC).
The Double Spouse Credit involves adding The University of Iowa contributions for Health Insurance and/or Dental Insurance from one employee to the benefits of the spouse. Depending on each couple’s individual situation and benefits choices, this may (or may not) be advantageous.
The Double Spouse Credit option begins the first of the month following a qualifying event or at open enrollment.
Double Spouse Credit is different depending on the employee types involved.
- When both employees are Faculty, Professional and Scientific (P&S), or Merit Supervisory Exempt (MSE)
- When one employee is Merit and the other is Faculty, P&S, or Merit Supervisory Exempt
- When both employees are Merit employees
- When one employee is an employee of The University of Iowa, and one is an employee of another State of Iowa agency
- When one employee is a benefits eligible student employee and one employee is Merit, Faculty, P&S, or Merit Supervisory Exempt
- When both are employed graduate students
- House staff, postdoctoral fellows/scholars and temporary staff
When both employees are Faculty, Professional and Scientific (P&S), or Merit Supervisory Exempt (MSE)
When the family plan or employee & spouse plan for health insurance results in a savings in premium over two singles or a single and employee & children plan, the DSC makes sense. The DSC could reduce the out of pocket contributions you make as a couple beyond your flex credits. Having more flex credits on one person’s account can also simplify contributions and reimbursements from the flexible spending accounts.
Rates for benefits contracts (examples: Single, Employee and Children, Employee and Spouse, and Family) change annually, so we recommend that you review your participation in the Double Spouse Credit annually to make sure it will save you money in the coming year. Note: DSC is available for Faculty, P&S, and MSE domestic partners, but due to tax ramifications it is probably not beneficial.
Download/Print Application Form (pdf)
When one employee is Merit and the other is Faculty, P&S, or Merit Supervisory Exempt
Employees may use DSC to cover premiums for Merit insurance plans only. This will result in loss of health flex credits to the Faculty/P&S/MSE staff member. It may be more beneficial for the Merit employee to select a family health plan which will allow their spouse to use their flex credits for other purposes. Contact the Benefits Office for more information on this.
When both employees are Merit employees
The Double Spouse Credit will eliminate any out of pocket costs to you for a Family health insurance plan.
DSC for Dental insurance only makes sense if you are covering a child or children in addition to yourselves.
When one employee is an employee of The University of Iowa, and one is an employee of another State of Iowa agency
For Faculty, P&S, and MSE employees: Generally, it is more advantageous to take the Double Spouse Credit on our plan. You can apply the credit to the outside agency benefits plan, but you lose a significant portion of The University of Iowa contribution to your benefits by doing so.
Merit employees: Can use either plan and it does not affect the contribution. The employees must choose a health insurance plan that is offered at both institutions to do the DSC.
DSC is not available for domestic partners in this situation.
When one employee is a benefits eligible student employee and one employee is Merit, Faculty, P&S, or Merit Supervisory Exempt
DSC is not available.
When both are employed graduate students
You can take the Double Spouse Credit, and it will generally be advantageous for you.
If you wish to apply for DSC, please complete an 'Employed Graduate Student Health Insurance Application' and be sure to check the DSC box in the upper left hand corner of the application. Download/Print Application (pdf).
DSC would be available for domestic partners in this situation.
House staff, postdoctoral fellows/scholars and temporary staff
DSC is not available.
The issue of Double Spouse Credits can be complex. If you have additional questions, please feel free to contact the Benefits Office directly at 335-2676.
Questions? Contact us at benefits@uiowa.edu