How Coordination of Benefits Works

Citi Benefits Handbook

When the Citi Plan is primary: The Citi Plan considers benefits as if a secondary plan does not exist, and it will pay benefits first. Benefits will be calculated according to the terms of the applicable plan and will not be reduced due to benefits payable under other plans.

When the Citi Plan is secondary: The Citi Plan will pay the difference, if any, between what you would have received from Citi if it were the only coverage and what you are eligible to receive from the other plan. Total benefits will never equal more than what the Citi Plan would have paid alone. Benefits under the Citi Plan may be reduced. The Claims Administrator will determine the amount the Citi Plan normally would pay. Then the amount payable under the primary plan for the same expenses will be subtracted from the amount the Citi Plan would have normally paid. The Citi Plan will pay you the difference. If the Citi Plan is secondary, you will never be paid more for the same expenses under both the Citi Plan and the primary plan than the Citi Plan would have paid alone.

When the Citi Plan is secondary and the patient is covered under an HMO, benefits under the Citi Plan will be limited to the coinsurance, if any, for which you would have been responsible under the HMO, whether or not the services provided are rendered by the HMO. If a service is not covered or coverage is denied, you will be responsible for payment.

Aetna and Anthem BlueCross BlueShield: With regard to automobile accidents, this plan always pays secondary to:

Any motor vehicle policy available to you, including any medical payments, personal injury protection (PIP) and no-fault; and

Any plan or program which is required by law.

All covered persons should review their automobile insurance policy and ensure that uncoordinated medical benefits have been chosen so that the automobile insurance policy is the primary payer.

The Citi Plan will be the primary plan for claims:

For you, if you are not covered as an employee by another plan;

For your spouse/partner, if your spouse/partner is not covered as an employee by another plan; and

For your dependent children, if they are not covered by another plan through their employment or through military service.

Parents' birthdays are used to determine whose coverage is primary for the children. The coverage of the parent whose birthday (month and day) comes before the other parent's birthday in the calendar year will be considered primary coverage. For example, if your spouse's birthday is in January and your birthday is in May, your spouse's plan is considered the primary plan for your children.

If both parents have the same birthday, then the coverage that has been in effect the longest is primary. This rule applies only if the parents are married to each other.