Is it true that I cannot make pre-tax payments under 51±¬ÁÏ’s benefit plans for the cost of my domestic partner’s coverage?
Yes. 51±¬ÁÏ’s health care plan was established as a cafeteria plan under IRS regulations. This permits employees to have deductions for health care premiums taken from their pay on a pre-tax basis. IRS regulations for cafeteria plans do not allow employee premiums for domestic partner benefits to be taken on a pre-tax basis and must be treated as a taxable benefit. Since this is a federally taxable benefit, you cannot use pre-tax dollars to pay for it.
