Navigating Medical Benefits for Second Families: How Should Companies Respond?

Dear All,

An employee joined our organization in 1982 and got married in 1984. However, there was an issue as his wife was unable to conceive a child. Consequently, the employee, without obtaining a divorce, entered into a second marriage in 1994. He now has two sons, one born in 1996 and the other in 2000.

The employee is now requesting that medical benefits be extended to his second wife and two sons. The company had previously only provided medical benefits to his first wife and did not offer any benefits to his second wife and sons. The employee finalized his divorce from his first wife in 2009.

Please advise in detail whether the medical benefits should be extended to the second wife and sons.

Thank you.

Regards,
Sagar

To the extent I understand the law, now that the employee has only one wife—legally, she and the two sons can be extended the medical benefits. Your query—"whether to extend the medical benefits to the second child"—is not clear. The situation would apply equally to both the sons. What's the reason for your focus on only the second child? I suggest waiting for the legal members also to respond.

Regards,
TS

Since the day the employee divorced his first wife, he has had only one wife and two children. This situation is legal. Medical benefits should be provided to his wife and two children regardless of the birth dates of his sons.

Regards,
Prabhat
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[Email Removed For Privacy Reasons]

Normally, the medical benefits are extended to the employee, spouse, and two children. He can always submit an amendment to his earlier declaration and provide new details covering the names, ages, and relationships to the concerned authorities.

If the second wife is legal and the first has been divorced legally, you can extend the benefits to the second wife.

Regards,
Varghese Mathew