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Effective January 1, 2008

How Leave Without Pay Affects Your Employee Benefits

The information provided here is intended to be a quick reference regarding the policies and procedures for maintaining your benefits coverage as well as the length of time coverage may continue during your leave without pay.

You will find your first monthly billing statement enclosed. Bills are generated for any premiums required to maintain your current coverages. Additional bills will be sent to you on a monthly basis. If you fail to remit timely payment, you will lose coverage. Medical Center employees should return the billing statement, along with the payment, to the Medical Center Payroll Department at the Towers Building on 1222 Jefferson Park Ave. The first payment must be received and posted to your account within 45 days of the billing’s preparation date or coverage will be cancelled. Subsequent payments must be posted by the 30th day of the month indicated on each statement to prevent cancellation. If coverage is cancelled due to lack of payment, enrollment in the health plan cannot be requested until the next open enrollment period or the occurrence of a mid-year qualifying event.

Medical Center Employees with flex dollars continue to earn flex dollars while on leave without pay. If your flex dollars are enough to cover the cost of your coverage, you will not be billed. Any excess flex dollars will be accumulated and paid to you upon your return to work.

If you are within 60 days of the date you went on leave without pay, you can waive coverage or reduce your membership while on leave without pay. Please complete the attached waiver form or contact your Benefits Counselor for an application to drop dependents as your request must be received at the Benefits Division within 60 days of going on leave without pay. All changes are effective the 1st of the month following receipt of the form at the Benefits Division. Employees who waived coverage or reduced membership within 60 days of going on leave may re-enroll in coverage within 60 days of their return from leave without pay by completing appropriate enrollment forms. All changes are effective the 1st of the month following receipt of the form at the Benefits Division.

If your coverage is cancelled because you miss your first payment, you have the option, according to federal law (COBRA), to extend continuous health coverage for as long as 18 months at your own expense. The enrollment form for COBRA coverage must be completed and returned to the Benefits Division at 914 Emmet Street within 60 days of going on leave without pay or receipt of this letter, whichever is later. Premiums are 102% of the cost for regular coverage and are required 45 days after the election of Extended Coverage.

If you have questions, would like to elect COBRA Extended Coverage or need more information regarding your benefits while on leave without pay, please call the Benefits Division at (434) 924-4392.

PERSONAL OR EDUCATIONAL LEAVE WITHOUT PAY (UP TO 12 MONTHS)
  • Health Care Coverage: Coverage may continue twelve (12) months; the employer pays no contribution and the employee pays the entire cost.
  • Retirement Benefit: The employer makes no contribution; no service credit is earned; service credit can be purchased upon return from leave.
  • Life Insurance Coverage: Coverage may continue 12 months; the employer pays no contribution and the employee pays the entire cost.
  • Optional Life Insurance Coverage: The employee pays the full premium, which is normally deducted from their paycheck.
  • MCRP Disability: Coverage may continue 12 months; the employer pays no contribution and the employee pays the entire cost.
FAMILY AND MEDICAL LEAVE WITHOUT PAY (UP TO 12 WORK WEEKS WITH OR WITHOUT PAY)
  • Health Care Coverage: Coverage may continue twelve (12) weeks; the employer pays its contribution and the employee pays the employee premium.
  • Retirement Benefit: The employer makes no contribution; no service credit is earned; service credit can be purchased upon return.
  • Life Insurance Coverage: Coverage may continue 12 weeks; the employer makes full contribution.
  • Optional Life Insurance Coverage: The employee pays the full premium, which is normally deducted from their paycheck.
  • MCRP Disability: Coverage may continue 12 weeks; the employer pays its contribution and the employee pays the employee premium.
MILITARY LEAVE WITHOUT PAY (ACTIVE DUTY) (UP TO 5 YEARS)
  • Health Care Coverage: Coverage may continue on COBRA for employee and dependents for 24 months; the employer pays its contribution and the employee pays the employee premium; no 2% administrative fee is charged.
  • Retirement Benefit: The employer makes no contribution; no service credit is earned; service credit can be purchased upon return; upon return to active employment, the employee is eligible to receive any missed employer contributions.
  • Life Insurance Coverage: Coverage may continue 24 months; the employer makes full contribution.
  • Optional Life Insurance Coverage: Coverage may continue 24 months; the employee pays the full premium which is normally deducted from their paycheck.
  • MCRP Disability: Coverage is not available.
MEDICAL LEAVE WITHOUT PAY (UP TO 6 MONTHS INCLUDING ANY PERIOD OF FAMILY MEDICAL LEAVE)
  • Health Care Coverage: Coverage may continue six (6) months; the employer pays its contribution with certification of disability and only if the employee pays the employee premium. Without certification, the leave is treated as personal leave.
  • Retirement Benefit: The employer makes no contribution; no service credit is earned; service credit can be purchased upon return.
  • Life Insurance Coverage: Coverage may continue 6 months; the employer makes full contribution.
  • Optional Life Insurance Coverage: The employee pays the full premium which is normally deducted from their paycheck.
  • MCRP Disability: Coverage may continue 6 months; the employer pays its contribution and the employee pays the employee premium.