5.7.3 Continuation of Health Insurance
In accordance
with the Church's teachings on social justice, the archdiocese has
voluntarily elected to institute programs that mirror the statutory
provisions of state and federal laws. One element is continuation of
employee health insurance (this is similar to, but not the same as, COBRA).
Pregnancy Disability and Family and Medical Leave Continuation of Benefits
A
pregnant employee on Pregnancy Disability Leave who is enrolled in the group health insurance plan remains covered during her leave and may be covered for up to 12 additional
weeks during a Family and Medical Leave if she takes the Family and Medical leave to bond
with her child.
An employee on Family and Medical Leave for
reasons other than pregnancy who is enrolled in the group health insurance
coverage remains covered for a period of up to
four months, provided the employee submits a physician's notification of
disability.
The employee must pay the employee portion of the
required insurance premiums while on Pregnancy Disability and Family and
Medical Leave.
Employees who are unable to return to work after exhausting their maximum leave periods, under the archdiocese continuation of
benefits process they may continue the insurance for 18 months (and
in certain cases up to 29 months) but are responsible for the full cost of
the premium including an administrative fee. Locations are responsible for managing leaves and benefit continuance; for guidance contact the Insurance Department.
5.7.3.2 Personal Leave
Employees
may continue group insurance coverage while on an approved personal leave of absence of fewer than 120 days, but they are responsible for
the cost of the entire premium.
5.7.3.3 Termination
Except
in the case of termination for gross misconduct, under the continuation
of benefits process employees are currently eligible to continue group insurance coverage for up to 18 months after termination. During this
period, the terminated employee is responsible for the full cost of the
premiums plus a small administrative fee.
Further information
about the continuation of group insurance coverage (which is similar to, but not the same as COBRA) may be obtained from
the archdiocesan Insurance Department.
5.7.3.4 Qualifying Life Event
A
qualifying life event ("QLE") is a change in an employee's status
(e.g., marriage, birth of a child, divorce, loss of eligibility because
of reduction in hours, or death) that affects an employee's health insurance coverage.
The QLE procedure to follow:
The location's MyEnroll administrator must provide the employee with the Enrollment/Change Form.
The location's MyEnroll administrator must complete the Qualifying Life Event (QLE) Notification.
The Enrollment/Change Form and QLE form are available at MyEnroll.com in the reference library.
The Enrollment/Change Form must be signed by the employee, who must also provide any documentation to support the QLE.
The location's MyEnroll administrator has to fax or email the Enrollment/Change Form, QLE form and any supporting documentation required to support the QLE, to MyEnroll.com; the contact information is provided on the forms.
The location's MyEnroll administrator has to keep a copy of the documentation in the employee's medical file.
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