Health Insurance - Continuing Your Benefits
There are situations when you are no longer on the payroll but could still be receiving benefits. Your campus benefits office can make arrangements for you to continue your health, dental and vision care benefits if your employment ends, if you become disabled, or if you take a leave of absence. Refer to the Continuing Benefits section of the Benefits Handbook for complete information.
Death of an Active or Disabled Employee
Health, Dental, and Vision Care coverage will continue for your covered dependents for six months following your death. If you had met all eligibility requirements for Retiree Health Care, health coverage may be continued beyond six months. The first six months of coverage is provided without charge.
Termination
If you terminate employment, voluntarily or involuntarily, you are eligible to continue Health Dental and Vision Care coverage under COBRA. Health insurance can also continued on a direct-payment basis with the carrier. If you are interested, contact Anthem Blue Cross or your HMO. Under the Affordable Care Act, you can also obtain low-cost coverage in the Health Insurance Marketplace by visiting www.healthcare.gov.
If You Become Disabled
For the period of time you receive income replacement through New York State Short-Term Disability insurance for a non-work-related illness or injury, the RF will continue the Health, Dental and Vision Care benefits in effect at the time of your disability.
If you receive income replacement through Workers' Compensation for a total disability caused by a work-related illness or injury sustained during RF employment, the RF will continue the benefits in effect at the time of your disability, either for the period of the total disability or up to age 65, whichever comes first.
If you are receiving Long-Term disability payments, how your Health, Dental and Vision Care coverage continues depends on a number of factors, including your date of hire, your age, and the amount of full-time equivalent service you have at the time you become disabled. Please refer to the Benefits Handbook for details.
If You Take a Leave of Absence Without Pay
While on an approved leave of absence for up to one year, you may continue Health, Dental and Vision Care benefits and Basic and Optional Life coverage by paying the full premium (employee plus employer share) directly to the RF. If you do not return to work after the leave of absence, you will able to continue your benefits under COBRA rules. The leave of absence and COBRA periods run concurrently.
If you take Family and Medical Leave (FMLA)
During periods of approved leave under the federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), you may continue Health, Dental, and Vision Care coverage if you pay the same share of the premium as an active employee. Please contact your campus benefits office to obtain the forms you must complete for this continuation and refer to your Employee Handbook for details about FMLA.
If You Take Military Leave
During periods of approved military leave under the Uniformed Services Employment and Re-employment Rights Act (USERRA), your Health, Dental and Vision Care coverage in effect at the time of the leave may be continued for up to 24 months. New York State continuation laws allow an additional 12 months for health coverage only, with the beneficiary paying 100 percent of the premium. This extension does not apply to dental or vision benefits. You will pay the same share of the premium as an active employee during FMLA leave, the full premium after FMLA leave and up to one year from the beginning of military service, and the COBRA premium rate (100 percent of premium plus a two percent administrative fee) for the balance of the leave.
If You Retire from the RF
If you retire after reaching age 55, with at least 10 years of full-time equivalent service, you may qualify to continue your benefits under the Retiree Health Plan. You must enroll in Medicare Parts A and B in order to continue secondary benefits from the RF. You may continue to pay for dental insurance with no age limitation. See the Retirement Life Event for more information.
Effective July 1, 2019, service in a postdoctoral classified position does not count toward eligibility for retiree health insurance.