Q: Do employers have to maintain the health benefits of employees on FMLA leave? If the employee doesn’t pay his or her premium, can the employer cancel the employee’s health benefits?
A: An employer is required to maintain group health coverage for an employee on FMLA leave on the same terms as if the employee had continued to work. For example, if an employee has family coverage under the health plan, the employee must be allowed to continue this family coverage during his or her FMLA leave. Health plan changes that apply to all active employees, such as changes in coverage, premiums or deductibles, must also apply to employees on FMLA leave.
An employer may require employees taking FMLA leave to pay their share of health plan premiums, although they cannot be required to pay more than what they would have paid if they had remained actively employed.
An employee may choose not to retain group health plan coverage while on FMLA leave, or may stop paying premiums for his or her coverage. Unless an employer has an established policy with a longer grace period, the employer is not required to maintain health coverage for an employee on FMLA leave if the employee’s premium payment is more than 30 days late.