Insurance While on Leave

If you're enrolled in benefits, MD Anderson continues to pay the employer portion of your insurance premiums for the month if you meet at least one of the following criteria during the same month:

• Work at least one day
• Take at least one day of leave that is covered by Family Medical Leave
• Use at least one day of paid leave Ex: Reduced Paid Leave, Paid Time Off or Extended Illness Bank

For employees enrolled in the medical plan, this means MD Anderson pays 100% of the premiums for your medical coverage (or part of if you receive part-time benefits) for each month you meet one of the criteria above. However, if you are on leave that is not covered by FML and/or you do not receive at least one day of pay in a calendar calendar month, you must pay the premiums normally paid by MD Anderson in addition to the premiums you regularly pay.

Example – Premiums for medical coverage
Sally Employee works full-time and covers only herself on the medical plan. Following is a summary of her leave and the amount she pays in premiums each month.

• She begins her FML on February 13th
• Her leave is no longer covered by FML on March 6th
• She does not receive any pay during April
• She returns to work on May 7th

Because Sally was on a non-FML leave for the full month of April and she did not receive any pay, she is responsible for both her normal premiums and MD Anderson's portion of the premiums for this month.

Optional coverage is any insurance other than the basic package for you (which includes the UT SELECT medical plan.) These premiums are normally deducted from your paycheck. Examples of optional coverage include medical coverage for your dependents and dental, vision, life for you and your dependents. 

On paid leave including Reduced Paid Leave?

• Your coverage remains unchanged. You and MD Anderson continue to pay premiums as when you are working. 
•  Premiums are deducted from your paycheck according to the normal pay schedule. Please be aware, MD Anderson may collect a full month's premium from one paycheck for this coverage.

On Family Medical Leave but not receiving pay?

• On the first of the month following your transition to unpaid leave, your insurance will be reduced to employee only medical coverage and your optional coverage is placed on hold.  
• MD Anderson continues to pay its portion of your insurance premiums. 
• If you'd like to continue your optional coverage, you must contact Benefits to submit your premium payment and make future payment arrangements before going on leave without pay.  You can continue all or none of your optional coverage. You are not able to pick and choose the coverage to continue. 
• If your optional coverage is placed on hold, the coverage will restart on the first of the month after your pay resumes.
• Employees receiving premium share dollars towards optional coverage instead of medical coverage will continue to receive the premiums during this period. 

On a leave that is not covered by FML and not receiving pay?

• On the first of the month following your transition to leave without pay, all coverage (including your medical insurance) is placed on hold.
• If you'd like to continue your medical and optional coverage, you are responsible for the insurance premiums MD Anderson pays for your coverage and your premiums you normally pay.  
• If you'd like to continue your coverage, you must contact Benefits to submit your premium payment and make future payment arrangements before going on leave without pay. You may continue all or none of your current insurance coverage. You are not able to pick and choose the coverage to continue.
• If your coverage is placed on hold, the coverage will restart on the first of the month after your pay resumes.

Ready to make payment arrangements?

Contact HRBenefits@mdanderson.org or 713-745-6947.
Faculty should contact FacExecBenefits@mdanderson.org or call 713-792-7600.

Not returning to MD Anderson after your leave of absence?

Medical coverage for you is cancelled retroactively to the later of the:

• End of the last month in which you were on FML or
• End of the last month in which your premiums were fully paid if you were not on FML.

Optional coverage is cancelled retroactively to the last month in which your premiums were fully paid. 

If your premiums were current when your coverage and employment ends, you are entitled to continue your group health benefits in accordance with the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA.) If your coverage was cancelled due to non-payment and your employment is terminated, you are not eligible for COBRA.