Who Pays Health Insurance Premiums While on FMLA Leave

If you're taking Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) leave, you might be wondering who pays your health insurance premiums. The employer typically pays the premiums for health insurance while you're on FMLA leave.

Employers are required to continue paying group health premiums during the FMLA leave period. This is a mandatory provision under the FMLA.

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The employer is required to maintain health insurance policies on the same basis as coverage would have been provided if the employee had been continuously employed during the FMLA leave period.

The employee's share of group health plan premiums must continue to be paid by the employee during the FMLA leave period. If premiums are raised or lowered, the employee would be required to pay the new premium rates.

If FMLA leave is unpaid, the employer has several options for obtaining payment from the employee. These options include requiring payment to be made to the employer or to the insurance carrier, but no additional charge may be added to the employee's premium payment for administrative expenses.

Payment of premiums can be due at the same time as it would be made if by payroll deduction, or on the same schedule as payments are made under COBRA.

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The employee must continue to pay their share of group health plan premiums during the FMLA leave period, including any premium increases or decreases.

You'll need to make arrangements with your insurer to pay premiums during periods of unpaid FMLA leave, as maintenance of health insurance policies outside of your employer's group health plan is your sole responsibility.

If you're taking FMLA leave, your employer may require you to pay your share of premiums by the same method used for payroll deductions during paid leave.

In the event of unpaid FMLA leave, your employer has several options for obtaining payment from you, including requiring payment at the same time as payroll deductions, on the same schedule as COBRA payments, or according to their existing rules for payment by employees on leave without pay.

Your employer must provide you with advance written notice of the terms and conditions under which these payments must be made.

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Your employer must continue your health insurance while you're on leave, but they can require you to pay your usual share of the premium.

Typically, this means your employer will deduct your share of the premium from your paycheck as usual, even during paid vacation periods. During unpaid leave, however, you'll need to make other arrangements to pay for your benefits.

You can negotiate with your employer to find an alternative payment method that works for you, such as making one large payment or prepaying your premiums through larger paycheck deductions.

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