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Benefits While On Leave With Partial Pay Benefits While On Leave Without Pay View All/Print
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Effective January 1, 2009

How Leave Without Pay Affects Your Employee Benefits

The information provided here is intended to be a quick reference regarding the policies and procedures for maintaining your benefits coverage as well as the length of time coverage may continue during your leave without pay.

You will find your first monthly billing statement enclosed. Bills are generated for any premiums required to maintain your current coverages. Additional bills will be sent to you on a monthly basis. If you fail to remit timely payment, you will lose coverage. University employees should return the billing statement, along with the payment, to the University Human Resources Payroll Division at 914 Emmet Street. The first payment must be received and posted to your account within 45 days of the billing’s preparation date or coverage will be cancelled. Subsequent payments must be posted by the 30th day of the month indicated on each statement to prevent cancellation. If coverage is cancelled due to lack of payment, enrollment in the health plan cannot be requested until the next open enrollment period or the occurrence of a mid-year qualifying event.

Nine-pay faculty members are billed a “special premium” for coverage during the three summer months. The University will pay the employer cost for the summer if the faculty member returns from leave before summer begins.

If you are within 60 days of the date you went on leave without pay, you can waive coverage or reduce your membership while on leave without pay. Please complete the attached waiver form or contact your Benefits Counselor for an application to drop dependents as your request must be received at the Benefits Division within 60 days of going on leave without pay. All changes are effective the 1st of the month following receipt of the form at the Benefits Division. Employees who waived coverage or reduced membership within 60 days of going on leave may re-enroll in coverage within 60 days of their return from leave without pay by completing appropriate enrollment forms. All changes are effective the 1st of the month following receipt of the form at the Benefits Division.

If your coverage is cancelled because you miss your first payment, you have the option, according to federal law (COBRA), to extend continuous health coverage for as long as 18 months at your own expense. The enrollment form for COBRA coverage must be completed and returned to the Benefits Division at 914 Emmet Street within 60 days of going on leave without pay or receipt of this letter, whichever is later. Premiums are 102% of the cost for regular coverage and are required 45 days after the election of COBRA Extended Coverage.

If you have questions, would like to elect COBRA Extended Coverage or need more information regarding your benefits while on leave without pay, please call the Benefits Division at (434) 924-4392.

PERSONAL LEAVE WITHOUT PAY (UP TO 24 MONTHS)
  • Health Care Coverage: Coverage may continue six (6) months; the employer pays no contribution and the employee pays the entire cost.
  • Retirement: The employer makes no contribution; no service credit is earned and service credit cannot be purchased upon return.
  • Life Insurance Coverage: Coverage may continue 24 months; the employer makes full contribution.
  • Disability Insurance Coverage and VSDP Disability Benefit: Coverage may continue 24 months; the employer pays its contribution and the employee pays the employee premium.
  • Supplemental Life and Accidental Death & Dismemberment Coverage: The employee pays the full premium, which is normally deducted from their paycheck.
ILL HEALTH LEAVE WITHOUT PAY (UP TO 12 MONTHS)
  • Health Care Coverage: Coverage may continue twelve (12) months; the employer pays its contribution with certification of disability and only if the employee pays the employee premium. Without certification, the leave is treated as personal leave.
  • Retirement: Available through LTD coverage.
  • Life Insurance Coverage: Coverage may continue 12 months; the employer makes full contribution.
  • Disability Insurance Coverage and VSDP Disability Benefit: Coverage may continue 12 months; the employer pays its contribution and the employee pays the employee premium.
  • Supplemental Life and Accidental Death
  • Dismemberment Coverage: The employee pays the full premium, which is normally deducted from their paycheck.
FAMILY AND MEDICAL LEAVE WITHOUT PAY (UP TO TWELVE WEEKS)
  • Health Care Coverage: Coverage may continue twelve (12) weeks; the employer pays its contribution and the employee pays the employee premium.
  • Retirement: The employer makes no contribution; no service credit is earned; service credit can be purchased upon return.
  • Life Insurance Coverage: Coverage may continue for the duration of the leave; the employer makes full contribution.
  • Disability Insurance Coverage and VSDP Disability Benefit: Coverage may continue for the duration of the leave; the employer pays its contribution and the employee pays the employee premium.
  • Supplemental Life and Accidental Death & Dismemberment Coverage: The employee pays the full premium, which is normally deducted from their paycheck.
EDUCATIONAL LEAVE WITHOUT PAY
  • Health Care Coverage: Coverage may continue 24 months; the employer pays no contribution and the employee pays the entire cost.
  • FRP Retirement: The employer contributes the lesser of its full amount or the IRS limit for up to 24 months.
  • VRS Retirement: The employer makes contributions for up to 24 months.
  • Life Insurance Coverage: Coverage may continue 24 months; the employer makes full contribution.
  • Disability Insurance Coverage and VRS Disability Benefit: Coverage may continue 24 months; the employer pays its contribution and the employee pays the employee premium.
  • Supplemental Life and Accidental Death & Dismemberment Coverage: The employee pays the full premium, which is normally deducted from their paycheck.
AGENCY CONVENIENCE LEAVE (UP TO 4 MONTHS)
  • Health Care Coverage: Coverage may continue four (4) months; the employer pays its contribution and the employee pays the employee premium.
  • Retirement: The employer makes no contribution; no service credit is earned and service credit cannot be purchased upon return.
  • Life Insurance Coverage: Coverage may continue for the duration of the leave; the employer makes full contribution
  • Disability Insurance Coverage and VSDP Disability Benefit: Coverage may continue for the duration of the leave; the employer pays its contribution and the employee pays the employee premium.
  • Supplemental Life and Accidental Death & Dismemberment Coverage: The employee pays the full premium, which is normally deducted from their paycheck.
MODIFIED SERVICE LEAVE WITH PARTIAL PAY (UP TO 6 MONTHS OR ONE SEMESTER)
  • Health Care Coverage: Coverage may continue three (3) months; the employer pays no contribution and the employee pays the entire cost.
  • FRP Retirement: The employer contributes a prorated amount towards retirement.
  • VRS Retirement: The employer makes prorated contributions.
  • Life Insurance Coverage: Coverage may continue for the duration of the leave; the employer makes full contribution.
  • Disability Insurance Coverage and VSDP Disability Benefit: Coverage may continue for the duration of the leave; the employer pays its contribution and the employee pays the employee premium.
  • Supplemental Life and Accidental Death & Dismemberment Coverage: The employee pays the full premium, which is normally deducted from their paycheck.
MILITARY LEAVE WITHOUT PAY
  • Health Care Coverage: Coverage is not available. Dependents may enroll in COBRA.
  • FRP Retirement: The employer contributes the lesser of its full amount or the IRS limit for the extent of the leave.
  • VRS Retirement: The employer makes no contribution; no service credit is earned; service credit can be purchased upon return.
  • Life Insurance Coverage: Coverage may continue 24 months; the employer makes full contribution.
  • Disability Insurance Coverage and VSDP Disability Benefit: Coverage is not available.
  • Supplemental Life and Accidental Death & Dismemberment Coverage: Coverage is not available.
MILITARY LEAVE WITHOUT PAY; CALLED TO ACTIVE SERVICE
  • Health Care Coverage: Coverage may continue on COBRA for employee and dependents for 24 months; the employer pays its contribution and the employee pays the employee premium; no 2% administrative fee is charged.
  • FRP Retirement: The employer contributes the lesser of its full amount or the IRS limit for the extent of the leave.
  • VRS Retirement: The employer makes no contribution; no service credit is earned; service credit can be purchased upon return; if the employee returns to covered employment within 12 months of honorable or general discharge, service credit can be granted at no cost and will count towards service retirement if appropriate forms are submitted.
  • Life Insurance Coverage: Coverage may continue 24 months; the employer makes full contribution.
  • Disability Insurance Coverage and VSDP Disability Benefit: Coverage is not available.
  • Supplemental Life and Accidental Death & Dismemberment Coverage: Coverage may continue 24 months; the employee pays the full premium which is normally deducted from their paycheck.
FAMILY LEAVE WITHOUT PAY (UP TO 12 MONTHS)
  • Health Care Coverage: Coverage may continue six (6) months; the employer pays no contribution and the employee pays the entire cost.
  • Retirement: The employer makes no contribution; no service credit is earned and service credit cannot be purchased upon return.
  • Life Insurance Coverage: Coverage may continue the duration of the leave; the employer makes full contribution.
  • Disability Insurance Coverage and VSDP Disability Benefit: Coverage may continue the duration of the leave; the employer pays its contribution and the employee pays the employee premium.
  • Supplemental Life and Accidental Death & Dismemberment Coverage: The employee pays the full premium, which is normally deducted from their paycheck.
SESQUI LEAVE (ONE SEMESTER FULL PAY AND ONE SEMESTER NO PAY OR TWO SEMESTERS HALF PAY)
  • Health Care Coverage: Coverage may continue for the duration of the leave; the employer pays its contribution and the employee pays the employee premium.
  • FRP Retirement: The employer contributes the lesser of its full amount or the IRS limit for the duration of the leave.
  • VRS Retirement: The employer makes contributions for the duration.
  • Life Insurance Coverage: Coverage may continue for the duration of the leave; the employer makes full contribution.
  • Disability Insurance Coverage and VSDP Disability Benefit: Coverage may continue for the duration of the leave; the employer pays its contribution and the employee pays the employee premium.
  • Supplemental Life and Accidental Death & Dismemberment Coverage: The employee pays the full premium, which is normally deducted from their paycheck.
INVALID VISA LEAVE
  • Health Care Coverage: Coverage may continue six (6) months; the employer pays no contribution and the employee pays the entire cost.
  • Retirement: The employer makes no contribution; no service credit is earned; service credit can be purchased upon return.
  • Life Insurance Coverage: Coverage may continue 24 months; the employer makes full contribution.
  • Disability Insurance Coverage and VSDP Disability Benefit: Coverage may continue 24 months; the employer pays its contribution and the employee pays the employee premium.
  • Supplemental Life and Accidental Death & Dismemberment Coverage: The employee pays the full premium, which is normally deducted from their paycheck.
ADOPTION/FOSTER CARE LEAVE (UP TO 3 WEEKS PAID AND 9 WEEKS UNPAID)
  • Health Care Coverage: Coverage may continue nine (9) weeks; the employer pays its contribution and the employee pays the employee premium.
  • FRP Retirement: The employer contributes the lesser of its full amount or the IRS limit for the paid portion of the leave.
  • VRS Retirement: The employer makes contributions for the paid portion of the leave.
  • Life Insurance Coverage: Coverage may continue for the duration of the leave; the employer makes full contribution.
  • Disability Insurance Coverage and VSDP Disability Benefit: Coverage may continue for the duration of the leave; the employer pays its contribution and the employee pays the employee premium.
  • Supplemental Life and Accidental Death & Dismemberment Coverage: The employee pays the full premium, which is normally deducted from their paycheck.
How Leave With Partial Pay Affects Your Employee Benefits

The information provided here is intended to be a quick reference regarding the benefits coverage during your leave with partial pay.

Faculty are entitled to continuation of employer-sponsored benefits while on a leave with partial pay. The position itself remains a salaried, benefit-eligible position; however, the faculty employee’s hours and salary are reduced.

The reasons for a leave with partial pay may include, but are not limited to: for the temporary loss of grant funding, as part of a phased retirement, or related to educational or Sesqui leave. Leave with partial pay must be approved by the appropriate dean or unit head and can be approved for a period of up to 24 months.

LEAVE WITH PARTIAL PAY
  • Health Care Coverage: Coverage continues; the employer pays employer contribution and the employee pays the employee cost.
  • Retirement: The employer contribution continues based on reduced salary.
  • Basic Life Insurance Coverage: Coverage continues; the employer makes full contribution.
  • Disability Insurance Coverage and VSDP Disability Benefit: Coverage continues; the employer pays its contribution; no employee premium required.
  • Supplemental Life and Accidental Death & Dismemberment Coverage: The employee pays the full premium, which is normally deducted from their paycheck.
  • Flexible Spending and Tax Deferred Savings Plans: Employee funded benefits may continue so long as reduced salary covers benefit deduction amounts.
  • Cash Match: Employer continues cash match on employees tax deferred savings contributions, 50% match not to exceed employer contribution of $40.00 per month.