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A covered employer is required to maintain group health
insurance coverage for an employee on FMLA leave whenever
such insurance was provided before the leave was taken
and on the same terms as if the employee had continued
to work. If applicable, arrangements will need to be
made for employees to pay their share of health insurance
premiums while on leave. In some instances, the employer
may recover premiums it paid to maintain health coverage
for an employee who fails to return to work from FMLA
leave.
FMLA stands for the Family and Medical Leave Act. Covered
employers must extend unpaid leave to their eligible
employees up to the amount of twelve full work weeks
within a period
of twelve months.
The purpose of the FMLA is to create a way for the
employees to cope with the demands of illness and parenthood
through the benefit of having the option to take an
unpaid leave. The underlying goal of the law is to
encourage a stable living situation for families.
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