Maternity Leave Questions

[celina]

I work for a small company in California (there’s 3 of us total including the owner). I realize they do not have to keep my position open for my while I’m on maternity leave, but they plan to. So my question is this, who’s responsible for my health insurance while I’m on maternity leave? They currently pay it every month. Are they obligated to continue to cover it while I’m out?

Thanks.

[solongtogo]

They pay the total amount every month?

I would assume that they are responsible for continuing while you are out on maternity. As it stands, you are returning to work, therefore will be on their health plan after maternity leave. I don't think they can just drop you for 6 weeks, then add you again. If they can, that would be pretty shady.

[celina]

Yes, they pay the full amount for me.

I don't think they would drop me, but expect me to reimburse them for the amount they pay while I'm out (3 months).

[gardenmommy]

My work situation and health coverage sounds similar to yours. Small company and hey currently pay off of my coverage. I have 12 weeks paid leave woth STD.

Accoring to my HR contact my health insurance only covers me 6 weeks after I leave. If I want to continue it I have to pay for it or get COBRA.

I'd ask your HR person sooner than later as it seems every policy differs.

[celina]

We don't have a HR person. :(

[jennylou]

I think you might have to ask the owner directly. I'm not sure they are legally required to keep covering you, but I could be wrong.

[mimieliza]

I don't think they are legally required to do anything. But, when you bring it up with your boss/company manager, point out that if they pay the health insurance while you're out, you would be obligated to pay it back if you decided not to go back to work (that's how a lot of companies that fall under FMLA handle it). So by paying while you're out, they are doing that much more to guarantee that you'll come back. :)

[kmmommy]

I can only speak from my experience. The company I work for continued to pay my insurance and billied me for my premium that I've always paid (after my disability ran out). I would guess the company would cover it while you're out.

[BeachBum]

I think it is totally negotiable. Since they aren't required to hold your position, or pay you I would assume they wouldn't have to pay your insurance either, but yet you don't want to loose it. Perhaps you could reimburse them for the costs? or better yet they will keep paying unless you don't return to work after your leave.

I would just talk to the owner directly and ASAP. He probably hasn't thought about it either. Just set up a time to talk generally about how things will work while your gone (who will handle your duties, etc etc etc). Don't pressure him to make a choice at that moment, just bring it up so he can be thinking about it.

[lee60657]

Hi! I was in a very similar situation to you.....I work for a very small company, no HR person, no handbook, actually we really don't have any policies at all...they are sort of handled as situations came up. I actually went on "maternity leave" without even talking to my boss about when I was coming back!! :eek: But we did speak about my continuing to receive my full pay and my benefits (he paid for my insurance in full). For him it was enough that he knew I was coming back to work. I recommend that you speak with your boss about it directly..if you have a good relationship with him, I am sure you can work something out. Has anyone else who worked there gone on maternity leave or any type of leave? Maybe you could ask them about it? I know it was a bit odd for my boss because he had not had to deal with this before. Good Luck!!!

[MtySheera]

I work for a large company in CA, so your company could be different. According to our employee handbook, my employer will pay benefits, including medical until someone returns from leave, but if the person decides not to come back to work, they must pay the amount back to the company. I'm really not sure if they enforce that though.