Learn how your benefits will be affected when you take an unpaid leave of absence.
Need to request a leave? See the Unpaid Leave Request form.
Your benefits will change according to the length of your leave. The chart below summarizes these changes.
If you continue coverage during your leave and your payments are delinquent more than 30 days, your coverage will be cancelled, and you will be offered coverage under the provisions of the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA).
| Plan | Leave of Less Than Three Months | Leave of Three Months or Greater |
|---|---|---|
| Health | You must continue your coverage. Contributions will be deducted upon your return to pay status. |
You may continue or cancel your coverage. If you continue coverage and do not return the Continuing Benefits Form, you will be billed automatically. If you cancel coverage, it will not be reinstated automatically. You have 31 days following your return to MIT to re-enroll. |
| Dental | You must continue your coverage. Contributions will be deducted upon your return to pay status. | You may continue or cancel your coverage. If you continue coverage and do not return the Continuing Benefits Form, you will be billed automatically. If you cancel coverage, it will not be reinstated automatically. You have 31 days following your return to MIT to re-enroll. |
| Supplemental Life Insurance | You must continue your coverage. Contributions will be deducted upon your return to pay status. | You may continue or cancel your coverage. If you continue coverage, you will be billed automatically. If you cancel coverage and wish to reapply when you return to MIT, you must submit Evidence of Insurability satisfactory to the insurance company. Contact the MIT Benefits when you return for forms and details. |
| Flexible Spending Accounts Health / Dependent Care | Contributions do not continue. Upon return your remaining deductions are evenly divided over the pay periods remaining in the year. | Contributions do not continue. |
| Tuition Assistance | You will be reimbursed for eligible courses only when you return to work at MIT. | You will be reimbursed for eligible courses only when you return to work at MIT. |
| Adoption Assistance | You must be on an approved unpaid leave at the time expenses are paid and the adoption is finalized. | You must be on an approved unpaid leave at the time expenses are paid and the adoption is finalized. |
| Backup Child/Adult Care (Care.com) | You will continue to be eligible during an approved unpaid leave of absence. | You will continue to be eligible during an approved unpaid leave of absence. |
| Childcare Scholarship Program | You will continue to be eligible during an approved unpaid leave of absence. | You will continue to be eligible during an approved unpaid leave of absence. |