Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act

USERRA protects the job rights of individuals who voluntarily or involuntarily leave employment positions to undertake military service or certain types of service in the National Disaster Medical System. USERRA also prohibits employers from discriminating against past and present members of the uniformed services, and applicants to the uniformed services.  The section below contains information regarding your health insurance protection rights while on military leave.  For full information about you other rights under USERRA, please see the Notice of your Rights under USERRA.

Health Insurance Protection

If the participant is on a military leave of less than 31 days, health care coverage for the participant and the participant's eligible dependents continues as long as the participant continues paying the applicable portion of the cost of coverage. If the participant's leave is longer than 31 days, the participant may continue coverage under rules similar to those for COBRA coverage.

The participant may continue coverage for 24 months or the period of duty, whichever is less. (This period also may offset any available period of COBRA coverage, if applicable.) The participant pays the full cost of coverage for him- or herself and his or her dependents plus a 2% administration fee (102% of the premium).

When the participant's leave ends, he or she will not be subject to a waiting or pre-existing condition period except for illnesses or injuries incurred or aggravated during the participant's leave duties.

If the participant is a member of the ready reserve of the armed forces and is called to active duty as a result of Executive Order 13223, special provisions regarding the participant's leave and health care coverage may apply. For more information, contact Employee Services.