Maintaining Benefits While on a Leave of Absence

Your Department Personnel Representative will provide you with an LOA information package, billing notice and remittance form. It includes instructions on where to send payments. If you do not receive this information when starting an approved LOA, please follow-up with your Department Personnel Representative immediately.

If coverage is cancelled due to non-payment of premiums when due, you will only be allowed to re-enroll during the next annual open enrollment period. 

The cost of your Group Benefits depends on the type of leave:

• Illness related (i.e. Family Medical Leave-FMLA, disability, worker's compensation, maternity etc.) -- you will be responsible for paying the same benefit plan deductions as from your biweekly paycheck.
• Not illness related (i.e. educational, suspension, personal, etc.) -- you will be responsible for paying both the employee cost and County contributions.
• Military Leave - Contact your Department Personnel Representative.

The first payment is due within two weeks of your last insurance payroll deductions. Thereafter, premium payments are due biweekly, in advance of the pay period to be covered.

Make checks payable to Miami-Dade County.

Personal checks returned by the bank for insufficient funds must be replaced with a cashier’s check or money order for the full amount, including a returned check fee. Once this happens, personal checks will no longer be accepted. All other payments must be made with a cashier’s check or money order.

If your coverage is cancelled for non-payment of premiums, you must wait until the annual open enrollment period to re-enroll. Coverage will be effective January 1, except for optional life insurance and income protection (disability) which are subject to medical review and approval is not guaranteed. If approved, coverage will not be effective until you are actively at work.

The first payment is due within two weeks of your last insurance payroll deductions. Thereafter, premium payments are due biweekly, in advance of the pay period to be covered.

Make checks payable to Miami-Dade County.

Personal checks returned by the bank for insufficient funds must be replaced with a cashier’s check or money order for the full amount, including a returned check fee. Once this happens, personal checks will no longer be accepted. All other payments must be made with a cashier’s check or money order.

You can temporarily cancel your health insurance coverage. Submit a Flexible Benefits Change in Status Form and Benefit Election Change Form to your DPR within 45 days of being in a no-pay status.

To reinstate coverage upon returning to pay status (within 45 days), submit a new Change in Status form and Insurance Status Change Form to your Department Personnel Representative. Be aware that life insurance and disability will not be automatically reinstated. You will be subject to the medical review process. Approval is not guaranteed by the insurance carrier. If approved, coverage will not be effective until you are actively at work.

You must report a family status change (marriage or divorce) within 45 days of the event. The deadline is 60 days for newborns, adoption, or placement for adoption. Submit the Flexible Benefits Change in Status Form and Benefit Election Change Form to your Department Personnel Representative. If the status change results in a premium adjustment, contact your DPR to determine the cost for the current employee biweekly rates.

Follow-up with your Departmental Personnel Representative if you do not receive a revised LOA billing notice. Do not delay the payment for this reason, otherwise you risk having your coverage cancelled for non-payment.

You can choose to remove your dependents while keeping your personal coverage. Submit the Flexible Benefits Change in Status Form and Benefit Election Change Form to your Departmental Personnel Representative within 45 days of being in a no-pay status.

You can choose to remove your dependents while keeping your personal coverage. Submit the Flexible Benefits Change in Status Form and Benefit Election Change Form to your DPR within 45 days of being in a no-pay status.