4154, 4254, 4354 - Health and Welfare Benefits

1. All Employees

If an employee is absent on an unpaid leave, except approved family medical leave, during an entire calendar month, their insurance coverage will be terminated the last month in paid status. Examples of unpaid leaves include, but are not limited to, child bearing preparation leave, child rearing leave, absence without leave (awol), suspension and other leaves of absence. Employees may elect to continue benefits, at their own expense, through COBRA.

Insurance coverage for all employees will terminate on the last day of the month in which the employee resigns, retires, is laid off or involuntary terminated, provided the employee either worked or is in paid status for at least one day during the month in which the resignation, retirement, lay off or involuntary termination becomes effective.

2. SBCTA and CSEA Bargaining Unit Members

Any member of SBCTA bargaining unit or member of CSEA bargaining unit who has fulfilled their assigned contract work days for the fiscal year during the month of May and subsequently resigns, retires, or is laid off during the month of May will continue to receive insurance coverage through June 30. Any contributions to the cost of health and welfare will be the responsibility of the member for June coverage.

Management, confidential, certificated and classified employees who retire from the County Schools Office after having reached age 55 and having completed ten (10) consecutive years of full-time service with the County Schools Office immediately prior to such retirement are eligible for the retirement program described below. Election to purchase and/or receive benefits is a one-time option at the time of retirement. Any break in coverage will terminate eligibility. COBRA rights will be offered when eligibility for the program is terminated.

1. Eligible retirees may purchase as outlined in the available benefit package for the retiree and spouse until the retiree reaches age 65 or qualifies for Medicare, whichever comes first.

2. Retiree shall reimburse the County Schools Office for fifty percent (50%) of the cost of employee’s medical insurance coverage and seventy-five percent (75%) of the cost for the spouse’s medical insurance coverage in accordance with the current schedule of costs incurred by the County Schools Office for such coverage. Dental and vision benefits may also be purchased by the retiree at the full cost incurred by the County Schools Office. Should such reimbursement not be received by the County Schools Office by the first of the month following a covered insurance month (30 day grace period), the County Schools Office may terminate such coverage immediately.

3. At the Superintendent’s discretion, other options may be exercised.

Approved September 15, 1994
Revised August 21, 1998
Revised July 28, 2000
Revised February 20, 2007
Revised October 8, 2013

* The Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) is a federal statute. It gives employees and their families who lose their health benefits the right to choose to continue group health benefits provided by their group health plan for limited periods of time under certain circumstances such as voluntary or involuntary job loss, reduction in the hours worked, transition between jobs, death, divorce, and other life events. The cost of premiums is paid by the employee or family member.