Leaves of absence and GIC benefits

An overview of your health options under paid and unpaid leaves of absence.

Eligibility scenarios for paid and unpaid leaves of absence

Updated July, 2018

If you are a state employee taking an approved leave of absence without pay for medical reasons, you may continue to pay the employee share of the premium for your GIC benefits

Provided that your agency head approved your leave of absence, you may apply to continue paying the employee share of your basic life and health insurance premiums  Submit a completed Employment Status Change Form (Form 1A) and a letter from your agency head approving the leave to the GIC. You, your Agency Head or designee, and physician must all complete the Form 11 before it can be considered. The GIC will notify you of its decision. In the case of a leave without pay for reasons of personal illness, you must exhaust your vacation, sick, and compensatory time before a Form 11 can be submitted. You will be billed monthly for your GIC coverage. If you do not pay your GIC premium, or if your agency no longer continues your employment, your coverage will end.

If you are a state employee taking an approved, unpaid leave of absence under the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA), you may continue your GIC health and life coverage

You will be able to continue your GIC coverage at your current employee contribution percentage for up to twelve weeks.

Your benefit options if you go on military leave

State and Municipal employees with GIC coverage taking military leave of absence may do one of the following:

  • Cancel all GIC insurance coverage and be reinstated upon return from military leave. You will be reinstated with no waiting period with the same GIC coverage you had immediately prior to the military leave of absence. The Employment Status Change Form (Form 1A state or Form 1AMUN Municipal) and copy of the Military Discharge Release Form must be received at the GIC within 60 days of the return to work.
  • Cancel health coverage and retain life insurance only coverage (state employee only). You will be directly billed for the employee share of premium for the life insurance coverage; you may continue your life insurance coverage as long as the monthly premiums are paid.
  • If you have GIC benefits, you may continue GIC coverage as long as the monthly premiums are paid.

Additional Resources

Contact   for Leaves of absence and GIC benefits

Online

Fax

Operations
Fiscal (617) 367-9874

Address

GIC Print Forms and Member Correspondence Mailing Address
PO Box 556, Randolph, MA 02368
Street Address
John W. McCormack Building, 1 Ashburton Place, Suite 1619, Boston, MA 02108

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