FAQ | Leave and Absences Health Insurance While I Am on Leave of Absence
More about NYS PFL:
Can I keep my health insurance while I am on a leave of absence?
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NYS PFL will run concurrent with FMLA (when you are not disabled).
Yes, while you are on an approved leave of absence you are covered by your health insurance benefits.
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While on FMLA/PFL, you will be paid your regular salary using your PTO days.
NOTE: While you are not being paid by Mount Sinai, health insurance deductions will continue to be made. When you return to work, your unpaid benefits deductions will be taken from your paycheck, in addition to deductions for your current coverage. Your benefit deductions will automatically be taken for the amount that is in arrears. Arrears are based on the number of pay periods that you were not paid by Mount Sinai.
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Once you have exhausted your earned PTO/vacation days, you will be eligible to receive weekly PFL payments from The Hartford in the amount of 67 percent of your salary but not above $1,068.36, which is the capped Average Weekly Wage in New York State (for 2022).
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NYS PFL can be taken for up to one year after the arrival of a new child or one year after placement in the home or to care for an ill family member.
Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) What is FMLA? FMLA is the Family and Medical Leave Act, a federal law that allows you to take up to a 12-week unpaid leave of absence from work for your own serious illness, disability, or to care for an immediate family member. FMLA allows you to maintain your medical benefits and provides job security. To qualify for FMLA, you must have been employed for 12 months when the leave starts, and you must have worked 1,250 hours during that time. Who qualifies as an immediate family member under FMLA? The employee’s spouse, child, or parent qualifies as an “immediate” family member. If any one of the immediate family members has a serious medical condition, and you will be caring for them, you may qualify for FMLA.
Short Term Disability (STD) What is Short-Term Disability? •
NYS Short-Term Disability is a state regulation that allows Mount Sinai to pay you using your sick days while you are on leave of absence for your own illness or disability.
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The length of time for Short-Term Disability is dependent on the type of illness/surgery, recovery time required by your physician, and the approval of your leave of absence by The Hartford.
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STD for childbirth is generally from six to eight weeks, depending on the type of birth. However, disability may also occur prior to the birth, which would be additional time.
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While you are considered disabled (unable to work due to illness or injury), you will be paid your regular salary by using your earned sick days.
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If your sick days are exhausted prior to the end of your disability leave, you are eligible to receive STD payments of $170 per week from The Hartford.
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If you are enrolled in the Enhanced STD, you are eligible to receive 66.66 percent of your income, capped at $1,000 per week.
Can unused FMLA be carried over to future calendar years? No. FMLA starts the day the employee goes out on the qualified leave of absence and lasts for up to 12 weeks (or 60 days) of FMLA in a 12-month period from the date of the event. Unused FMLA for the one-year (12-month period) does not carry over to the next year(s).
New York State Paid Family Leave (NYS PFL) What is NYS Paid Family Leave?
What types of conditions qualify for STD?
NYS PFL (also referred to as PFL) is a state law that provides employees up to 12 weeks (as of 2021) of paid leave of absence that allows you to bond with a new child, care for a sick family member, or assist a family member when they are deployed abroad on active military duty. To qualify for PFL, you need to have worked 26 consecutive weeks and 20 hours or more per week. If you worked less than 20 hours per week, then you will qualify for PFL after 175 days of work. For a birth parent, once no longer considered “disabled” (unable to work due to illness or injury), you are eligible to take NYS PFL.
Short-Term Disability may cover the employee’s own pregnancy, or accidental injury or illness not related to work. STD insurance replaces a portion of the employee’s income.
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Am I eligible for both STD and FMLA at the same time? Yes. STD (paid) runs concurrent with FMLA (unpaid), provided you have met the qualifications for both STD and FMLA. You will be paid sick time during this period.
