A new law in Oregon, effective January 1, 2016, requires continuation of group health insurance coverage for employees taking leave under the Oregon Family Leave Act (OFLA).
Background
The OFLA applies to employers who employ 25 or more persons in Oregon for each working day during each of 20 or more calendar workweeks in the year in which the leave is to be taken or in the year immediately preceding the year in which the leave is to be taken.
Such employers must provide their workers with job protected leave to care for themselves or family members in cases of illness, injury, childbirth, bereavement,
and adoption.
Continuation of Group Coverage Under the new law, if an employee is provided group health insurance, he or she is entitled to the continuation of group health insurance coverage during the period of OFLA leave on the same terms as if the employee had continued to work. If family member coverage is provided to the employee, family member coverage must be maintained during the period of family leave. The employee must continue to make any regular contributions to the cost of the health insurance premiums.
