Health Benefits While on Military Leave

PEF and GOER have reached an agreement to provide health benefit protections to State employees who have been activated for military duty as a result of the September 11, 2001 attack on the United States. The new MOU is similar to those negotiated for past military conflicts but, for the first time, includes employees who are activated by the Governor in addition to those who are federally activated.

The employee's health care services will be provided free of charge by the military during this period of activation. Health, dental and vision care benefits will continue for the employee’s dependents, as long as the employee had been enrolled in these plans with dependent coverage for at least 30 days prior to being activated. Benefits will be provided to covered dependents at no cost to the employee for a period not to exceed 12 months from the date of activation, less any period the employee remains in full pay status. Benefits will cease to be provided at such time as the employee’s active duty is terminated or the employee returns to State employment, whichever occurs first.