University of Southern California

USC will continue to pay the employer portion of employee benefits for staff employees on medical leave for a maximum of 12 months of inactive leave of absence, including medical leave and others. Employees on an inactive leave of absence may continue their benefit enrollments for up to 12 months. Once 12 months have lapsed, coverage will end on the last day of the month when eligibility ceases.

Note that to maintain coverage, employees must arrange to continue paying their portion of insurance premiums in a timely manner by contacting the HR Service Center.

If premiums exceed 90 days of nonpayment, USC will cancel all employee benefits, and the employee will not be eligible for COBRA; employees who lose medical insurance should visit www.healthcare.gov or call 800-318-2596 (24/7 access) to review medical insurance options made available through the Affordable Care Act.

In cases where an employee is receiving workers' compensation benefits from USC’s third-party administrator, Broadspire, in lieu of disability payments, or if disability payments are not sufficient to pay benefit premiums, the employee must arrange to continue paying their portion of the benefit premiums. Premium payments must be made via credit card or cashier's check made payable to "USC" and mailed to USC Benefits at 3720 S Flower St, CUB 200, Los Angeles, CA 90089-0704.

For medical, dental, and vision benefits – when the university stops paying the employer portion, employees will have the opportunity to elect COBRA coverage. In most cases, COBRA allows employees and their dependents to continue health, Rx, dental, and vision benefit coverage for 18 months. However, in certain circumstances, dependents may remain eligible for COBRA coverage for additional time. Under COBRA,  participants are responsible for paying the full cost of premium plus an administrative fee.

If COBRA is not a viable option, visit www.healthcare.gov or call 800-318-2596 (24/7 access) to review options available through the Affordable Care Act.

Employees who lose eligibility for life and accidental death & dismemberment coverage may choose to port and convert their policies within 30 days of their loss of coverage. Additionally, active employees who are totally disabled and under the age of 60 for at least 6 consecutive months may file a claim with the insurance carrier to have life insurance premiums waived for the duration of their disability. This claim must be filed during the first 12 months of the disability.