HomeHome < Employees < Making Benefit Changes < Leaves of Absence

There may be times during your career at UC when you need to take a leave of absence. There are a number of types of approved leaves of absence: Family and Medical Leave, Leave without Pay, Military Leave, Paid Leave, and Sabbatical.

How to request a leave
Talk to your supervisor to request a leave of absence.

Benefits while on leave
The chart explains what happens to your benefits if you take a leave of absence. You may wish to talk with your location's Benefits Office to make sure you understand all the implications of your leave.

If you move out of medical/dental service area
If you continue UC-sponsored medical or dental coverage and you move out of your plan's service area for more than two months during your leave, UC regulations allow you to transfer to a UC-sponsored plan that provides service in your new location. You must transfer within 31 days of the date you leave the service area. Contact your local Benefits Office. You and/or your eligible family members may also need to select a new primary care physician(s). Contact your medical plan carrier.

UCRP service credit
In most cases, you do not earn UCRP service credit while on a leave of absence. However, you may be able to buy back the service credit.

Returning from leave
When you return to work, records must be updated, benefits must be activated, and forms must be processed. If you continued coverage during your leave, at some locations coverage continues automatically. At other locations you must re-enroll. Because procedures vary by location, it is very important that you review your benefits with your local Benefits Office within 31 days after you return to work.

For some plans, you have a new period of initial eligibility (PIE) in which to enroll, re-enroll, or make changes. If you miss the PIE, some plans allow you to enroll during Open Enrollment, usually held in November. Other plans may require you to submit a statement of health to the insurance company; doing so, however, is no guarantee that you will be accepted. To be sure you get the coverage you want, sign up during your PIE.

In addition, you must meet all eligibility requirements when you return to work. If your appointment changes when you return to work, your new appointment will determine the benefits in which you may enroll. If you have family members eligible for coverage, contact your local Benefits Office to enroll them within your new 31-day PIE.

Retiring/ending employment while on leave
Contact your local Benefits Office if you end UC employment while on leave, and read the Termination of Employment Checklist [PDF]. Ask your Benefits Office for more information about your options for continuing group coverage.

If you decide to retire while on leave, see the Retirement Handbook [PDF] for information. Because a leave may affect your retirement benefits, be sure you discuss your options with your local Benefits Office before you elect to retire.

Quick Links

Can't find what you want?

University of California - Human Resources and Benefits
At Your Service | UCOP Home | Site Map | Terms of Use | Help

© Regents of the University of California