If you receive UW paid health insurance and you meet Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) eligibility requirements (see sidebar to the right), you will receive employer-paid health insurance coverage, except for premiums or copays, for up to 12 weeks of FMLA covered parental leave, even if you are on leave without pay.
If you receive UW paid health insurance, your health insurance will continue while you are in pay status even if you do not meet FMLA eligibility requirements. You are considered to be in pay status while using annual leave, sick leave, compensatory time, or your personal holiday. You will remain responsible for any insurance premiums or copays for your health care plan. If you have a limited amount of paid leave, you are allowed to spread out (intersperse) your use of paid leave by using eight hours of leave in a month for up to four months so that your health insurance can continue during those months. See the Planning and Requesting Leave web page for information about your leave eligibility and for help in determining how much paid leave you are likely to have when your parental leave starts.
If you do not have sufficient paid leave to cover your absence and you are not FMLA eligible, you will have to self-pay to continue health insurance coverage.
You will have the opportunity to add your newborn or newly placed child to your health insurance coverage - see below.
If you are not eligible for FMLA covered leave, and you will not have enough paid leave to maintain your health insurance coverage, see the self-pay web page.
Consider asking your department's administrator, payroll coordinator, or leave specialist to help you to determine your leave balances and FMLA eligibility. You may also contact your department's Human Resources Consultant for assistance.
Decide if you want to add your child to your UW health insurance plans and, if so, when. This decision may depend on what other health insurance coverage your family may have. To add a newborn or newly adopted/placed child to your health insurance plan:
Read complete information about adding a dependent child to your health insurance plan.
Becoming a Parent
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