Q.- We are a small employer with 25 employees. One of our employees has a substance abuse problem. She is reducing her hours to work 10 hours a week so she can attend rehab meetings. What should we do with her health insurance? We only offer health coverage to employees who work 30 or more hours per week.
A.- Assuming your organization is not subject to the Family and Medical Leave Act, the employee’s reduction of hours would be a COBRA qualifying event. She may continue to participate in your group health plan if she elects to pay for that coverage under COBRA. If she resumes working 30 or more hours a week when her rehab is complete, and is again eligible for health coverage, her COBRA coverage would cease at that time and she would resume participation on your active employee plan.