Workplace Benefits - FAQs:
- If employees get the flu from contact with a customer or other employee, are they eligible for workers’ compensation?
- Are employees still covered by the employer’s health plan if their worksite closes as a result of an influenza pandemic outbreak?
- If a worksite closes due to illness, how does an employee locate the plan administrator, or file a claim for benefits or obtain other documents, such as certificates of prior coverage or replacement identification documents?
- What health options would be available to employees if a company closes due to a flu outbreak?
- If the employer’s business is disrupted by the flu and health benefit payments are not being made on time, what should the employee do?
- Can an employer terminate or reduce employees’ health benefits?
- Can retirees’ health benefits be terminated or changed if their former employer is affected by a pandemic?
- A company is temporarily shut down and did not pay employees’ insurance premiums. Can the employees pay the premium to continue coverage?
- What if an employee covered under the spouse’s group health plan loses his or her spouse because of the flu and the spouse’s employer agrees to pay the premiums for health coverage for 12 months. What effect will that have on any future eligibility for continuation health coverage under COBRA?
- If an employer’s place of business closes due to an influenza pandemic, who should employees or retirees contact to file a claim for pension benefits or ask questions about pension payments?
- If an employee who has health coverage through a group health plan is laid off, will the employee be able to elect COBRA continuation coverage for himself or herself and his or her partner? (In this example, although the plan offers domestic partner coverage, the employee did not elect it for his/her domestic partner.)
- Where can employees get more information on health coverage options?
- If a retiree’s pension payment does not arrive on time during an outbreak, what should he or she do?
- Can employees get money out of their pension plan if they need financial assistance?
- If an employer faces economic difficulties as a result of an flu pandemic, can the employer terminate their pension plan, and if so, what happens to employees’ and retirees’ benefits?
- Where can I find a comprehensive set of questions and answers about workplace policies and practices during a flu outbreak?
