What happens if I go on a leave?

Your benefits may continue while you are on certain leave-from-work statuses, but still employed. However, you will be required to pay for all, or a portion, of the premiums for these benefits, under the following circumstances:

Paid Leaves – in general, paid leaves (including leaves under the Family Medical Leave Act) will result in no change to your benefits as long as you continue to receive LAwell’s minimum compensation eligibility requirements each pay period through City payroll.

Unpaid Leaves – typically, unpaid leaves (such as leave/absence without pay, a personal leave etc.) are subject to the eligibility rules for City subsidy. Employees who are still employed but who fail to meet the minimum compensation eligibility requirements each pay period through City payroll will be placed on Direct Bill. Not all LAwell benefits may be eligible to continue.

Read pages 56 (City Subsidy) and pages 63-65 (Direct Bill and Leave of Absence) of the 2023 CHOOSEwell Open Enrollment Guide for more information.

If I am on a leave, when do my benefits end?

If you are still employed, benefits for you or your dependents may end under the following situations:

• Employees on leave: LAwell eligible employees not receiving a paycheck, or who have reduced hours, can continue benefits through direct billing. Benefits may terminate effective the date of leave if bills are not paid.
• Employees on Workers Compensation: Employees on "State Rate" will have LAwell benefits terminated effective the payperiod that State Rate begins IF they are not supplemented with compensated hours to maintain LAwell eligibility.

In general, if your employment terminates while on leave, then your LAwell benefits will end. The following two scenarios generally apply:

• Retired employees and employees who transfer to DWP: LAwell benefits end on the last day of the month
• Terminated/Resigned employees: LAwell benefits end effective the date of termination

What benefits does the City subsidize?

The City provides a subsidy for your medical, dental, vision, Support Plus, basic disability, and basic life insurance benefits.

The amount of the subsidy will vary based on your MOU and employment status.

To continue having the City subsidy apply to your LAwell benefits, you must have a minimum compensated hours (such as HW, SK, VC, etc.) each pay period as follows:

Full-time employees – at least 40 hours
Half-time employees – at least 20 hours
Failure to maintain the minimum compensated hours in any single pay period will result in the City not paying the subsidy for your benefits. You will be billed for the full premium cost of your benefits for any pay period where minimum hours are not met.