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  • Leaves of Absence

You can continue healthcare coverage if you go on an approved leave of absence but you must make contribution payments to HSS during your leave.

Before you begin an approved leave of absence, follow the rules below if you would like to continue healthcare coverage during your leave. If you wish to discontinue your healthcare coverage during an approved leave of absence, you must notify HSS in writing prior to the start of your leave. Always contact HSS 30 days before returning to work after a leave in order to return your healthcare contributions to active status. Payments to HSS can be made via credit or debit card by completing this form: HSS Auto-Pay Formpdf.

Some aspects of this information do not apply to San Francisco Community College District (SFCCD) employees. If you are an SFCCD employee contact your employer for information about leaves of absence.

Type of Leave Eligibility Your Responsibilities
  • - Family and Medical Leave   (FMLA)
  • - Worker’s Compensation Leave
  • - Family Care Leave
  • - Military Leave
 If you notify HSS within 30 days of when your leave begins, you may be eligible to either continue or discontinue (waive) your health coverage for the duration of your approved leave of absence. You may have additional rights under an approved FMLA leave. Contact your departmental personnel representative for details.
  • 1. Notify your department’s personnel officer. He or she will provide HSS with important information about your leave.
  • 2. Contact HSS within 30 days of when leave begins to continue or waive coverage. If continuing coverage, you must pay employee premium contributions directly to HSS while you are on leave. Failure to do so can result in termination of your health benefits.
  • 3. Contact HSS immediately (within 30 days of return to work) to request that premium contributions return to active status.
- Personal Leave Following
   Family Care Leave 		If you have been on an approved Family Care Leave and elect to extend your leave period as a Personal Leave, you may be eligible to either continue or waive your healthcare coverage for the duration of your approved Personal Leave, if:
- The reason for the Personal
   Leave is the same as the
   reason for the prior
   Family Care Leave
- Your required premium
   contribution payments, if any,
   are current.
- You notify HSS before your
   leave begins.
  • 1. Notify your department’s personnel officer. He or she will provide HSS with important information about your leave.
  • 2. Contact HSS within 30 days of when leave begins to continue or waive coverage. If continuing coverage, you must pay employee premium contributions directly to HSS while you are on leave. Failure to do so can result in termination of your health benefits.
  • 3. Contact HSS immediately (within 30 days of return to work) to request that premium contributions return to active status.
  • - Educational Leave
  • - Personal Leave
  • - Leave for Employment as an
       Employee Organization Officer
       or Representative
 If you notify HSS within 30 days of when your leave begins, you may be eligible to either continue or waive your healthcare coverage for the duration of your approved leave of absence.
  • 1. Notify your department’s personnel officer. He or she will provide HSS with important information about your leave.
  • 2. Contact HSS within 30 days of when leave begins to continue or waive coverage. If continuing coverage, you must pay employee premium contributions directly to HSS while you are on leave. Failure to do so can result in termination of your health benefits.
  • 3. If your leave lasts beyond 12 weeks, you must pay the total cost of medical, vision and dental coverage for yourself and any covered dependents. This includes your employee premium contribution amount plus your employer’s contribution. Contact HSS for details.
  • 4. Contact HSS immediately (within 30 days of return to work) to request that premium contributions return to active status.
Other City & County of San Francisco Benefits

Contact HSS at (415) 554-1750 about:

  • Healthcare and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) while on leave. Learn the basics about FSA options while on leave.
  • Long-Term Disability benefits, which can help replace lost income due to a leave caused by disabling illness or injury.
  • Employee Assistance Program (EAP) support to aid your transition back to work.
Contact the Department of Public Health at (415) 554-2580 about the Catastrophic Illness Program (CIP), which allows City employees to donate sick and vacation time to co-workers who are on leave due to life-threatening illness or injury.

Benefits Administered by the Superior Court, SFUSD or SFCCD

If you are employed by the Superior Court, SFUSD or SFCCD, contact the appropriate office regarding dental, FSA and disability benefits that are not administered by HSS:
Superior Court Human Resources (415) 551-5965
SFUSD Human Resources (415) 241-6101 x3243
SFCCD Human Resources (415) 241-2246