Virginia Law

A. Coverage ends at the end of the month in which an employee terminates the employment relationship, otherwise loses group eligibility, or on the last day of the month for which premiums are paid.

B. Coverage ends on the date of a participant's death. Coverage for family members of state employees continues until the end of the month following the month in which the participant died.

1. A surviving state beneficiary may enroll in the state retiree group if:

a. The state dependent is eligible for an annuity under the Virginia Retirement System (VRS) death-in-service provision;

b. The employee had submitted a disability retirement application naming the dependent under the survivor option before his death and the employee died prior to achieving the retirement date; or

c. The death was job related.

To continue coverage, the family member must apply within 60 days of the date the coverage would otherwise end due to the death.

2. Survivors of deceased state employees who are not eligible for an annuity from VRS can nonetheless be covered under the State Health Benefits Program if they had coverage at the time the employee died. To continue coverage, the state family member must apply within 60 days of the employee's death.

C. In the event that an employee on leave without pay notifies the employer that he is terminating employment, coverage ends on the last day of the month in which the leave without pay ceases.