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Going on Leave

There are several reasons you may need to take a leave of absence from your work at Northrop Grumman. Your benefits may be impacted differently depending on the type of leave you’re on. See below for the available types of leave and how each impacts your benefits.

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If you are on an approved, continuous Family Medical Leave of Absence (FMLA), your benefits are affected. In most cases, your benefits coverage continues until the end of the month plus four months provided you continue to make any required contributions.

Review the benefits listed below to find out what happens to your benefits as a result of this life event.

Health Care

Benefit

What Happens to Your Benefits

Medical, Dental and Vision Plans

  • Continue existing coverage to the end of the month plus four additional months from the day the leave begins, provided you continue to make the required contributions.


Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)

Benefit

What Happens to Your Benefits

Health Care Flexible Spending Account (FSA)

  • If you are receiving a paycheck from the company during your leave, your contributions continue on a before-tax basis.
  • If you are on an unpaid leave, your contributions stop. If you wish to continue your FSA, you can continue with after-tax contributions through COBRA for the remainder of the benefit plan year. You can be reimbursed for expenses incurred only during the time you made contributions.

Dependent Day Care Flexible Spending Account (FSA)

  • If you are receiving a paycheck from the company during your leave, your before-tax contributions continue to the end of the month plus four additional months from the day your leave begins.
  • If you are on an unpaid leave, your before-tax contributions stop. You may submit claims for expenses incurred during the balance of the benefit plan year.

 

Life, Accidental Death and Dismemberment, and Disability Insurance

Benefit

What Happens to Your Benefits

Basic Life
Basic AD&D
Basic Long-Term Disability

  • Coverage continues to the end of the month plus four additional months from the day the leave begins.

Employee Optional Life (after-tax benefit)
Spouse Optional Life (after-tax benefit)
Child(ren) Optional Life (after-tax benefit)
Optional AD&D
Optional Long-Term Disability (after-tax benefit)

  • Coverage continues to the end of the month plus four additional months from the day the leave begins, provided you continue to make the required contributions.

If you are on an approved personal leave of absence, your benefits are affected. In most cases, your benefits coverage continues until the end of the month plus one month provided you continue to make any required contributions.

Review the benefits listed below to find out what happens to your benefits as a result of this life event.

Health Care

Benefit

What Happens to Your Benefits

Medical, Dental and Vision Plans

  • Continue existing coverage to the end of the month plus one additional month from the day the leave begins, provided you continue to make the required contributions.

 

Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)

Benefit

What Happens to Your Benefits

Health Care Flexible Spending Account (FSA)

  • If you are receiving a paycheck from the company during your leave, your contributions continue on a before-tax basis to the end of the month plus one month from the day your leave begins.
  • If you are on an unpaid leave, your contributions stop. If you wish to continue your FSA, you can choose to continue with after-tax contributions through COBRA for the remainder of the benefit plan year.
  • You can be reimbursed for expenses incurred for only that period during which you made contributions.

Dependent Day Care Flexible Spending Account (FSA)

  • If you are receiving a paycheck from the company during your leave, your contributions continue on a before-tax basis to the end of the month plus one month from the day your leave begins.
  • If you are on an unpaid leave, your contributions stop.
  • You can be reimbursed for eligible expenses incurred during the benefit plan year.

 

Life, Accidental Death and Dismemberment, and Disability Insurance

Benefit

What Happens to Your Benefits

Basic Life
Basic AD&D
Basic Long-Term Disability

  • Coverage continues to the end of the month plus one month from the day the leave begins.

Employee Optional Life (after-tax benefit)
Spouse Optional Life (after-tax benefit)
Child(ren) Optional Life (after-tax benefit)
Optional AD&D

  • Coverage continues to the end of the month plus one month from the day the leave begins, provided you continue to make the required contributions.

If you take a Medical leave of absence for your own illness, including a work-related injury under Workers' Compensation, your benefits may continue for a maximum of twelve months from your last day of work. If you are receiving a paycheck from Northrop Grumman, your regular contributions continue. When you go on unpaid leave, you will be required to make monthly contributions.

Review the benefits listed below to find out what happens to your benefits as a result of this life event.

Health Care

Benefit

What Happens to Your Benefits

Medical, Dental and Vision Plans

  • Coverage continues for the duration of your approved leave, up for a maximum period of 12 months while you are on leave as long as you make the required contributions.
  • If your leave continues beyond 12 months, you may continue coverage through COBRA.

 

Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)

Benefit

What Happens to Your Benefits

Health Care Flexible Spending Account (FSA)

  • If you are receiving a paycheck from the company during your leave, your before-tax contributions continue.
  • If you are on an unpaid leave, your contributions stop. Once you no longer receive a paycheck if you want to continue your FSA, you can choose to continue with after-tax contributions through COBRA for the balance of the benefit plan year or longer if legally required.
  • You can be reimbursed for eligible expenses incurred only during the time you made contributions.

Dependent Day Care Flexible Spending Account (FSA)

  • If you are receiving a paycheck from the company during your leave, your before-tax contributions continue.
  • If you are on an unpaid leave, your contributions stop.
  • You may submit claims for eligible expenses incurred during the benefit plan year.

 

 

Life, Accidental Death and Dismemberment, and Disability Insurance

Benefit

What Happens to Your Benefits

Basic Life
Basic AD&D
Basic Long-Term Disability

  • Coverage continues for a maximum of 12 months while you are on leave.
  • At the end of 12 months if you have not returned to work, you may convert coverage to an individual policy.

Employee Optional Life
Spouse Optional Life
Child(ren) Optional Life
Optional AD&D

  • Coverage continues for a maximum of 12 months while you are on leave as long as you make the required contributions.
  • At the end of 12 months if you have not returned to work, you may convert or port coverage to an individual policy.

Optional Long-Term Disability

  • Coverage continues up to 12 months. You must continue to make your contributions until you are approved for LTD benefits.

Business Travel Accident Insurance

  • Coverage stops on the date your leave begins.

Northrop Grumman complies with company policy, specific plan and contract provisions, and directives, as well as federal and state laws regarding military leaves.

For more information about how your benefits are affected if you go on a military leave, contact the Northrop Grumman Benefits Center.

Prior to your return to work, you must enter your return-to-work date in the Aflac portal to restore badge and timekeeping access.  For directions, please review the Return to Work Guide or call Aflac at 800-244-8017.

After returning from an approved leave of absence, you have the opportunity to resume participation in benefits that paused while you were on leave. You do not need to make any changes if your benefits were unaffected during your leave of absence.