The Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA) protects service members' reemployment rights when returning from a period of service in the uniformed services, including those called up from the reserves or National Guard, and prohibits employer discrimination based on military service or obligation. The U.S. Department of Labor's (DOL) Veterans' Employment and Training Service (VETS) administers USERRA.
To be eligible for USERRA benefits, you are generally required to give advance notice of your military leave to human resources. For more information about continuing coverage under USERRA, contact human resources.
To learn more about your rights under USERRA, click here.
Contact the Benefits team at 713-348-2363 or email benefits@rice.edu for further questions.
- Continuing Health Coverage During a Military Leave
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In accordance with the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA), if you are called into military service (active duty or inactive duty training), you may continue coverage under the Rice medical and dental plans during a USERRA leave as long as you continue to make the required contributions. Generally, you may continue your coverage through the 18-month period beginning on the date on which your USERRA leave begins or through the period ending on the day after the date on which you fail to return to a position of employment with Rice University, as determined in accordance with USERRA, whichever ends earlier. If your USERRA leave is 31 days or longer, you may be required to pay up to 102 percent of the required contributions. If the USERRA leave is for less than 31 days, your required contributions will remain the same as similarly situated active employees. Note that coverage provided under USERRA will run concurrently with any right-to-continue coverage under COBRA.