Terminating employment

​​When a member's employment ends, the employer is responsible for reporting the termination, and any associated employer-provided benefits extension or monetary severance amounts, through Benefits Connect

The employer may submit a termination of employment up to 60 days before the effective date or on the effective date. The benefits end date will be the last day of the month in which the employee worked, or the end of the month through which benefits will be extended, regardless of submission date. The employer is responsible for paying all dues or costs of coverage associated with benefits coverage through the benefits end date.

Termination of employment is a qualifying life event which allows for changes in your benefits (and those of eligible family members) within 60 days of the event.

Medical coverage 

  • If you were enrolled for medical coverage through the Board (not in Pastor’s Participation), your benefits end date is the last day of the month of your last day worked. 
  • If you were enrolled for medical coverage through Pastor's Participation, coverage for you and any covered family members will continue for one month after your benefits end date — at no cost to you or your former employer.

Options for continued coverage

Transitional participation

If you were enrolled in Pastor's Participation or Minister’s Choice, you may be eligible (with Board approval) to enroll in transitional participation coverage, continuing some or all of your Benefits Plan coverage. Refer to Transitional participation coverage for additional information.

Medical continuation

You may continue medical coverage (for yourself and covered family members) through medical continuation if you were enrolled in medical coverage through the Board. See Medical continuation for additional information. 

Minister members only: If you were enrolled in Pastor’s Participation, you may enroll in medical continuation or, if eligible, the Medicare Supplement Plan, once coverage through transitional participation is exhausted.

You have 60 days after employment is terminated to elect to continue coverage or permanently forfeit the eligibility to do so.

Note: Unless you were enrolled in Pastor’s Participation or Minister’s Choice, you are not eligible to continue benefits other than medical coverage through the Benefits Plan after your employment ends.

Death benefits

Members who were enrolled in Pastor's Participation or Minister’s Choice, and who do not enroll in transitional participation coverage, will have death benefits coverage for three months from the termination date at no cost to the member or former employer.