Parental Leave & Newborn Benefits FAQ

This FAQ covers how employee benefits work during an unpaid parental leave, and how to add a newborn or adopted child to coverage in Every.

Benefits during unpaid parental leave

What happens to an employee's benefits when their pay stops during parental leave?

Benefits can stay active through the unpaid portion of parental leave. Because there are no wages to deduct the employee's normal premium contribution from, the employer has two options:

1. Employee pays directly. The employee pays their usual contribution with post-tax dollars (for example, by ACH or check).

2. Employer fronts, then recovers. The employer covers the employee's share during leave and recovers it through catch-up payroll deductions once the employee returns.

Either approach is acceptable. Collecting the contribution directly during leave avoids the risk of being unable to recover the amount if the employee does not return.

Will unpaid leave end coverage or trigger COBRA?

No, as long as the employee stays active in Every. Unpaid leave on its own does not require benefits to be terminated.

Important: do not terminate the employee in Every. Terminating them sends a termination request to the carrier, ends their benefits, and triggers a COBRA event. Keep them as an active employee for the full leave and their coverage stays in place.

Adding a newborn or adopted child

How is a birth processed as a qualifying life event (QLE)?

The employee starts it. They go to their Profile page, open the Benefits tab, and submit a qualifying life event.

What's the enrollment window, and what documentation is required?

The QLE date is the child's date of birth, and the QLE should be submitted within 30 days of birth.

Attach a birth certificate or Social Security card to the QLE. If neither is available yet, the employee can attach a placeholder document and replace it once they receive one.

What does the employee need to do, and what's needed from the employer?

• Employee: Submits the QLE in Every and selects an approver.

• Employer: The selected approver on your team reviews and approves the QLE. The Every team can also approve it on your behalf.

When does the child's coverage start?

Coverage is effective retroactively to the date of birth (or the date of adoption). This is different from new hires and other QLEs, which follow the plan's regular effective-date rules.

How are premium changes reflected in payroll?

For newborn and adoption QLEs only, the carrier applies a prorated premium from the date of birth or adoption, and payroll deductions are prorated to match.

Need help?

Reach out to the Every team through support and we'll walk you through it.