New California Law Protects Health Coverage During Pregnancy Leave
Effective January 1, 2012, a new amendment to California’s Pregnancy Disability Leave Act (PDL) guarantees continued health coverage for women on pregnancy disability leave. PDL provides up to four months of job-protected leave for women disabled by pregnancy, childbirth, or a related medical condition. The new law, SB 299, requires all employers with five or more employees to maintain and pay for health coverage under a group health plan for an eligible female employee who takes PDL at the same level and under the same conditions as if the employee had continued working during the leave period. For more information about SB 299 or Pregnancy Disability Leave, please contact your Trust Fund counsel.
Author: Kristina Zinnen
