To cover any gap that may exist between the approval of your short-term disability and extended and/or long-term disability, you may want to enroll in COBRA (Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act) continuation coverage. 

For example: Extended short-term disability is approved on April 8, 2023, with a February 1, 2023, effective date. While the extended disability benefit is effective in February, your State Health Plan benefit is not effective until April 1, 2023, because that is the month it was approved. If you want State Health Plan coverage between the end of your short-term disability and the start of your State Health Plan benefit on April 1, 2023, you will need to elect and pay for COBRA coverage.

The State Health Plan will automatically enroll you in coverage once your disability benefit is calculated and approved. Your State Health Plan coverage can be effective no earlier than the first day of the month in which your extended short-term and/or long-term disability is approved. If your disability benefit is approved with a retroactive effective date, your State Health Plan coverage will also be retroactive. 

Your portion of the State Health Plan premium and the premium for any dependent coverage will be deducted from your disability benefit payment each month. If the State Health Plan is unable to deduct your premium from your disability benefit, the State Health Plan will mail you a premium invoice.

For additional information, please contact the State Health Plan at 855-859-0966 or visit the State Health Plan website at www.shpnc.org.

If your DIPNC benefit is suspended and later reinstated, your State Health Plan coverage may be reinstated retroactively. However, as a result, you may experience a lapse in your health coverage, which means you may not have health coverage for a month or more. You may be eligible for COBRA coverage.