If you separate from the Organization and are not yet retiring (or taking early retirement), you will be allowed to extend your coverage for a period of maximum 3 months beyond your separation date, provided that you have been a member for six consecutive months. 

The extension will automatically apply to you and your currently enrolled family members and is only available as a direct continuation of your existing coverage. An additional extension beyond the initially requested period is not possible. 

Find below a summary regarding the administrative formalities to follow if you decide to opt for the extension:

• To request a coverage extension, reach out to UNSMIS via email before your separation date via unsmisaffiliations@un.org.
• UNSMIS will calculate the monthly premium amount based on your last payslip deduction.
• You will have to pay both your share and the Organization’s share during the extension.
• Payment in monthly instalments is not allowed, you must pay the full contribution amount at once and in advance, before leaving the Organization.

The 3-month extension does not count towards the ASHI vesting period. For comprehensive information on coverage extensions, please refer to Rule V of the UNSMIS Internal Rules.

Note that after separation, your eClaims account remains active for an additional two years, allowing you to submit any pending claims and to monitor the status of your reimbursements. Claims are accepted within two years after the date of the treatment. 

Contract Break 

If you are taking a contract break, it may also be recommended to request an extension of your health insurance coverage. However, consider the following key points:

• If your contract break does not span a full calendar month, you do not need to request an extension to maintain continuous coverage.
• Since full-month contributions are deducted from your salary, your coverage remains active until the end of the month.
• Upon rehire, coverage resumes automatically from the first day of the month, provided you were insured during the previous month.

For Example: 

If your contract break begins mid-month and you return to work by the last day of the following month, your coverage will remain uninterrupted, and no extension is required. 

You may need to request an extension if:

• There is a possibility of delays in your rehire.
• Your one-month contract break starts on the first day of the month and ends on the last day of the same month. 

To request an extension please follow the administrative steps listed above. 

If you receive your new contract earlier than expected and this results in an overpayment, you may contact us at unsmisaffiliations@un.org to request a refund for the advance payment made for that period. 

In case you do not wish to extend your coverage for the period of your contract break, your dental and optical credit balance will be terminated, and you will lose any remaining credits. Upon your return, the credit balance will be set as for new members, i.e. in the first calendar year, calculation will be done pro rata on a monthly basis and the credits of upcoming months may not be used in advance.