"In many cases, employers may be placing groups of employees on furloughs, assuming that because the employees are still employed and full premiums are being paid, that all benefits remain intact, as if they are in active pay status. In reality, these employees may no longer meet the eligibility or actively-at-work provisions in the employer's group policies, including medical stop loss insurance. Managers may believe they are helping employees by leaving them on the benefits plan; however, it just takes one large medical claim; one death; or one disability and a resulting denial of coverage to lead to a whole host of issues for a plan sponsor and the employees."

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