Movement Between Organizations at HQ and Breaks in Appointment

IMPORTANT. Coverage is terminated automatically but is not automatically restored, for staff members

• whose contracts expire or who are separated from service; or
• who transfer between Organizations e.g., UN, UNDP, UNICEF; or
• who are reappointed following any break in employment or change in employment contract series; or
• who transfer to a different payrolling office.
  

Most individuals whose contracts end do in fact leave the United Nations common system. However, many insured staff members transfer between e.g., the United Nations, United Nations Development Programme or United Nations Children's Fund; these staff members must reapply for health insurance coverage as soon as a personnel action has been generated by their employing organization. Such reapplication for health insurance coverage must be made within 31 days of the effective date of the transfer. Strict attention to this requirement is necessary to ensure continuity of health insurance coverage because, as noted, separation from an organization results in the automatic termination of insurance coverage at the end of the month. Staff members who transfer between organizations should also ensure that the receiving organization establishes the staff member's household members and mailing address in its database so that coverage can be reinstated under the receiving organization.

Staff members should also be aware that if there is a separation from service, no matter how short, insurance coverage will be terminated. Therefore, upon any reappointment, the staff member must reapply to the Insurance and Disbursement Service in order to reinstate health and/or life insurance coverage and to ensure that there will be no break in coverage.

Finally, whenever a staff member's transfer involves a change in payrolling office, the insurance at the former office ceases, and insurance at the receiving office must be established. This is not automatic and requires an application.