An employee is on an extended leave of absence when the employer group health plan changes from one carrier to another. What might the employee most likely notice?

When an employee is on an extended leave of absence and the employer's group health plan transitions from one insurance carrier to another, the employee is most likely to notice limited coverage. Insurance plans can have different terms and conditions, and when a new carrier is introduced, the benefits offered may vary from the previous plan.

Limited coverage may refer to a reduction in the scope of services that are covered, changes in deductibles, co-pays, or out-of-pocket maximums, or perhaps a new set of exclusions that weren’t present in the previous plan. This situation often requires the employee to understand the specific details of the new plan, especially if they were accustomed to the coverage provided by the prior carrier.

It's important to highlight that during such transitions, employees may not have the same level of benefits they previously enjoyed, making it crucial for them to review the new policy details thoroughly. This adjustment period can lead to confusion or concern about what specific healthcare services will be covered while they are on leave, leading to the observation of limited coverage compared to what they may have had before.