At the end of your international assignment, you should prepare to return to your home country in the same way you prepared to travel abroad. Be sure to understand:
For U.S. expats, once you repatriate back to the United States, your Cigna medical plan coverage will be terminated and you will be required to enroll in a U.S. medical plan. If your assignment ends before the end of the calendar year, you can transfer deductibles and out-of-pocket amounts you have earned under the Cigna plan to your U.S. medical plan.
To do so, follow these steps:
When your temporary assignment ends, your Cigna medical and dental coverage will also end. If you return to your home country and continue employment with a Merck or MSD entity, you will be entitled to the benefits offered by that entity.
Continuation of Cigna coverage under COBRA may be elected upon termination or resignation from Merck and MSD. In situations where you are unable to obtain medical coverage upon your return to an MSD office in your home country, you may submit a request for continuation of coverage under COBRA to Merck’s Global Benefits & Well-being team. Requests will be considered on an exception basis and may be denied. Please contact globalwellbeing@merck.com.
Continuation of Cigna coverage under COBRA may be up to a maximum of 18 months. Extensions may be possible under certain circumstances, such as a qualifying life event. If you elect continuation of coverage under COBRA, you will be responsible for paying contributions towards coverage.
Merck contributions towards coverage will end upon election of COBRA coverage. Each qualified beneficiary is required to pay the entire cost of COBRA coverage. The amount a qualified beneficiary will pay may not exceed 102 percent of the cost to the group health plan (including both employer and employee contributions).
For details, please contact the Benefits Service Center at 800-666-3725 or online at netbenefits.com/merck.
If your dependent is not enrolled in the Cigna Global plan prior to termination or resignation, then your dependent will be ineligible for continuation of coverage under COBRA.
Continuation of coverage under COBRA cannot be offered to accommodate dependents remaining in the host country after an assignment ends.