Cancel health insurance during military service?

Q. I work for a health care organization and have been called to military active duty for the reserves. I will be deploying to Afghanistan in a few weeks. I talked to the HR assistant in my office, and he tells me he thinks they can discontinue my health insurance while I'm gone. Can my boss do that?

A. No, not if you request continuation of your health insurance.

An employer must continue health insurance for an employee on military duty, if requested, according to the US Department of Labor. The entitlement is for up to 18 months from the date the absence from employment begins.

But, for periods of service in excess of 30 days, the employee may be required to pay up to 102 percent of the total cost of the insurance.