11 C. Paid Leave of Absence. If you are on a paid leave of absence, coverage will continue subject to the following: 1. Noncontributory coverage a) Coverage will continue provided that: (1) the paid leave of absence is approved in advance by the Employer and such approval includes documentation of the beginning and ending dates of the leave and the amount of your covered salary. Such documentation about your paid leave of absence must be made available to Us at Our request; and (2) paid leaves of absence and the right to continue coverage during paid leaves are available to all Employees in the same Eligible Class under the Group Policy; and (3) the Employer remits the required premium for coverage. b) The Elimination Period can be satisfied during a paid leave of absence, but benefits will not begin until the later of the end of the Elimination Period or the date the paid leave was scheduled to end. In the event a benefit is payable, it will be based on the lesser of your earnings in effect on your last full day of Active Work prior to the paid leave of absence, or the salary for which premium was paid. c) Unless you return to active, eligible status on or before the date the paid leave of absence is scheduled to end, coverage extended during a paid leave of absence will terminate on the earlier of the date the paid leave of absence is scheduled to end or 12 months from the date the paid leave of absence began. 2. Contributory Coverage a) Coverage will continue provided that: (1) the paid leave of absence is approved in advance by the Employer and such approval includes documentation of the beginning and ending dates of the leave and the amount of your covered salary. Such documentation about your paid leave of absence must be made available to Us at Our request; and (2) paid leaves of absence and the right to continue coverage during paid leaves of absence are available to all Employees in the same Eligible Class under the Group Policy; and (3) you continue to pay the required premium to the Employer without interruption and the Employer continues to remit premium to us on your behalf. b) The Elimination Period can be satisfied during a paid leave of absence, but benefits will not begin until the later of the end of the Elimination Period or the date the paid leave was scheduled to end. In the event a benefit is payable, it will be based on the lesser of your earnings in effect on your last full day of Active Work prior to the paid leave of absence, or the salary for which premium was paid. c) Unless you return to active, eligible status on or before the date the paid leave of absence is scheduled to end, coverage extended during a paid leave of absence will terminate on the earlier of the date the paid leave of absence is scheduled to end, or 12 months from the date the paid leave of absence began or the date you fail to pay premium as required. d) If you choose not to continue coverage or your coverage terminates during a paid leave of absence and you subsequently wish to obtain coverage, you will be treated as a Late Enrollee and be required to provide Evidence of Insurability. D. Unpaid Leave of Absence - If you are on an unpaid leave of absence, coverage will continue subject to the following: 1. Noncontributory Coverage a) Coverage will continue provided that: (1) the unpaid leave of absence is approved in advance by the Employer and such approval includes documentation of the beginning and ending dates of the leave and the amount of your covered salary.