Teachers who have been granted a leave of absence and/or maternity/adoptive/paternity leave and are eligible to continue to participate during their absence in group plans, may request in writing that the Institute make premium payments under such plans and the teacher wishing to commence the leave of absence shall prepay to the Institute a sum of money equal to the total premiums for the period of the leave of absence. The Institute shall thereupon make payment(s) under the plan(s) on behalf of the teacher during such leave of absence. In the event of a rate change in any of the plans during the duration of the leave the Institute shall inform the teacher of the additional sums of money necessitated by the change in rates.
Failure on the part of the teacher to forward such sums necessitated by the change in rate shall be deemed to be notice that said teacher no longer wishes continuation of premium payments and the Institute shall give notice to the teacher of such discontinuation and forward to that teacher any residual monies that teacher may be entitled to.