Whenever an employee agrees to let his employer make deductions from his wages for payments to a medical service plan the employer shall accept cash at the regular group rate from such employee for such payment, in lieu of such payroll deduction, or continue to make payments for the benefit of the employee in the amount necessary to continue the employee’s participation in the medical service plan, for any period up to 6 consecutive months in the event that such employee is unable to earn sufficient wages to cover the amount normally deducted for such payment, provided, however, that such employee maintains recall rights with that employer and does not accept any employment elsewhere.