[CA] - Employer terminating health benefits while on CFRA leave

I am currently on child bonding leave under CFRA, approved by my company's LOA claims administrators through mid-April. I originally started leave in September under PDL, and my disability was extended through mid-January, at which point I transitioned straight to the bonding leave.

My company's benefits administrators (separate department from claims administrators and also separate from HR) have given me notice that my health benefits will be terminated at the end of this month since it has been 6 months since I first went on medical leave, per their plan documents/company policy. The only option they gave is to transition to ACA or COBRA medical benefits. However, my understanding is that my health benefits are protected while on CFRA leave and that I should be maintaining them at the same coverage and premiums as while I was employed based on what I found here: https://calcivilrights.ca.gov/employment/pdl-bonding-guide/

I am trying to escalate this with HR and the benefits administrators but am getting runaround in circles between the two of them, and the claims administrators are telling me that this is out of their control since they have already approved the leave dates.

1. Am I correct in understanding that my health benefits should be maintained until the end of my CFRA approved leave?

2. If so, what is the best way to escalate this with my company? I realize that I also need to coordinate paying for my portion of the medical premiums once they stop getting deducted from my paychecks (part of this leave time will be unpaid) but can't even do so until I get this resolved in the first place.