Benefits for excluded employees

Under the Flexible Benefits Program, you can tailor your health and life insurance benefits to best meet your needs.

Rather than all employees having the same benefits coverage, eligible employees get to decide how to allocate flex credits for benefits coverage.

You decide what suits you best.

• For a comprehensive overview, review the 2026 Flexible Benefits Guide (PDF, 781KB)
• For a quick summary of your benefits, review the 2026 Flexible Benefits Choices at a Glance (PDF, 146KB)
• To evaluate your choices, use the 2026 Flexible Benefits Calculator Tool (XLSM, 61KB)
• For a list of forms related to pay and benefits, visit the Careers & MyHR forms and tools index

The 2026 Flexible Benefits Guide (PDF, 781KB) provides a comprehensive overview of the health and life insurance benefits program for excluded employees. Share the details with your family so you can make the most of your benefits program.

The information provided in the guide summarizes the terms and provisions of the Flexible Benefits Program for excluded employees.

In the event of any conflict between the contents of the guide and the actual plans, contracts or regulations, the provisions outlined in those documents apply.

Employees are responsible for reading the information provided in the Flexible Benefits Guide or on Careers & MyHR. Contact AskMyHR (IDIR restricted) using the categories Myself (or) My Team or Organization > Benefits > Excluded Employee Plan Inquiries and Issues if you have any questions.

To enrol for benefits, employees MUST complete the application form(s) before the deadline to be eligible for benefits when coverage begins.

On this page

• Value of your benefits program
• Program overview
• Who's eligible for benefits?
• When does coverage begin?
• How to enrol for the first time
• How to update your coverage
• Taxation
• Work status changes
• When does coverage end?
• Contacts and resources

Value of your benefits program

Benefits are an important part of your total compensation package. There’s no cost to you to participate in the fully funded extended health and dental plan options. The reimbursements you receive under the plan for eligible items and services are paid for by the employer (up to plan limits).

The Employee Basic Group Life Insurance plan provides employee life insurance at a reasonable group premium rate, and a portion of your premium is paid by your employer. 

On average, your benefits add over 20% to your overall compensation.

Know your benefits, know your options

With choice comes responsibility. You must enrol in the Flexible Benefits Program to take an active role in choosing your benefits. Take the time to learn about your options and to decide how to best apply them to your personal situation.

You'll have the opportunity to update your options every year during the open enrolment period and after an eligible life event.

Program overview

Your choices

Employee Basic Life Insurance is mandatory. This means you must maintain a minimum level of coverage, you cannot waive coverage. You can waive coverage in any, or all, of the remaining plans. It’s your choice.

All core plans offer multiple levels of coverage ranging from coordination to enhanced coverage. Each level of coverage is called an option and has a cost (or price) associated with it. Most optional plans also offer multiple levels of coverage that can be selected by the employee.

In each plan, the higher the option or the amount of coverage selected, the more it costs.

Your costs and flex credits

Funding dollars are called flex credits and each flex credit equals $1. Flex credits are before-tax dollars and are allocated as follows:

• You receive $200 annual general flex credits that you can spend however you choose (such as higher dental coverage)
• You receive the number of flex credits required towards your coverage for the Comprehensive option for both extended health and dental and the employer paid portion of your Employee Basic Group Life Insurance, regardless of your family status (employee only, employee plus one, employee plus 2 or more)
  • Waive or Coordination option: you’ll receive additional flex credits to use elsewhere
  • Comprehensive option: the cost is $0
  • Enhanced option: you pay for the extra coverage using flex credits or by paying monthly premiums based on your family status

​Use the 2026 Flexible Benefits Calculator Tool (XLSM, 61KB) to determine:

• The total number of flex credits you receive
• The cost of your benefits
• The maximum number of flex credits you may allocate to your Health Spending Account (HSA)

You’ll see a security warning telling you that the macros have been disabled. To enable the macros, click on the 'Enable Content' button located below the menu. The security warning will disappear, and the worksheet will populate and be ready for you to use.

To explore your options, insert various scenarios into the worksheet. Your final balance can be determined by summing up the net prices. Any leftover flex credits will be paid out monthly as taxable cash. Should you have a balance owing, monthly deductions will be taken from your paycheque.

If it's a partial year, your HSA allocation will be pro-rated over the number of months of coverage you have during the year.

Who's eligible for benefits?

Employees

The Flexible Benefits Program is offered to:

• Regular excluded employees, including part-time employees
• Excluded auxiliary employees who have completed 1,827 hours of work in 33 pay periods, with the same ministry and in the following categories:
  • Orders in Council: Categories A, B and C
  • Managers in the six bands of the Management Classification Compensation Framework
  • Schedule A, Crown and Legal Counsel, Executive Administrative Assistants and Senior Executive Assistants
  • Salaried Physicians
  • Deputy Ministers, Associate Deputy Ministers and Assistant Deputy Ministers
  • Officers of the Legislature

Auxiliary employees who are not eligible for health and welfare benefits receive a compensation allowance, as calculated in accordance with the provisions in effect for the majority of bargaining unit employees.

You can add your dependants, which can include your spouse and dependent children to your benefits plans if they meet eligibility requirements. You must enrol your dependants to receive coverage. 

Spouse

Your legal or common-law spouse (same or opposite sex) who’s living with you is eligible for coverage. By adding your common-law spouse to your benefits plans, you’re confirming that you’ve been living in a common-law relationship or living together for at least 12 months. This period may be less than 12 months if you claimed your common-law spouse’s child/children for tax purposes. A separate declaration form is not required. 

If your spouse is also a BC Public Service employee or has benefits through another employer, you can both enrol in each other's benefits plans, listing the other as a dependant. You may be able to submit your extended health and dental receipts to both plans and receive up to 100% reimbursement (to plan limits) of your eligible expenses. Consider your enrolment choices (such as whether you just need the Coordinated benefits option). 

If you separate from your spouse, they’re no longer eligible for coverage under your benefits plan. Any terms and conditions under separation and divorce agreements are the responsibility of the employee, not the employer. If you remove a common-law spouse from your plan, you’ll need to wait 12 months before adding a new common-law spouse and their dependants. This waiting period doesn’t apply if you are switching between legal and common-law spouses, legal spouse to legal spouse or common-law spouse to legal spouse. You must cancel your spouse’s coverage when they’re no longer eligible.

Dependent children

Children (natural, adopted, stepchildren or legal wards) can be covered under your benefits plan if they meet the following conditions:  

• They’re not married or in a common-law relationship  
• You mainly support them financially  
• You claim them as dependants for income tax purposes 

They must also meet the following criteria: 

• Under 19 years old 
• Under 25 years old and going to school full-time (university or vocational school that offers a recognized diploma, certificate, or degree) 
• Mentally or physically disabled, became disabled before reaching the age limits above, and the disability has been ongoing. They must still be unable to work and fully dependent on you for support
• Living with your former spouse who’s not eligible for health and dental coverage​ 

A grandchild is not an eligible dependant unless you or your spouse has legally adopted them or they are your legal ward.

Dependent children over 19 

Extended health and dental coverage for your dependent child will automatically end when they turn 19 unless: 

• You confirm your child is a full-time student, or
• Your child has been approved for coverage as a disabled dependant 

To confirm your child as an eligible student before they turn 19: 

1. You’ll receive a Confirmation of Dependent Eligibility form from Canada Life 
2. Fill it out and send it back to Canada Life as instructed on the form 

In following years, complete and return the Confirmation of Student Eligibility form to the Benefit Service Centre before August 30, confirming that your child is still a full-time student. Include: 

• Your child’s name 
• Date of birth  
• The school they’re attending  

You must cancel coverage for dependent children who are no longer eligible for coverage. Coverage for a dependent child with full-time student status will automatically end at age 25 unless they are approved as disabled dependants. 

To apply for disabled dependant status, fill out the Application for Over-Age Dependant Coverage and send it to Canada Life as instructed on the form. 

Optional life insurance plans do not end automatically. If your child is no longer eligible for coverage, you must cancel any optional life insurance for them. 

When does coverage begin?

Coverage for eligible dependants is effective on the date on which your coverage is effective, or on the first of the month following the date the enrolment form is received by the Benefit Service Centre, whichever is later. 

Where evidence of insurability and approval is required, coverage will begin once approval is granted by the carrier. Ensure that the amount on the evidence of insurability form matches the amount of insurance that you have applied for.

Verify that the coverage is in effect prior to using the services.

To check that coverage is in place after you've enrolled, log into Time and Pay > Employee Self Service > Benefits Summary.

• Time and Pay: access from work (IDIR restricted) 
• Time and Pay: access from home (IDIR restricted) 

For questions regarding coverage, submit an AskMyHR (IDIR restricted) service request, using the categories Myself (or) My Team or Organization > Benefits > Excluded Employee Plan Inquiries and Issues.

How to enrol for the first time

During initial enrolment, you must enrol within 31 days of hire or becoming eligible for benefits, or you’ll receive the default options.

1. Do your homework so you can tailor your benefits to meet your needs:
   • Read this guide carefully
   • Review your medical and dental expenses over the past year
   • Review your spouse’s coverage, if applicable
   • Use the 2026 Flexible Benefits Calculator Tool (XLSM, 61KB) to review your choices
2. Complete these forms:
   • Flexible Benefits Enrolment/Change Form (PDF, 405KB)
   • Group Life Beneficiary Designation (PDF, 174KB)
   • Evidence of Insurability for Flexible Benefits (PDF, 520KB) (only required at initial enrolment when applying for Optional Employee and/or Optional Spouse Life Insurance over $50,000)

The original Group Life Beneficiary Designation form must be mailed to the address on the top of the form.  

The Evidence of Insurability form must be sent directly to Canada Life as instructed on the form.

Choosing life insurance coverage

If you're under age 65, maintaining Employee Basic Life Insurance coverage is a condition of employment and cannot be waived. The minimum coverage required is $25,000 and there are 2 other options available. You must pick three times annual salary if you would like to purchase additional life insurance for yourself. You may want to designate a beneficiary (otherwise it defaults to your estate).

Carefully consider the life insurance plans available to you during initial enrolment, especially if you (or your spouse) have medical conditions that may prevent you from increasing your life insurance in the future.

The optional life insurance plans available are:

• Optional Family Funeral Benefit
• Employee Optional Life Insurance
• Spouse Optional Life Insurance
• Child Optional Life Insurance
• Employee Optional Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D) Insurance
• Spouse Optional Accidental Death & Dismemberment Insurance
• Child Optional Accidental Death & Dismemberment Insurance

Premiums for these plans can be found in the 2026 Flexible Benefits Choices at a Glance (PDF, 146KB).

Evidence of insurability (good health)

You don’t need to provide medical information (called “evidence of insurability” or “evidence of good health”) in the following situations:

• Choosing any option of Employee Basic Life Insurance on initial enrolment only 
• Enrolling for up to $50,000 of optional life insurance for yourself and/or your spouse on initial enrolment only 
• Enrolling in or increasing Child Optional Life Insurance during initial enrolment and subsequent increases
• Enrolling in or increasing Accidental Death & Dismemberment Insurance during initial enrolment and subsequent increases
• Enrolling in or increasing Family Funeral Benefit during initial enrolment and subsequent increases

You will need to provide medical information in the following situations:

• Enrolling for more than $50,000 of optional life insurance for yourself and/or your spouse during your initial enrolment 
• All other increases in life insurance for yourself and/or your spouse 

Remember to list your dependants and select them for the benefit on the enrolment form. 

To include your dependants under extended health and dental plans:  

• Provide their information in the 'Dependant' section of the enrolment form  
• Choose the dependants you want to cover under each benefit plan

Make sure all details are accurate and that you’ve selected the right dependant(s) for coverage in each plan. 

Be sure to designate beneficiaries for your Employee Basic and Optional Life Insurance. 

Complete, sign and date a Group Life Beneficiary Designation form (PDF, 174KB). If you don’t designate a beneficiary by submitting the signed form, benefits will be paid to your estate in the event of your death. Beneficiary designations are not effective until the completed and signed original form has been received by AskMyHR. 

Submit forms through AskMyHR (IDIR restricted) using the categories Myself (or) My Team or Organization > Benefits > Submit a Health Benefit Form/Application. 

Because the Group Life Beneficiary Designation form is a legal document, you must print, sign, date and mail the original document to:

Benefit Service Centre
3980 Quadra Street
Victoria, B.C.  V8X 1J9

Once your applications have been processed, you can log into Employee Self Service at any time to view your Benefits Summary (except for your life insurance beneficiaries).

Time and Pay > Employee Self Service > Benefit Summary.

• Time and Pay: access from work (IDIR restricted)
• Time and Pay: access from home (IDIR restricted)

If you do not enrol on time, you’ll receive a default package of benefits.

Do not miss out on the opportunity to tailor your benefits package. Take the time to review your benefits and actively enrol. The default package (see table below) may not meet your needs. You will not be able to change your benefits until the annual Open Enrolment period or until you have an eligible life event.

If you're transferring into the Flexible Benefits Program from the Bargaining Unit Benefits Program, you'll be enrolled in the benefits plan (and plan options) that most closely match the coverage you had previously. Previous dependants will also be covered.

Benefits costs and flex credits amounts found in this guide are annual amounts, based on a plan year starting on January 1. If your benefits start during the year, your costs and flex credits will be adjusted (prorated) based on the start date.

Medical Services Plan (MSP) and PharmaCare registration 

All plan members must be enrolled in MSP to be eligible for out-of-province/out-of-country emergency medical coverage under the extended health plan. You must also sign up for PharmaCare to assist with prescription coverage, limiting the impact on your lifetime maximum. Use the British Columbia Application for Health and Drug Coverage to sign up for both programs but do not submit this application to AskMyHR. 

If you are unsure if you have already registered for PharmaCare, check using the Fair PharmaCare Registration Status Search. You will need to provide your Personal Health Number, birthdate and postal code.

How to update your coverage

Open Enrolment

Each fall, during Open Enrolment, you’re able to change benefits coverage for you and your dependants for the next benefits plan year. The exception to this rule is, if you select the Enhanced option for extended health and/or dental, you're locked into those options for 2 plan years.

Each year, information about changes to any of the benefits plans and instructions on how to complete Open Enrolment are sent out to eligible employees by email. 

If you do not receive an email during the last week in October, please submit an AskMyHR (IDIR restricted) service request, using the categories Myself (or) My Team or Organization > Benefits > Excluded Employee Plan Inquiries and Issues.

It's recommended that you review your recent claims history through My Canada Life at Work, consider future expenses and then either confirm your current choice or select another option for you and your family using the 2026 Flexible Benefits Calculator Tool (XLSM, 61KB) and through Employee Self Service.

View your benefit summary by logging on to Time and Pay > Employee Self Service > Benefits Summary. 

• Time and Pay: access from work (IDIR restricted)
• Time and Pay: access from home (IDIR restricted)

If you do not make choices during Open Enrolment, your benefits will remain the same as the previous year, and you waive the opportunity to have a Health Spending Account. You will not be able to change your benefits until the next Open Enrolment period or eligible life event.

Employee absence during Open Enrolment

If you're away during Open Enrolment and wish to make changes to your options, you can access Employee Self Service from home to submit changes, or complete the Flexible Benefits Enrolment/Change Form (PDF, 423KB) and mail it to the Benefits Service Centre (see the ‘Contacts’ section for the mailing address). The Benefits Service Centre must receive your change form before the Open Enrolment deadline, so be sure to give yourself plenty of time. If you submit the change prior to your leave and outside of the Annual Enrolment period, please ensure that you include a note on the top of the Flexible Benefits Enrolment/Change Form (PDF, 423KB) or, if submitted through Employee Self Service, please reply to the service request to advise that you are submitting in advance as a result of your leave.

Confirming your choices

In early December, check your confirmation statement through Employee Self Service (IDIR restricted). Report any errors immediately (but no later than December 31 at 4 pm) through an AskMyHR (IDIR restricted) service request. Use the categories Myself (or) My Team or Organization > Benefits > Excluded Employee Plan Inquiries and Issues.

Eligible life event

During the year, you may change your benefits options after you experience an eligible life event. Eligible life events allow you to make changes to your benefits options within 60 days of the event.

Life events include:

• Marriage or entering a common-law relationship
• Divorce, separation or end of a common-law relationship
• Birth or adoption of a child
• Loss of a child’s status as a dependant (marriage, age limit, no longer a student, etc.)
• Change in your child’s eligibility that allows coverage under the program
• Your spouse gains or loses benefits coverage
• Death of a spouse or child

How to update your dependants

To add or cancel dependants, complete and submit the forms below that are applicable and send them to the Benefits Service Centre for processing through an AskMyHR (IDIR restricted) service request.  Use the categories Myself (or) My Team or Organization > Benefits > Submit a Health Benefit Form/Application.

• Flexible Benefits Enrolment/Change Form (PDF, 423KB). To complete the form: 
  • Record their information in the ’Dependant Information’ section of the enrolment form
  • List the dependants you wish to cover or cancel under each benefit plan
  • Take the time to ensure that your dependant information is correct and that you’ve selected the right dependant(s) for coverage or cancellation in each plan
• Group Life Beneficiary Designation (PDF, 174KB). The original form must be mailed to the address on the top of the form
• Evidence of Insurability for Flexible Benefits (PDF, 520KB) (only required when applying for or applying to increase Optional Employee and/or Optional Spouse Life Insurance). This form must be sent directly to Canada Life as instructed on the form

Baby enrolment or addition of a newborn

The easiest way to enrol your newborn for the Medical Service Plan (MSP) is to complete the Online Birth Registration through the Vital Statistics Agency. They will send your baby’s information to Health Insurance BC (HIBC).

Increasing life insurance coverage

You or your spouse will be asked to complete an Evidence of Insurability form (a medical questionnaire) if you apply to increase your:

• Employee Basic or Optional Life Insurance from the previous year
• Spouse Optional Life Insurance

Canada Life must review your information and approve your request before increased coverage can take effect.

If you're making changes to your optional life insurance due to an eligible life event or during Open Enrolment, ensure you complete the:

• Application form with your employer
• The Evidence of Insurability form for Canada Life, if applicable

The amount of insurance that you are applying for must indicate the total amount of coverage you want on the employer application form (for example: if you currently have $100,000 optional spouse life insurance and you want to increase it to $250,000, you must indicate $250,000 and not only the increased amount of $150,000).

The Evidence of Insurability form should be sent directly to Canada Life. Submission information is on the form.

Effective dates of coverage

Changes will be effective on the appropriate date based on annual Open Enrolment, an eligible life event or the approval of evidence of insurability for life insurance.

• Changes made during Open Enrolment will be effective at the start of the following plan year (January 1), or if evidence of insurability is required, once approved by Canada Life
• Changes made as a result of an eligible life event will be effective either on the date of the event or the form signature date, whichever is later, provided either date occurs within 60 days of the life event. If evidence of insurability is required, coverage will be effective once approved by Canada Life. If a life event is reported more than 60 days after the event, changes to your options will not be permitted at that time
• Exceptions, backdating and retroactive adjustments will not be made
• Review your coverage and make changes during the Open Enrolment period or as soon as possible after the eligible life event to ensure that AskMyHR (IDIR restricted) receives your benefits change forms no later than 60 days from the date of the event. To submit your benefit change forms, attach them to a service request using the categories Myself (or) My Team or Organization > Benefits > Submit a Health Benefit Form/Application

Taxation

A key advantage of the Flexible Benefits Program is that it provides benefits in a tax effective manner. Flex credits are allocated to you by the employer to pay for your benefits coverage. How you allocate your flex credits determines whether they’re used tax free or are taxed as income by Canada Revenue Agency. Some benefits are non-taxable benefits, meaning you do not have to pay tax on the cash value of that benefit.

Non-taxable benefits

• Extended health plan
• Dental plan
• Health Spending Account

Taxable benefits

• Employee Basic Life Insurance
• Optional Life Insurance
• Optional Accidental Death & Dismemberment Insurance

To save on taxes, your flex credits are only used to pay for non-taxable benefits. Taxable benefits are paid through payroll deduction.

How is this more tax effective?

If flex credits were used for your life insurance, those flex credits would create a taxable benefit. You would generate additional taxes, but you do not create a taxable benefit by using after-tax income to pay for the taxable benefits.

What if I have flex credits left over?

You have choices:

• You can allocate them to a Health Spending Account (HSA), where you can use them, tax free, to pay for eligible medical expenses not otherwise covered by the group plan
• You can choose to take any unused flex credits as taxable cash, which will be distributed in equal monthly installments. These flex credits are treated as regular income for the purposes of income tax and statutory declarations

Work status changes

The BC Public Service recognizes that each of us may experience various work events (for example: becoming a new employee, travelling out of the country, leaving the public service, etc.) that will change the type of coverage we receive.

The following is a list of common work status changes and the effects on benefits coverage.

If you have any questions, contact AskMyHR (IDIR restricted) by submitting a service request using the categories Myself (or) My Team or Organization > Benefits > Excluded Employee Plan Inquiries and Issues.

When does coverage end?

Extended health and dental plans

Coverage ends on one of the following:

• Your last day of employment
• The day you request that coverage end
• The last day of the month of a leave of absence without pay greater than a calendar month (if you do not pay the required premiums)
• The last day of the month in which you change from excluded to a bargaining unit position (you will automatically be enrolled in the bargaining unit benefit plan) 
• The last day of the month in which you change from regular to auxiliary status
• The last day of the month in which you’re on pay prior to retirement

Employee Basic Life and Optional Family Funeral Benefit

Coverage ends on the date the policy terminates or the last day of the month in which any of the following occurs:

• Your employment ends
• You turn 65
• You change from regular to auxiliary status
• You change from an excluded to a bargaining unit position (you will automatically be enrolled in 3 times annual salary for your employee basic life insurance, and your optional family funeral benefit will carry over to your bargaining unit position if applicable)
• You retire under the provisions of the Public Sector Pension Plans Act (unless you elect to continue coverage to age 65)
• After the month in which a premium is not received by you or by your employer on your behalf
• You cease to satisfy the actively-at-work requirement

Optional Life and Optional AD&D Insurance

Coverage ends on the date the policy terminates or the last day of the month in which any of the following occurs:

• Your employment ends
• You turn 65
• You change from regular to auxiliary status
• You change from excluded to a bargaining unit position (any optional life insurance you were enrolled in will carry over to your bargaining unit position)
• You retire under the provisions of the Public Sector Pension Plans Act
• After the month in which a premium is not received by you or by your employer on your behalf
• You cease to satisfy the actively-at-work requirement

Coverage for eligible dependants

Coverage for eligible dependants ends on one of the following:

• The same date that your coverage terminates
• The date you request coverage end
• The date they cease to qualify as an eligible dependant
• For Spouse Optional Life and Spouse Optional AD&D, the date that the spouse turns 65
• In the event of the employee’s death, extended health, dental and the Health Spending Account (if applicable) coverage for dependants is maintained until the end of the month following the month of the employee’s death

When your spouse turns 65, they're eligible to convert to an individual life insurance plan without a medical exam. See 'Converting your spouse’s optional life insurance' in this section for further details.

Converting to individual benefits plans

The conversion policy enables you to convert to individual extended health, dental and life insurance plans when your group coverage ends.

Converting to an individual plan may benefit you if you do not qualify for other insurance due to an existing medical condition.

You can apply to convert to some or all these plans.

You must apply and pay your first premium within 60 days of the end of the month in which your group coverage ends.

This conversion cannot be made retroactively. If you miss this deadline, you’re no longer eligible for conversion.

Converting your individual life insurance plans

If your employment ends or you reach age 65 and are no longer eligible for group life coverage, you may convert your coverage to an individual policy, limited in both amount and plan, without a medical examination. Or, you may take a medical examination (paid for by the carrier) and choose any insurance plan offered by the company. If you don't meet the medical requirements, you can still convert your coverage to an individual policy, limited in both amount and plan.

The amount of the individual policy where no medical examination is taken may be any amount up to the amount of coverage combined (maximum $200,000) in force at the time your group coverage ends.

The premium for the individual policy will depend on your age and on the type of policy you select. It’s not the same rate as paid while covered under the group plan.

For employees turning 65, you'll be provided instructions from the Benefit Service Centre on how to start the conversion process.

For employees who are terminating their employment before turning 65 and who reside in British Columbia, you can apply to Canada Life for an individual policy by contacting Todd Prystupa at 250-217-0751. For employees who reside outside of B.C., please visit the Canada Life Group Life Conversion page to find an adviser in your area, or call 1-888-252-1847.

Please provide the following notes to the adviser you're working with:

• The combined conversion maximum is $200,000
• A plan member must apply for the individual policy in writing and pay the first premium within 60 days after the life insurance terminates
• The actual amount of life insurance that's eligible for conversion, as well as the employee’s termination date, will be verified upon receipt of the conversion application at Canada Life’s Head Office. The verification will be between Canada Life Head Office and the Plan Member’s HR/Payroll Office

Converting your spouse’s optional life insurance

Provided your spouse is under age 65, you may also convert their optional life insurance to an individual plan at the same time as you are converting your own coverage.

The same application deadline and process to convert coverage applies.

If your spouse is older than you when you turn 65, your spouse is ineligible for conversion to an individual plan.

Individual extended health and dental plans

When your group coverage ends, an individual health and dental plan is available through Canada Life. Visit the Canada Life Health & Dental Insurance page for more information.

If you would like to purchase an individual extended health and dental plan, contact Canada Life. 

Individual plans will be different than the group plan.

You're free to apply for insurance with any other insurance carrier you choose at any time. The BC Public Service Agency, the Public Service Pension Plan at BC Pension Corporation, and your employer are not responsible for the lapse of the 60-day conversion period if you do not apply in a timely manner.

Contacts and resources

For questions about extended health and dental claims, contact Canada Life.

Canada Life Mailing Address
PO Box 3050, Station Main
Winnipeg MB  R3C 0E6

Canada Life Phone: (Toll-free) 1-855-644-0538

Assistance with My Canada Life at Work for plan members: (Toll-free) 1-888-222-0775

Visit Canada Life's website.

To check your benefits or to submit a claim, visit My Canada Life at Work.

This guide describes the Flexible Benefits Program for eligible excluded employees in the BC Public Service.

While all efforts have been made to make the guide comprehensive, it does not contain all the details in the official documents that legally govern the operation of every benefits plan within the Benefits Program.

These plans are subject to change from time to time.

In the event of any discrepancy or misunderstanding, benefits will be paid according to the applicable contracts, policies, plan documents, and legislation.