Benefits for excluded employees

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.

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 a given 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 two 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 2024 Flexible Benefits Calculator Tool (XLSM, 53KB) 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.

Employees

The Flexible Benefits Program is offered to regular excluded employees, including part-time employees, and eligible excluded auxiliary employees who have completed 1,827 hours of work in 33 pay periods 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 must enrol to be eligible for coverage.

You can extend your benefits to your spouse and to children who 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 enrolling your common-law spouse in your benefits plans, you’re declaring that person as your common-law spouse and that you’ve been living in a common-law relationship or cohabiting for at least 12 months. The cohabitation 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 enrolled in a benefits program with an employer outside of the BC Public Service, 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. Once a common-law spouse has been enrolled in your benefits plan, a different common-law spouse and any eligible dependents may be enrolled in the plan 12 calendar months after you’ve cancelled coverage for the previous common-law spouse and applicable dependants. This waiting period does not apply when you’re going from legal spouse to common-law spouse, legal spouse to legal spouse, or common-law spouse to legal spouse. You’re responsible for cancelling your spouse’s coverage when they’re no longer eligible for coverage.

Dependent children

Children (natural, adopted, stepchildren or legal wards) are eligible for coverage if they’re unmarried/not in a common-law relationship, mainly supported by you, dependents for income tax purposes, and any of the following:

• Under the age of 19
• Under the age of 25 and in full-time attendance at a school, university or vocational institution which provides a recognized diploma, certificate, or degree
• Mentally or physically disabled and past the maximum ages stated above. This only applies if they become disabled before reaching the maximum ages, if the disability has been continuous and if the child is covered as a dependent on the employee's benefits when disabled dependent status was approved. The child, upon reaching the maximum age, must still be incapable of self-sustaining employment and must be completely dependent on you for support and maintenance
• Residing with your former spouse who’s not eligible for health and dental coverage​

A grandchild is not an eligible dependent unless adopted by, or a legal ward of, the employee or the employee’s spouse.

Dependent children over 19

Extended health and dental coverage for a dependent child will automatically end on the date the child turns 19 unless you certify that your child is in full-time attendance at a school, university or vocational institution which provides a recognized diploma, certificate or degree or your child has been approved for coverage as a disabled dependent prior to becoming ineligible for coverage as a dependent child or student.

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

• You’ll receive a Confirmation of Dependent Eligibility form from Canada Life
• Submit your Confirmation of Dependent Eligibility form back to Canada Life; as per instructions on the letter

In subsequent years, return the Confirmation of Student Eligibility form back to Canada Life before September 30, advising that your child is still a full-time student.

Include your child’s name, date of birth and the school they’re attending. You’re responsible for cancelling 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 the child has disabled status.

To apply for disabled dependent status, you must complete the Application for Over-Age Dependant Coverage form and forward the completed form to Canada Life as per instructions on the form.

Optional life insurance plans do not end automatically therefore you must cancel them when your dependents are no longer eligible for coverage under your benefit plan.

Coverage for eligible dependents 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: from work (IDIR restricted) 
• Time and Pay: 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 Employees.

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 2024 Flexible Benefits Calculator Tool (XLSM, 52KB) 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)

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 two 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). The rules around when you need to provide evidence of insurability (good health) are outlined below.

Carefully consider the life insurance options 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 Insurance
• Spouse Optional Accidental Death & Dismemberment Insurance
• Child Optional Accidental Death & Dismemberment Insurance

Premiums for these plans can be found in the 2024 Flexible Benefits Choices at a Glance (PDF, 197KB).

Evidence of insurability (good health)

Not required:

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

Required:

• If you choose 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 dependents and select them for the benefit on the enrolment form.

To have dependents covered under extended health and dental, you must record their information in the 'Dependent' section of the enrolment form and select the dependents you wish to cover under each benefit plan. Take the time to ensure that your dependent information is correct and that you’ve selected the right dependent(s) for coverage in each plan.

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

Complete and sign a Group Life Beneficiary Designation form (PDF, 174KB). If you do not designate your 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 MyHR.

Submit forms through AskMyHR 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
Block E, 2261 Keating Cross Road
Saanichton BC  V8M 2A5

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: from work (IDIR restricted)
• Time and Pay: 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 dependents 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 prorated.

PharmaCare registration

All plan members must sign up for PharmaCare. This will assist with prescription coverage, limiting the impact on your lifetime maximum. Do not submit this form to AskMyHR.

Open Enrolment

Each fall, during Open Enrolment, you’re able to change benefits coverage for you and your dependents 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 two 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 Employees.

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 2024 Flexible Benefits Calculator Tool (XLSM, 53KB) and through Employee Self Service.

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

• Time and Pay: from work (IDIR restricted)
• Time and Pay: 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, contact the BC Public Service Agency before you leave. You can access Employee Self Service from home (IDIR restricted), or you can request enrolment forms to be sent to you. Complete the forms and mail them to the Benefit Service Centre (see the Contacts section for the mailing address). The Benefit Service Centre must receive your change form before the Open Enrolment deadline, so be sure to give yourself plenty of time.

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 Employees.

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 dependent (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 dependents

To add or cancel dependents, complete and submit the Flexible Benefits Enrolment/Change Form (PDF, 423KB). You must record their information in the ’Dependent Information’ section of the enrolment form and list the dependents you wish to cover under each benefit plan. Take the time to ensure that your dependent information is correct and that you’ve selected the right dependent(s) for coverage in each plan.

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

The insurance company 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 as well as the Evidence of Insurability form (if applicable) for Canada Life. 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 the timing of Open Enrolment, an eligible life event, or the approval of evidence of good health for life insurance.

• Changes made during Open Enrolment will be effective at the start of the following plan year (January 1)
• 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 a life event is reported more than 60 days after the event, changes to your options will not be permitted at that time
• Exceptions, back-dating 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

Everyone is unique and has different needs for benefits. There are a number of choices in the Flexible Benefits Program that enable you to create a benefits package to meet your needs.

For each benefit, you’ll either select the option that best meets your needs, or you’ll waive coverage. The exception is with Employee Basic Life Insurance, you must maintain a minimum ($25,000) level of coverage.

The following tables summarize the coverage in each option of each benefits plan. For your convenience, we’ve included annual net pricing information with each table.

If the cost of the option you choose is less than the fully funded option, you’ll have leftover flex credits. The annual price will show a dollar amount credit (for example, $198 CR).

If the cost of the option you choose is $0, this is the fully funded option.

If the cost of the option you choose is greater than the fully funded option, you’ll have to partially pay for that option. The annual price will show a dollar amount cost (for example, $340).

Evidence of insurability is not required on initial enrolment but is required for any future increases

You must choose Enhanced Employee Basic Life Insurance to apply for this coverage for yourself.

During initial enrolment, employees have 31 days to apply for up to $50,000 of Employee Optional and/or Spouse Optional Life Insurance evidence free. 

Evidence of insurability is required for any amount over $50,000 during initial enrolment and for all future increases. Applications must be approved before coverage can begin.

Tips

• To submit eClaims, register and log in to My Canada Life at Work, Canada Life’s plan member website to submit eClaims. My Canada Life at Work provides online access to your personalized extended health and dental coverage and claims information.
• Claiming deadline for extended health and dental is 15 months from the date the expense was incurred
• Ask your doctor or pharmacist if there’s a less expensive generic medication that's right for you
• Do not forget to update your benefits coverage as your personal circumstances change
• Remember to designate a beneficiary for your group life insurance
• Naming a beneficiary for your Public Service Pension Plan is a separate process from nominating your group life insurance beneficiary. For more information, contact the Public Service Pension Plan

Impact to extended health plan

New or returning to B.C.

The two step process requires that individuals:

To request MSP account changes (for example: address changes, adding or removing dependants or re-certifying your child as a full-time student) and/or to submit documentation online, please visit the Managing your MSP account page.

Questions

The extended health plan is designed to partially reimburse you for a specific group of medical expenses which are not covered by the Medical Services Plan or the PharmaCare program.

Overview

Canada Life administers your extended health plan on behalf of your employer. Detailed descriptions of expenses eligible for reimbursement under this plan are provided in the table below.

There's a lifetime maximum of $3 million per covered person, which includes coverage for out-of-province or out-of-country medical emergencies. This lifetime maximum may be reinstated after paying for any one serious illness on based on satisfactory evidence provided by the employee to the carrier of complete recovery and return to good health.

Reimbursement

Your rate of reimbursement depends on the option you select. It's your responsibility to verify that an item or service is covered prior to purchase. Contact Canada Life if the item is not listed in this guide. It's recommended that you get an expense pre-approved if the cost is over $1,000.

Canada Life’s prior authorization process is designed to provide an effective approach to managing claims for specific prescription drugs.

How prior authorization works

Prior authorization requires that you request approval from Canada Life for coverage of certain prescription drugs. When a claim is submitted for any of these drugs, they’ll ask for information to help them assess the claim. Your request must be approved before your claim is paid. To ensure your claim is processed without delay, please provide all necessary information before filling a prescription.

Why we require prior authorization

Drugs that are approved for one or more medical conditions are sometimes prescribed for other conditions without being proven as an effective treatment. The practice of requesting additional information is designed to help:

• Provide coverage for appropriate drug treatment
• Ensure the drugs prescribed are considered reasonable treatment for the condition
• Keep your drug plan affordable and accessible

Drugs requiring prior authorization

Canada Life maintains a limited prior authorization drug list, and the corresponding forms.

Before a claim for any of these drugs is approved, they review the circumstances to determine whether the drug is a reasonable treatment for the condition for which it was prescribed.

The prior authorization drug form list does change. Your group benefits plan may not provide coverage for all the prior authorization drugs listed, as coverage depends on the terms of your plan.

To view the prior authorization drug form list, sign in to My Canada Life at Work > Forms > Prior authorizations (tab) to determine which drug requires prior authorization.

If you have questions about which drugs are covered by your plan, call Canada Life's Group Customer Contact Services Office at 1-855-644-0538.

How to request prior authorization

If you’re prescribed a drug that requires prior authorization, you must complete the appropriate section(s) of the drug-specific prior authorization form with your prescribing doctor and submit the form to Canada Life.

Your claim cannot be considered for reimbursement until they receive this form.

If you anticipate submitting a claim for a drug that requires prior authorization, take the appropriate prior authorization form to your doctor’s appointment.

Completed forms can be emailed, faxed or mailed to Canada Life:

Email
cldrug.services@canadalife.com

Fax
Canada Life
Fax: 1-204-946-7664
Attention: Drug Claims Management

Mail
Canada Life
Attention: Drug Claims Management
Drug Services PO Box 6000
Winnipeg MB  R3C 3A5

If your claim is approved, in most cases, additional prior authorization forms for the drug will not be required.

Future claims for the drug will be processed in the same manner as prescription drugs that do not require prior authorization.

Certain drugs may require additional approval after a specified period. In these situations, you may be asked to provide further information regarding the progress of your treatment.

All requests for prior authorization are reviewed by Canada Life. Their decision is based on the information provided to determine whether the prescribed drug represents reasonable treatment.

Notification regarding the claim decision

Once Canada Life reviews your completed prior authorization form, they’ll advise you by letter if the request for prior authorization has been approved, or not. If the request is declined, you may wish to discuss your medication needs with your doctor or pharmacist. You have the option of paying for the total cost of the drug yourself.

Specialty drug program

Canada Life’s enhanced drug coordination process coordinates eligible drugs under specific provincial programs. You may be required to apply to the provincial program for drug coverage. Some drugs included in this program are also under prior authorization.

How the specialty drug program works

Go to your pharmacy to fill a prescription.

1. The drug is included in the specialty drug program:

• The claim will be paid, but you’ll need to apply to your provincial program
• You’ll receive a letter to apply to the provincial program and respond to Canada Life within 70 days
• Canada Life will coordinate your drug plan with your provincial plan

OR

2. The drug is included in the specialty drug program and the prior authorization program:

• If your claim is denied, you’ll receive a letter to apply to your provincial program
• If approved, Canada Life will pay any amounts not eligible under the provincial program
• If the provincial plan declines your claim, send the prior authorization form to Canada Life to assess eligibility under the drug plan
• You’ll be notified if your claim is accepted or not

Prescription drug coverage: BC Public Service extended health plan

The following information provides details of the prescription drug coverage under the extended health plan for BC Public Service employees.

What’s BC PharmaCare and how does it coordinate with your drug plan?

BC PharmaCare helps all B.C. residents with the cost of eligible prescription drugs, even if you have private drug coverage through the BC Public Service extended health plan.

If you fill a prescription that’s eligible with BC PharmaCare, BC PharmaCare will start paying for these drugs once your total annual prescription costs reach your deductible, which is based on 3% of your net family income.

Your extended health plan will pay your deductible portion in accordance to the plan’s reimbursement limits until the deductible is satisfied, then PharmaCare will start paying for you and your dependents’ eligible drugs for the rest of the calendar year.

In the example pictured below, based on a net family income of $50,000 and total eligible family drug costs of $2,000 for the year, BC PharmaCare will start paying after your family’s eligible drug costs have reached $1,500 ($50,000 x 3%) within a calendar year.

How does PharmaCare know how to calculate my deductible?

You must register for Fair PharmaCare for BC PharmaCare to access your income tax returns to calculate your deductible.

If you do not register, your deductible will be set at the maximum of $10,000, which will add unnecessary costs to your drug plan.

What if I have not registered with Fair PharmaCare?

If the eligible drug costs for you and your dependent(s) have accumulated and reached a certain threshold within a calendar year, Canada Life will notify you that you need to register for Fair PharmaCare or your drug claims will be temporarily suspended until Canada Life receives confirmation of Fair PharmaCare registration. Learn more about Fair PharmaCare.

In addition to coordinating drug costs with BC PharmaCare, the drug plan for BC Public Service employees follows BC PharmaCare’s pricing policies which include the Low Cost Alternative (LCA) Program and the Reference Drug Program (RDP).

What’s the Low Cost Alternative (LCA) Program?

When the same drug is made and sold by more than one manufacturer, the plan covers the less costly version. Drugs deemed the 'low cost alternative' are usually (but not always) generics. The LCA drugs (usually generics) are fully covered by the plan, but the more costly brand name drugs are only partially covered up to the LCA price.

For example:

• Celexa™ is the brand name version of a popular antidepressant
• The cost of one Celexa 20mg tablet = $1.52 (partially covered)
• The generic version of one Celexa 20mg tablet = $0.26 (fully covered)

Your drug plan would only pay up to the cost of the generic version ($0.26) if you filled a prescription for Celexa™, subject to the terms of your group benefits plan. To get fully reimbursed, you would need to purchase the generic version which can be done by the pharmacist without authorization from your doctor.

If there’s a medical reason that requires you to take the brand name drug, ask your physician to complete a Request for Brand Name Drug Coverage form (available on the Canada Life website) to provide the medical information why you require the brand name drug.

What’s the Reference Drug Program (RDP)?

Sometimes there are several drugs that treat the same illness or condition that are very similar in effectiveness, chemical structure and safety.

There are 7 therapeutic categories in the Reference Drug Program.

1. Angiotensin receptor blockers for high blood pressure
2. Proton pump inhibitors for acid reflux and ulcers
3. Statins for high cholesterol
4. H2 blockers for acid reflux
5. Calcium channel blockers for high blood pressure
6. Angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors for high blood pressure
7. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatories for pain and inflammation

PharmaCare reviews the cost of the drugs within each category and determines the maximum daily cost it will cover.

Each therapeutic category has reference drugs which are the most cost effective and these are fully covered by the plan, in accordance with the plan’s reimbursement formula. However, the more expensive drugs within a therapeutic category are considered non-reference drugs and these will only be partially covered, up to the maximum daily price.

For example, let’s take the statins, a popular class of drugs for high cholesterol:

• Reference statin drugs: atorvastatin and rosuvastatin are fully covered
• Non-reference statin drugs: fluvastatin, lovastatin, pravastatin, simvastatin are only reimbursed to a daily maximum of $0.26

Can I get fully reimbursed for a non-reference drug within the Reference Drug Program if my doctor thinks it’s medically necessary?

If your doctor thinks that it’s medically necessary for you to take a non-reference drug because you’ve already tried a reference drug and it has not been effective, you may ask your doctor to apply to BC PharmaCare’s Special Authority Program on your behalf.

Once approved, you can send in the form to Canada Life to get a pricing exception and full coverage, to plan limits, for your non-reference RDP drug.

For any additional information regarding the Reference Drug Program, please refer to the PharmaCare website.

What if I am already at the pharmacy and realize that my doctor prescribed a non-reference drug? What can I do to get the drug changed to a fully covered drug?

You can go back to your doctor and ask them to prescribe a reference drug within that therapeutic category or ask your pharmacist if they have the ability to adapt the prescription to a reference drug.

Under very limited conditions, pharmacists in British Columbia can change certain prescriptions from one drug to another without consulting your doctor.

BC PharmaCare’s Special Authority drugs

In addition, some drugs may be eligible for coordination with BC PharmaCare’s Special Authority (SA) Program.

If you’re claiming a drug included in the SA Program, you may be eligible for coverage under the government plan.

Your pharmacy will submit your claim to the provincial program and if approved, the decision will be automatically shared with Canada Life.

If you are declined by the provincial program, a copy of the BCSA application form with the provincial decline included on the form can be sent to Canada Life at:

Canada Life Drug Claims Management

Email
cldrug.services@canadalife.com

Mail
PO Box 6000
Winnipeg MB  R3C 3A5

Fax
1-204-946-7664

The dental plan is designed to assist you with the cost of your dental care and reimburses most basic and major dental and orthodontic services.

Overview

Canada Life administers your dental plan on behalf of your employer. Dental coverage is available for services in B.C. and for emergency dental services while traveling anywhere outside of B.C. The plan will cover eligible expenses up to the amount it would have covered had the services been performed in B.C.

What's covered by your dental plan?

Dental services fall into three categories:

• Basic preventative and restorative services
• Major services
• Orthodontic services

Reimbursement

Your rate of reimbursement depends on the option you select.

Dentists set their own rates for service, but reimbursement of dental fees under this group plan is subject to the dental fee schedule published by the BC Dental Association for dentists, dental specialists, denturists, and to plan limits.

You're responsible for any fees that exceed plan limits. Always ask for pre-approval.

If services are performed by a specialist, the fee is equal to that of the general practitioner, plus 10%.

It's your responsibility to verify that an item or service is covered prior to treatment. Contact Canada Life if the item is not listed in this guide.

Basic services

Basic dentistry comprised of routine services available in the office of a general practicing dentist and are necessary to restore teeth to natural or normal function.

Diagnostic services

Procedures conducted to determine or diagnose the dental treatment required, including:

• Standard oral examinations
• Specific oral examinations
• X-rays (including panoramic X-rays once every five years)
• A specific oral exam will be reimbursed once for any specific area and only if a standard oral exam has not been reimbursed within the previous 60 days
• A complete oral exam will be reimbursed only once every three years, but not if the plan has not reimbursed for any examination during the preceding nine months

Preventative services

Procedures that prevent oral disease, including:

• Cleaning and polishing teeth
• Scaling
• Topical fluoride: Once every nine months
• Pit and fissure sealants, preventative restorative resins
• Fixed space maintainers intended to maintain space and regain lost space, but not to obtain more space

Restorative services

• Fillings: amalgam fillings and composite (white) fillings on all teeth. Specialty fillings and crowns such as synthetic porcelain, plastic, composite resin, stainless steel and gold may result in additional cost to be paid by the employee or dependent
• Stainless steel crowns on primary and permanent teeth
• Inlays and onlays

Only one inlay, onlay or other major restorative service involving the same tooth will be covered in a five year period.

Surgical services

All necessary procedures for extractions and other surgical procedures necessary for the treatment of disease of the soft tissue (gum) and the bones surrounding and supporting the teeth.

Endodontics

Treatment of diseases of the pulp chamber and pulp canal, including but not limited to basic root canal.

Periodontal services

Treatment of diseases of the soft tissue (gum) and bones surrounding and supporting the teeth including occlusal adjustment, root planing, gingival curettage and scaling.

Replacements and repairs

• The repair of fixed appliances and the rebase or reline of removable appliances (may be done by a dentist or by a licensed dental mechanic). Relines will only be covered once per 24-month period
• With crowns, restoration for wear, acid erosion, vertical dimension and/or restoring occlusion is not covered. Check with Canada Life before proceeding
• Temporary procedures (for example: while awaiting repair of an appliance) are not covered

Recall check-up schedule

For dependent children under 19 years of age, general recall services (oral exam, polishing, scaling, and fluoride) are covered once every six calendar months.

For adults and students covered under the dental plan, age 19 and older, these services are covered once every 9 calendar months under the Coordination and Comprehensive option, and six calendar months if you’re under the Enhanced option.

Major services

Major services apply to services required for reconstruction of teeth and for the replacement of missing teeth (for example: crowns, bridges and dentures), where basic restorative methods cannot be used satisfactorily. To determine how much of the cost will be paid by the plan, and the extent of your financial liability, you should submit a treatment plan to Canada Life for approval before treatment begins.

Only one major restorative service involving the same tooth will be covered in a five year period.

Restorative services

• Veneers
• Crowns and related services
• Specialty crowns and fillings, such as synthetic porcelain plastic, composite resin, stainless steel and gold may result in additional cost to be paid by the employee or dependant

Fixed prosthetics

Bridgework to artificially replace missing teeth with a fixed prosthesis.

Removable prosthetics

• Full upper and lower dentures or partial dentures of basic standard design and material
• Full dentures can be provided by a dentist or a licensed dental mechanic
• Partials can only be provided by a dentist

No benefit is payable for the replacement of lost, broken or stolen dentures.

Broken dentures, however, can be repaired under basic services.

Replacement and repairs

Removal, repairs and re-cementation of fixed appliances.

Plan limits

A dentist may charge more for services than the amount set in the governing schedule of fees or may offer to provide services more frequently than provided for in the fee guide.

You're responsible for any financial liability resulting from services performed which are not covered, or that exceed the costs covered by the plan.

Orthodontic services

This plan is designed to cover orthodontic services provided to maintain, restore or establish a functional alignment of the upper and lower teeth. The plan will reimburse orthodontic services performed after the date coverage begins.

Pre-approval

To claim orthodontic benefits, Canada Life must receive a treatment plan (completed by the dentist or orthodontist) before treatment starts.

Reimbursement

The carrier will pay benefits monthly.

Photocopies of receipts, as treatment progresses, must be submitted monthly (do not hold receipts until the treatment is complete). 

You can also submit monthly claims through My Canada Life at Work.

If you pay the full amount to the dentist in advance of completed treatment, the carrier will prorate benefit payment over the months of the treatment period.

No benefit is payable for the replacement of appliances which are lost or stolen.

Treatment performed solely for splinting is not covered.

Dental general limitations

No benefits will be paid for:

• Expenses that private benefit plans are not permitted to cover by law
• Services and supplies the person is entitled to without charge by law or for which a charge is made only because the person has coverage under a private benefit plan
• Services or supplies that do not represent reasonable treatment
• Services or supplies associated with treatment performed for cosmetic purposes only
• Services or supplies associated with congenital defects or developmental malformations in people 19 years of age or over, except orthodontics
• Services or supplies associated with temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders
• Services or supplies associated with vertical dimension correction
• Services or supplies associated with myofascial pain
• Expenses arising from war, insurrection or voluntary participation in a riot
• Services or supplies covered under this plan’s healthcare benefit, unless the amount payable for the same expense is greater under this benefit provision

Any other item not specifically listed as being covered under this plan is not an eligible item under this dental plan.

Your dental plan options

Waive

If you waive dental plan coverage under the Flexible Benefits Program, you’ll receive additional flex credits to use elsewhere.

All employees, regardless of family status, will receive the same number of flex credits upon waiving a benefits plan.

Coordination

This is a low-cost option with a lower level of dental coverage.

This option may work well if you're able to coordinate your benefits with your spouse’s plan, depending on the terms of their plan.

This option reimburses:

• Basic services at 20%
• Major services at 50%
• Orthodontic services at 50% (with a lifetime maximum of $2,000 per person)

The recall schedule is every 9 months for adults and every six months for children.

If you’re coordinating benefits with your spouse and you select this option, your reimbursement will be the lower portion. The more significant portion will be reimbursed through your spouse’s plan after you’ve submitted a claim to that plan.

Comprehensive

This option provides a comprehensive level of dental coverage.

It reimburses:

• Basic services at 100%
• Major services at 65%
• Orthodontic services at 55% (with a lifetime maximum of $3,500 per person)

This is the fully funded option.

The recall schedule is every nine months for adults and every six months for children.

Enhanced

This option provides an enhanced level of coverage.

It reimburses:

• Basic services at 100%
• Major services at 85%
• Orthodontic services at 55% (with a lifetime maximum of $5,000 per person)

The recall schedule is every six months for adults and children.

This option has a two year lock-in, so if you choose it, you must remain under this option for two plan years.

Details to consider

• If you’re covering dependents, which dependents will you cover?
• Which features of the dental plan are most important to you and your dependents (for example: basic services, major services, orthodontics)?
• If you’re able to coordinate benefits with a spouse, which option offers the best value to you?

Life insurance plans help protect you and your loved ones from the financial burden of a loss.

Overview

Canada Life [Policy 6878GL(5)] administers your life insurance plan on behalf of your employer.

This life insurance plan pays a benefit to your designated beneficiary, or to your estate, in the event of your death.

Coverage is effective 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

This policy is a term life insurance policy and has no cash value.

Features of the plan include:

• Employee Basic Life Insurance
• Accidental Dismemberment & Loss of Sight Benefit
• Advanced payment for terminally ill employees
• A funeral advance option for the beneficiary
• A conversion policy
• Option to purchase other optional life insurance plans, which includes:
   
  • Optional Family Funeral Benefit
  • Employee Optional Life Insurance
  • Spouse Optional Life Insurance
  • Child Optional Life Insurance
  • Employee Optional Accidental Death & Dismemberment Insurance
  • Spouse Optional Accidental Death & Dismemberment Insurance
  • Child Optional Accidental Death & Dismemberment Insurance

Details to consider

• Do you have a spouse and/or dependents?
• Do you have other life insurance policies?
• What are your family’s financial needs?

The importance of designating a beneficiary

Life insurance payments are non-taxable when paid to one or more designated beneficiaries, and only a named beneficiary can apply for the funeral advance.

If paid to an employee’s estate, the insurance becomes part of the proceeds of the estate and may become taxable.

In addition, the benefit payment is subject to probate, and can be used to pay outstanding debts, taxes and other estate costs. It generally takes longer for the benefit to be paid out through the estate.

It’s highly recommended that you nominate one or more beneficiaries for your life insurance during your initial enrolment, and that you keep your beneficiary designation information updated (for example: if you get married, divorced, or if you have children).

The Benefit Service Centre must receive the original Group Life Beneficiary Designation form (PDF, 174KB) before they can update your beneficiary. 

If they do not receive the original form, the beneficiary will default to your estate unless you have previously designated a beneficiary, which will then remain on file.

The original Group Life Beneficiary Designation form that has been submitted with the most current date will be considered the valid form on file.

Changes in insurance

All increases and additions of new insurance coverage are subject to the actively-at-work requirement except for changes in insurance due to changes in earnings that take effect when the employee is on a Short Term Illness and Injury Plan (STIIP) or weekly indemnity. Additions to and increases in coverage are subject to approval by the benefits carrier, which makes the determination based on the medical evidence (evidence of insurability) a requirement.

Converting to an individual plan

If your employment ends or you reach age 65, you can apply to convert to an individual life insurance plan. Refer to the When does coverage end? section for more information.

Employee Basic Life Insurance (to age 65)

Employee Basic Life Insurance is mandatory until you turn 65. Coverage begins as soon as you meet eligibility requirements.

Important information

For employees working past age 65

Employee Basic Life Insurance (and Long Term Disability) will cease at the end of the month in which an employee turns 65.

Employees have the option to convert their group life insurance plan to an individual plan.

See When does coverage end? for more information and important application deadlines.

For employees who retire before age 65

Employee Basic Life Insurance will continue until the age of 65 provided that:

• While an employee, the retiree was covered under the Public Service group life insurance plan (Policy 6878)
• The retiree begins receiving a pension the month following termination of employment AND elects (on their pension application form) to continue life insurance coverage (the coverage amount is what it was on the day before they retire). Those under 65 will be provided with this option (see your pension package)

You are not eligible for this coverage if there has been a break in service from the end of employment to the commencement of your pension payment.

Initial enrolment

During initial enrolment, you can select any Employee Basic Life Insurance coverage option ($25,000, $100,000 or 3-times annual salary) without providing evidence of insurability. Thereafter, if you wish to increase your life insurance coverage, you'll be required to provide an Evidence of Insurability for Flexible Benefits form (PDF, 520KB) to the carrier.

When submitting your Evidence of Insurability form, please be sure to include the division number for public service employees covered under the Flexible Benefits Plan (Division 30). 

Applications must be approved before coverage can begin.

Plan options

You cannot waive Employee Basic Life Insurance.

Core

This is the minimum level of coverage available. It provides $25,000 of life insurance coverage.

Comprehensive

This is the fully funded level of coverage. It provides $100,000 of life insurance coverage.

Enhanced

This is the highest level of coverage under the Employee Basic Life Insurance plan.

It provides coverage of three times annual earnings, rounded up to the next higher $1,000.

The minimum is $100,000.

The amount of your Employee Basic Life Insurance will be adjusted automatically if there’s a change in your basic annual salary rate.

Your premium will also change to reflect the revised amount of insurance.

If you wish to purchase Employee Optional Life Insurance, you must select this option.

Limitations

There are no limitations or restrictions on employee basic life claims for eligible employees under age 65 or eligible retired employees under age 65, except as under accidental dismemberment and loss of sight.

Other benefits included in the Employee Basic Life Insurance plan

Accidental Dismemberment & Loss of Sight

If you suffer one of the following losses as a result of an accident, you will receive 100% of the principal sum (which is the amount of insurance in the option you elect: $25,000, $100,000 or three times your annual earnings) for:

• Loss of both hands or both feet
• Loss of sight of both eyes*
• Loss of one hand and one foot
• Loss of one hand or one foot and sight of one eye*

If you suffer one of the following losses, you’ll receive 50% of the principal sum for:

• Loss of one hand or one foot
• Loss of sight of one eye*

*Loss of sight means total and irrecoverable loss beyond correction by surgical or other means.

If benefits are paid to you because of an accidental dismemberment or loss of sight benefit claim, and you die as a result of that injury, the payment to your beneficiary will be reduced by the benefit payment you received before your death.

A claim for accidental dismemberment or loss of sight should be made in writing through an AskMyHR (IDIR restricted) service request selecting the categories Myself (or) My Team/Organization > Benefits > Excluded Employees.

Forms and instructions will be forwarded for you and your physician to complete.

Advance payment for terminally ill employees

If you’re suffering from a terminal illness with a life expectancy of 24 months or less, you may be eligible to receive an advance payment of up to $50,000 or 50% of your Employee Basic Life Insurance, whichever is less. This payment is non-taxable.

Contact the BC Public Service Agency to make a claim and provide the following information:

• Full name
• Social insurance number
• Current address
• Telephone number
• Last day worked
• Work status

The remaining portion of your Employee Basic Life Insurance will be paid to your designated beneficiary upon your death.

Interest payments will be charged against the advance payment.

Funeral advance

An advance of $10,000 may be expedited to the named beneficiary in the event of your death.

This does not apply if the estate or a minor has been designated as the beneficiary.

The balance of the Employee Basic Life Insurance benefit will be paid once the beneficiary has submitted the claim.

To apply for the funeral advance, the beneficiary should contact the BC Public Service Agency and provide the following information:

• Name of deceased person
• Date of birth of deceased person
• Date of death of deceased person
• Full name, address and phone number of beneficiaries

After confirming that the funeral advance is payable, the Benefit Service Centre will contact Canada Life and a cheque will be mailed directly to the beneficiary, usually within a few days of the request.

Optional life insurance plans

Additional life insurance is available to you if you want to supplement your Employee Basic Life Insurance and/or if you wish to insure any of your dependents. All Optional Life and Optional AD&D coverage for yourself or your spouse ends when the covered individual turns 65.

Employee Optional Life Insurance

You must have selected the Enhanced level of coverage of Employee Basic Life Insurance to select this optional coverage.

This optional plan provides employee life insurance in addition to employee basic life insurance.

You may select insurance in units of $25,000 up to a maximum of $1 million.

The beneficiary of this coverage is the same as designated for basic life insurance, unless otherwise specified.

Spouse Optional Life Insurance Benefit

This optional plan provides life insurance for your spouse.

You may select insurance in units of $25,000 up to a maximum of $500,000. You are the beneficiary of the life insurance.

Child Optional Life Insurance Benefit

This optional plan provides life insurance for any/all dependent children that you choose to cover.

Evidence of insurability is not required, and you may select insurance in units of $5,000 up to a maximum of $20,000.

You're the beneficiary of the life insurance.

Initial enrolment

During initial enrolment, you can select up to $50,000 of Employee Optional and/or Spouse Optional Life Insurance coverage without providing evidence of insurability. Any amount over $50,000 during initial enrolment will require evidence of insurability.

After initial enrolment, if you wish to increase your or your spouse’s life insurance coverage, you’ll be required to provide an Evidence of Insurability for Flexible Benefits (PDF, 520KB) form to the carrier.

When submitting your Evidence of Insurability form, please ensure to include the division number for BC Public Service employees covered under the Flexible Benefits Plan (Division 30).

Applications must be approved before coverage can begin.

Waiver of premium benefit on optional life insurance

If you become disabled while insured, the insurance carrier will review whether you’re eligible for a premium waiver on the optional life insurance for yourself and your covered dependents throughout the benefit period. Waiver of premium will continue during the period that you're continuously disabled, but will not continue beyond your 65^th birthday.

Suicide limitation on optional insurance

Optional employee and optional spouse life insurance benefits are not paid if the insured person (you or your spouse) commits suicide within two years after optional life insurance takes effect or increases. The beneficiary will receive a refund of the premiums paid for that insurance.

Optional Family Funeral Benefit plan

This optional plan provides spousal coverage of $10,000 and coverage of $5,000 per dependent child. The beneficiary of this coverage is the employee. The premium is $2.16 per month (rate is subject to change), regardless of the number of dependents. Evidence of insurability is not required.

Optional Accidental Death & Dismemberment Insurance (AD&D)

AD&D Insurance is available to supplement your Employee Basic Life Insurance coverage and/or cover any of your dependents as a result of accidental death of the loss of use of limbs, sight, speech or hearing. This benefit does not provide coverage due to illness. Coverage is provided 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Evidence of insurability is not required.

Three plans are available:

Employee Optional AD&D
You may select insurance in units of $25,000 up to a maximum of $500,000.

Spouse Optional AD&D
You may select insurance in units of $25,000 up to a maximum of $500,000.

Child Optional AD&D
You may select insurance in units of $10,000 up to a maximum of $250,000.

The beneficiary of this coverage is:

• In the event of employee’s death: the same as designated for employee basic life insurance unless otherwise specified
• In the event of spouse’s or child’s death: the employee
• In the event of eligible injury to employee: the employee
• In the event of eligible injury to spouse or child: the employee

Important definitions regarding loss

Loss by dismemberment means:

• For hands and feet, complete severance through or above the wrist or ankle joints
• For arms and legs, complete severance through or above the elbow or knee joints
• For thumb and big toe, complete severance of one entire phalange
• For fingers and other toes, complete severance of two entire phalanges

Loss of sight, speech and hearing means total and irrecoverable loss beyond correction by surgical or other means.

Loss of use means total and irrecoverable loss of the ability to perform every action the arm, leg or hand was able to perform before the accident occurred, beyond correction by surgical or other means. Benefits will not be paid for loss of use of the same arm, leg or hand for which loss by dismemberment is paid.

Eligible injuries

AD&D insurance will pay a percentage of the insurance to you if you sustain certain injuries in an accident. Eligible injuries usually involve dismemberment (loss of a limb, toe, or finger) or permanent loss of use, such as paralysis or vision loss.

Benefits

The amount of AD&D Insurance you purchase is called the principal sum.

For example, if you purchase two units of $25,000 for yourself, your principal sum is $50,000. If you purchase 3 units of $25,000 for your spouse, your spouse’s principal sum is $75,000.

Depending on the loss you, your spouse or your child suffers as a result of an accident, a percentage of the applicable principal sum is paid as per the table of losses below if any of the following occur within 365 days of the accident.

Surgical reattachment

50% of the dismemberment benefit is payable if a dismembered part is surgically reattached regardless if use is regained. The balance of the dismemberment benefit is paid if the reattachment fails and the reattached part is removed within one year after the reattachment is performed.

Other benefits

If benefits are payable under this plan for a covered accident, there may be other benefits paid to plan maximums in addition to loss of life, dismemberment, or loss of use benefits. 

• If death occurs 150 kilometres or more from home, up to $2,500 will be paid for preparation of the body and transportation to its burial place or crematory. This benefit is also available to your dependents under the family plan
• If your death is accidental, your spouse may be reimbursed for an occupational training program. The maximum amount payable is the lesser of:
  • 10% of the principal sum; and
  • $10,000
• If your death is accidental, your child or children may be reimbursed for tuition if they enrol as a full-time student at a post-secondary institution. Canada Life will pay the educational benefit each year for a maximum of four consecutive years upon receipt of proof of full-time enrolment if the child was enrolled as a full-time student at a post-secondary institution at the time of the accident, or if the child was enrolled as a full-time student at a secondary school at the time of the accident and enrols at a post-secondary institution within 365 days of the accident. The maximum amount payable for each year of full-time post-secondary school enrolment is the lesser of:
  • 5% of the principal sum; and
  • $5,000
• Up to $2,000 for transportation and lodging expenses to have one family member join the covered person if they’re hospitalized more than 150 kilometres from their home
• Fees for an employee or their spouse to enrol in an education program if a job change is required because of an accident
  • Must enrol at a post-secondary institution within 365 days after the accident
  • Maximum payable is $10,000
• Expenses to make the covered person’s house and vehicle wheelchair accessible
  • Expenses incurred must be within 365 days of the accident
  • Maximum amount payable for all home and vehicle modifications combined is $10,000

For more information on the limitations and specifications related to these additional benefits, please contact the BC Public Service Agency or submit an AskMyHR (IDIR restricted) service request. Use the categories Myself (or) My Team or Organization > Benefits > Excluded Employees.

Accidental Dismemberment & Loss of Sight coverage and Optional Accidental Death & Dismemberment coverage limitations

No benefits will be paid for loss resulting from or associated with the following:

• Suicide, regardless of state of mind
• Intentionally self-inflicted injury, regardless of state of mind
• Viral or bacterial infections, except pyogenic infections occurring through the injury for which loss is being claimed
• Disease or infirmity
• Medical or surgical treatment except for surgical reattachment
• Service (including part-time or temporary service) in the armed forces of any country
• War, insurrection or voluntary participation in a riot
• Air travel, except as a passenger in a licensed aircraft flown by a pilot certified to fly the aircraft. No benefits will be paid where the aircraft is owned, leased or rented by the Province of B.C., or where the person who suffers the loss is acting as a crew member
• Participation in a criminal act or attempted criminal act

A Health Spending Account (HSA) allows you to set aside some of your flex credits to pay for eligible out-of-pocket expenses that are not covered by your extended health and dental plans.

How it works

During your initial enrolment and every year during the Open Enrolment period, you decide whether to establish a Health Spending Account (HSA) and indicate how many flex credits to allocate to it. During the plan year, when you have out-of-pocket expenses for eligible items or services, you can claim them against funds in your HSA.

The order in which you allocate your flex credits is important and depends on tax status of the benefits you choose.

First, you can use your flex credits for your non-taxable benefits, which are your extended health and dental plans. Next, you can allocate your remaining flex credits to a Health Spending Account (minimum $100).

The remaining flex credits are added to your salary, taxed, and then used to pay for your taxable benefits (Employee Basic Life Insurance) and any optional insurance products you elected.

• Once flex credits are allocated to a Health Spending Account, you can only access those funds by claiming them for reimbursement of eligible expenses. You cannot cash in your account
• Funds in a Health Spending Account must be claimed within two plan years or you lose them (see the 'Use it or lose it' example below)
• If your employment ends, you cannot claim expenses incurred after your termination date. Any unused funds will be forfeited
• The claiming deadline for your Health Spending Account is February 28 following the year in which the expense was incurred
• You can claim funds from your Health Spending Account after submitting your claim to your extended health or dental plan and your spouse’s plan, if applicable
• Unless you have coordinated benefits with your spouse, you can claim funds from your Health Spending Account when you submit your initial claim for reimbursement; just fill out the applicable Health Spending Account information on the electronic or paper claim. Check My Canada Life at Work for your Health Spending Account balance
• To be eligible for reimbursement under a Health Spending Account, the item or service must be recognized as a medical expense under the Canada Revenue Agency income tax guideline

Example: use it or lose It

Greg put $200 flex credits into his Health Spending Account for plan year 2020. Greg can claim funds against eligible out-of-pocket expenses incurred throughout 2020, up to and including December 31, 2021. Canada Life must receive claims by February 28 following the year in which the expense was incurred.

It’s recommended that you submit claims immediately after treatment. Late claims will not be accepted by Canada Life.

The list of eligible expenses and dependent family members follows the Canada Revenue Agency income tax guidelines, which are broader than under your benefits plans, enabling you to claim more items to your Health Spending Account.

Details to consider

Review your previous claims history and try to determine if you have upcoming expenses (for example: new glasses). Given this information, are you likely to have out-of-pocket expenses? Is it worthwhile to you considering the risk involved and the extra effort required?

If you conclude that you’d like to allocate some flex credits to a Health Spending Account, what allocation will work best for you? Remember, you cannot cash in your Health Spending Account, so choose an amount that you know you’ll be able to claim.

Your Health Spending Account options

Waive

No flex credits will be allocated to a Health Spending Account. Any leftover flex credits will be paid out as taxable cash.

Elect a Health Spending Account

Flex credits are allocated to a Health Spending Account in your name to be used for reimbursement of eligible expenses. The minimum is $100; the maximum is the flex credits left over after paying for your extended health and dental coverage.

Any leftover flex credits that are not allocated to a Health Spending Account will be paid out as taxable cash.

This section provides you with the methods to make an extended health, drug, dental or life insurance claim.

My Canada Life at Work

My Canada Life at Work is Canada Life's self-service website for your extended health and dental plans.

• Submit eClaims
• Update direct deposit banking information
• View your coverage at a glance
• Track your eligibility and limits
• View or print ID cards

Benefits ID cards are no longer being mailed to plan members but rather can be accessed online through My Canada Life at Work. 

Once your benefits are active, log into Employee Self Service (ESS) to view your Canada Life Policy (50088) and ID number.

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

Time and Pay > Employee Self Service > Benefits Summary > Dental Flex or Extended Health Flex

You will need the policy number and ID numbers to register for access to My Canada Life at Work for Plan Members.

Please allow three to five business days after your benefits are in effect to register. You can also download the My Canada Life at Work Mobile app to your devices.

If you have problems registering with My Canada Life at Work, please call Canada Life.

Most claims can be submitted online, but there are still some claims that require members to complete a specific claim form. These claim forms and receipts can be uploaded on My Canada Life at Work so members do not have to mail them to Canada Life. 

Members can upload a photocopy, scan or picture of their claims by logging into My Canada Life at Work and going to Make a claim > Start other claim to submit the following claims types:

• Medical travel
• Estimates of what Canada Life will cover (predeterminations)
• Other health, dental, drug and HSA claims that cannot be submitted using My Canada Life at Work's regular 'Make a Claim' process
• Claims older than 12 months that normally would be submitted through online claims

Please ensure that your address is updated with your employer. Once your address is updated with your employer, it will be updated with Canada Life.

If you have access to Employee Self Service (ESS), you can update your address online.

Time and Pay > Employee Self Service > Personal Details

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

If you do not have access to ESS, call the BC Public Service Agency (1-877-277-0772) and a Service Representative will be able to update your information in PeopleSoft.

Pay Direct

Pharmacies, dentists, chiropractors, physiotherapists, naturopathic doctors, podiatrists, psychologists, massage therapists and optical stores/optometrists/ophthalmologists can register for Pay Direct through Canada Life.

If your service provider has signed up, simply provide them with your policy and ID number (and those for your spouse’s program, if you can coordinate benefits) and you will pay only the portion of the expense that's not covered under your benefits plan(s).

Extended health and drugs

To make a claim for reimbursement, you can submit a paper or electronic claim.

• Find the paper claim form on the Careers & MyHR forms and tools index page or My Canada Life at Work and follow the submission instructions carefully.
  Make a photocopy of your expense receipt because the originals will not be returned to you.
• Submit eClaims on My Canada Life at Work for prescription drugs, vision care, chiropractic, physiotherapy, podiatry, psychology, acupuncture, massage therapy and naturopathy. 
  ​Keep your original expense receipts in case you're asked to submit them.

Once a claim is processed, you’ll receive a direct deposit if you’ve provided your banking information to Canada Life through My Canada Life at Work, otherwise, you'll receive a cheque in the mail.

All plan members are required to sign up for PharmaCare to assist with prescription drug coverage, limiting the impact on your lifetime maximum. In addition, some high-cost drugs will require you to apply for PharmaCare special authority before you can be reimbursed.

For information regarding drugs and medicines, please refer to the Extended health plan section.

Out of country emergency medical travel claims

Out of country claim forms are available on My Canada Life at Work and can be submitted online to Global Excel, by email to canadalife.claims@globalexcel.com or by mail following the instructions on the claim form.

Dental

Most dental offices will bill Canada Life directly when you provide your policy and ID number (and your spouse’s information, if you have coordinated benefits) and you'll pay only the portion of the service not covered by your benefits plan(s).

If your dentist cannot bill Canada Life directly (meaning, you have to pay the full cost at the dental office) or if you wish to claim to your Health Spending Account, you can submit a paper claim.

Find the paper claim form on the Careers & MyHR forms and tools index page or My Canada Life at Work and follow the submission instructions carefully. Make a photocopy of the expense receipt because the originals will not be returned to you.

Monthly orthodontic claims may be claimed through My Canada Life at Work.

Deadlines

It’s recommended that you submit claims immediately after treatment. 

Late claims will not be accepted by Canada Life.

Extended health claims, including drug claims and dental claims, must be received no later than 15 months from the date the expense was incurred.

For all claims questions, contact Canada Life at 1-855-644-0538.

Life insurance

To initiate a claim for any of the life insurance plans, you, your supervisor or your designated beneficiary can contact the BC Public Service Agency.

To submit an AskMyHR (IDIR restricted) service request, use the categories Myself (or) My Team or Organization > Benefits > Excluded Employees.

A representative will send claiming information and will be available to answer questions.

Coordination of benefits

If your spouse is a BC Public Service employee and is covered under the BC Public Service benefits plan (excluding BC Ferries plan members), you're able to coordinate benefits and submit your extended health and dental receipts to both plans and get up to 100% of your eligible expenses reimbursed (to plan limits).

If your spouse has Comprehensive coverage through the Flexible Benefits Program or another benefits plan, consider choosing the Coordination option to receive optimal coverage.

Insurance companies follow the guidelines below to determine which plan pays first, and how benefits are calculated.

• When you make a claim under coordinated plans, photocopy your receipt(s) and submit your claim to your plan first
• Once approved, you'll receive an Explanation of Benefits Statement. Now you can submit a claim to your spouse’s plan, along with the Explanation of Benefits Statement and photocopies of your receipt(s)
• Spouses will submit to their plan first, and to your plan second
• If you have dependent children, the order of submission is determined by your birthdays. If your birthday is earlier in the calendar year than that of your spouse, you'll submit your children’s claims to your program first

If you and your spouse have coordinated benefits and you're both covered under Canada Life, you can submit to both plans at the same time by filing an eClaim through My Canada Life at Work.

If not, you can submit a Health Claim WITHOUT a Healthcare Spending Account form (PDF, 249KB) or a Dental Plan Claim WITHOUT a Healthcare Spending Account form (PDF, 221KB).

If you have a Health Spending Account, use an Extended Health Claim form (PDF, 562KB) or an Extended Dental Plan Claim form (PDF, 234KB) to submit eligible expenses. The Health Spending Account is the last plan to claim from. Please note the deadline when submitting claims.

When coordinating benefits, please ensure the same names are being used on both plans (for example: legal names) so there are no delays with the coordination of benefits with the carrier. If the names do not match, there may be a delay in payment, or payment may be missed.

Once your claim is processed, you'll receive notification. If you provided Canada Life with your banking information, they’ll deposit the reimbursement into your banking account. Otherwise, you'll receive a cheque in the mail. 

A retiree plan will always pay after any group plan that covers you as an employee.

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.

Your Flexible Benefits Program comprises the following benefits plans, listed according to their tax treatment.

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 maximize tax effectiveness, only non-taxable benefits are paid for using flex credits (meaning, flex credits are applied to the cost of the option you choose). 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 an 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

The BC Public Service recognizes that each of us, throughout our career in the BC Public Service, 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 the BC Public Service Agency. If submitting an AskMyHR service request, use the categories Myself (or) My Team or Organization > Benefits > Excluded Employees.

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 regular to auxiliary status or from an excluded to a bargaining unit position
• 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 or from an excluded to a bargaining unit position
• 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 or from an excluded to a 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

Benefits coverage for eligible dependants ends on one of the following:

• The same date that your insurance 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 a 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 of 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 retroactive. 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 do not 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.