APPENDIX #3f

Simon Fraser University

MEMORANDUM

To:

Re:

 TSSU Members (Sessional Instructors, Teaching Assistants & Tutor Markers)

Benefit Plans, Article XXV (new)

From:

 
Date:

 Miranda Brown, Benefits & Records Assistant Human Resources

November 17, 1999

All members of the Teaching Support Staff Union and their eligible dependents are entitled to the following benefits:

EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1, 2000:

Medical Services Plan (MSP) of British Columbia. (Basic Medical Plan). The University pays 100% of the monthly premium for eligible employees upon their written application.

This plan covers the cost of the following services (subject to the terms and conditions of the plan):

 
  • general practitioner and specialist services where medically required.
  • hospital care at ward level;
  • qualifying hospital expenses such as those for laboratory examinations, operating rooms, and drugs administered while in hospital;
  • surgical procedures medically required;

For further details on these benefits and eligibility please refer to the Medical Services Plan Brochure

which may be obtained from Human Resources in Strand Hall, the TSSU office or the Medical Services Plan of British Columbia web site: www.hltl.gov.bc.ca/msp.

Extended Health Benefit (Pacific Blue Cross). The University pays 75% of the monthly premium for

eligible employees upon their written application. This plan will pay 80%, less a yearly deductable, of many of the services not covered by MSP (subject to the teims and conditions of the carrier). These include, with limitations:
 
  • prescription drugs;
  • semi-private or private room charges;
  • ambulance services;
  • out-of-province emergency hospital and physician services;
  • physiotherapy, speech therapist and acupuncturist.

    •  

    All TSSU members who have a Provincial Plan or private health care plan are eligible for the Extended Health Care Benefit For further details on this plan please refer to Human Resources web page:

    www.sfu.ca/ewbuman-resources

    Dental Plan.

    A personal dental plan is offered to all TSSU members by Pacific Blue Cross (PBC). To apply for the Plan you must contact Pacific Blue Cross directly at (604)419-2200 or toil free at 1-888-275-4672. You may get further information about their plans at www.pac.bluecross.ca. or the TSSU office. Human

    Resources does not provide advice or information regarding the dental plan.

    At the end of the semester in which you have had a TSSU appointment and have paid premiums into the Pacific Blue Cross Personal Dental Plan, upon proof of premium payment the University will reimburse:

    $11.35 per month for single coverage

    $22.70 per month for couple coverage

    $34.50 per month for family coverage

    for each month in the semester for which you were enrolled in the dental plan. Application for reimbursement must be received by Human Resources no later than the end of week 12 of the semester to which the reimbursement applies. Forms are available from Human Resources.

    How To Apply For MSP

    i)

    Canadian Citizen or Landed Immigrant As soon as you receive your TSSU appointment, you may apply for coverage in Human Resources. If you are a Canadian citizen moving from another province, you will need to provide proof of citizenship, that is, a copy of your birth certificate or Canadian Citizenship card. Landed immigrants must provide copies of immigration documents for each dependent.

    ii)

    On a Visa:

     
    • As soon as you receive your TSSU appointment, you may apply for MSP and Extended Health in Human Resources. For your application to be processed, you will need to provide a copy of your visa and a valid Social Insurance Number. You will also need to bring your employment or student authorization form.
     
    • Before your visa expires, provide a copy of the renewed visa to Human Resources. MSP will cancel your coverage if they do not have renewed documents.
     
    • When you receive landed immigrant documents and/or your social insurance number changes, you must bring them to Human Resources.
     
    • If you have a visa for a period greater than one year at the end of each year it will be necessary to provide Human Resources written notice that you have not left B.C. and that you are still studying and working here. MSP must receive written notice annually, otherwise coverage will be cancelled

    Private Medical Insurance

    If you are a new resident to Canada, there is a three month waiting period before coverage for MSP can begin. If you want to have medical insurance in the waiting period you should purchase private medical insurance. Application forms are available at Health Services, the TSSU office or Human Resources. The University will reimburse 50% of the cost, not exceeding Traveller’s Insurance Company’s basic $25,000 plan rate. Bring your receipt to Human Resources.

     

    Premium Assistance

    Only Canadian citizens and Landed Immigrants who have permanently resided in Canada for the last twelve months are eligible for premium assistance. This entitles you to a reduced rate of premiums from MSP if your income is below an amount set annually by MSP. Eligibility is based on NEI INCOME (as calculated for Income Tax purposes) less deductions for family size, age and disability (referred to as MSP Deductions). Application forms are available from MSP. If you are currently on premium assistance bring the MSP approval to Human Resources.

    Continued Coverage

    You may maintain coverage under the MSP and EHE group plans for the next one or two semesters following your termination by informing Human Resources in writing prior to your termination, indicating whether one or two semesters of coverage is desired. Prepayment by cheque or cash of 100% of the premiums for the first semester must be remitted to the University prior to termination. For a second semester of coverage, prepayment of the premiums for that semester must be made prior to the end of the first semester’s coverage. Prepayment forms are available in Human Resources or Payroll.

    PLEASE NOTE:

    Even though you may be entitled to the above benefits, you are not automatically enrolled in them unless the application forms are completed and given to Human Resources. Application for MSP and the Extended Health Plan may be made at TA day or at Human Resources in Strand Hall between 2-4 p.m. on weekdays.