TSSU Member Benefit Plan

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

Medical Services Plan
Extended Health Benefits
Dental Plan
How to Apply
Private Medical Insurance
Premium Assistance
Continued Coverage

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 website at http://www.health.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 deductible, of many of the services not covered by MSP (subject to the terms 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 Medical Plan in Canada are eligible for the Extended Health Care Benefit. For further details on this plan please refer to the TSSU Pacific Blue Cross Extended Health Care Policy. 

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 toll free at 1-888-275-4672. You may get further information about the Dental Plan at 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 here.

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:

• When you receive your TSSU appointment, you may apply for MSP and Extended Health. For your application to be processed, you will need to provide a copy of your valid immigration document (Study Permit or Work Permit) and a valid Social Insurance Number.
• If your Study or Work Permit expires, you will need to send a copy of the renewed document 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 send them 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 NET INCOME (as calculated for Income Tax purposes) less deductions for family size, age and disability (referred to as MSP Deductions). Application forms are available on line from MSP http://www.healthservices.gov.bc.ca/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 EHB 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, Payroll or at Forms

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.