When am I entitled to join the Health Benefit Plan?
After the Administration Office receives 270 hours (or 264 hours for Roofers).
What are my Group and ID Numbers?
Check your Pacific Blue Cross [PBC] card and/or call the Administration Office.
What is PBC’s “CaresNet”?
A portal to your own Account with PBC; where you can check coverage limits, e-file certain expenses and set up ‘direct deposit’.
How much per Hour is necessary to fund the Benefits?
The current cost is $3.33 per hour ($3.04 for Roofers) per the Collective Bargaining Agreement.
Where does the money go to?
The majority of the Fund is held in a Trust Account with Phillips, Hager and North [PH & N] as Investment Managers; along with various ‘holding accounts’ at Gulf and Fraser Financial Group.
Who is responsible for the above?
A Board of Trustees – 3 Labour and 3 Management – is responsible for all decisions, Plan provisions and the conservative investment of the monies in the PH & N Funds and in the holding accounts. Labour Trustees are Alexander Hoffmann (Termel Industries), Richard Mangelsdorf (Ecco Heating), Jim Paquette (Local 280 Business Manager). Management Trustees are Craig Benson (Paramount Sheet Metal), Eldon Donald (Coast Hudson), Tony Paris (Apollo Sheet Metal).
What are the Hour Bank and the ‘monthly’ charge?
Your Hour Bank is a personal Account with the Plan that is credited with each hour worked &/or while you are in Apprenticeship School &/or while you are in receipt of Wage Indemnity / Employment Insurance Sick Benefits / WCB benefits. When billed for a shortage of hours you are able to make a self-payment. The ‘monthly charge’ is the “cost” of 1 month of Benefits Coverage – currently 120 hours (118 for Roofers). You always need to have at least 120 hours (118 for Roofers) in the Hour Bank to pay for your benefits.
NOTE – ALWAYS MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE YOUR MOST CURRENT CONTACT DETAILS AND NEVER IGNORE A NOTICE FROM THE ADMINISTRATION OFFICE REGARDING SELF-PAYMENTS BEING DUE
—————————— BENEFITS FOR YOU ALONE ————————-
Accidental Death and Dismemberment – Doubles your Life Insurance Benefits, and pays various compensation amounts in a number of dismemberment situations.
Long Term Disability – Sliding scale of $1,050 to $1,750 per month [offset by CPP Disability, WCB Benefits, Other Income …] based on history of continuous Health Benefit Plan coverage.
Spousal Life Insurance – Pays a flat $10,000 upon the death of your eligible, named spouse.
Wage Indemnity – Payable at equivalent to the Employment Insurance Sickness Benefit amount.
———— BENEFITS FOR YOU, YOUR SPOUSE &/OR DEPENDENTS ————
BC MSP – Pharmacare, GP visits, Referred Specialists, Hospital charges …
Dental – 3 Plans – Basic [Plan ‘A’ – 90%], Restorative [Plan ‘B’ – 70%] and Orthodontia [Plan ‘C’ – 50% to lifetime maximum of $3,500]. Note – Always check the costs to be charged by your Dentist prior to any recommended procedure(s).
Vision Care* – 100% of eligible expenses (prescription eyewear and contacts, eye exam, and laser eye surgery) to a combined maximum of $500 reimbursed in each two year period. Anniversary remains constant for your lifetime and purchase date alone is not used to determine which anniversary claims are paid. EXAMPLE Anniversary: Nov 2013-Nov 2015 means claims RECEIVED in our office between Nov 1 2013 and Oct 31 2015 (not necessarily purchases made between those dates). If you have NOT used your full benefit in any period and make a purchase near the end of your anniversary we can pay the claim in that period but we MUST receive the claim in our office BEFORE the anniversary resets (Nov 1 2015 in the example above). If you have used your full benefit in any period and must make another purchase, you may hold receipts to submit in your next anniversary. See the Vision Care claim form for more details.
Extended Health1 – Prescription Drugs2, Paramedical3
Hearing Aids* – 80% to maximum of $1,000 per ear every 4 years.
Life Insurance – $75,000 with sliding scale after age 65.
Medical Emergency Travel* – Covers certain expenses associated with out-of-town travel and accommodation to receive major medical treatment in larger BC cities.
Travel Insurance – This is NOT provided by the Plan; although you will receive a 20% discount from PBC by being a Local 280 Member. Note – Always consider buying some form of this insurance – especially if travelling in the USA.
1 $100 p.a. per family deductible; then – per covered person – 80% for first $1,250 and 100% thereafter.
2 You have the use of a Pay Direct Card; but Dispensing Fees are not included.
3 $1,500 per year subject to Note 1 above; and this covers Physiotherapists, Chiropractors, Massage Therapists [Registered], Acupuncturists, Homeopaths, Naturopaths, Podiatrists, Speech Therapists alone or in combinations of your choosing.
* Vision Claims, Hearing Aid Claims and Emergency Travel Claims are all processed through the Health Benefit Administration Office