Our benefits plan is designed to support your wellbeing with comprehensive coverage and clear, straightforward eligibility rules. Below is a summary of key details to help you understand when coverage begins, who’s eligible, and what to expect during enrollment.
Eligibility Requirements
Coverage Rules | |
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| Eligibility | Employees working 25 hours or more per week are eligible for benefits.
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Waiting Period
| Coverage begins on the first of the month following one full month of employment.
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Plan Year
| The plan follows the calendar year (January 1 – December 31).
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Termination of Coverage
| Coverage ends upon retirement or cessation of employment.
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Survivor Benefit
| In the event of an employee’s death, dependents remain covered for 24 months.
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Dependent Coverage Ends
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Employee Cost
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Lock-In Rules
| Changes to benefits can only be made:
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Default Enrollment
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Re-Enrollment
| Occurs every two years, starting January 1, 2026
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Life Events
Life Events refer to common milestones that change the status of your family or relationship.
If you wish to make a change to your coverage due to a life event, you must make the update in Connect within 31 days of the life event occurring.
Eligible Life Events include:
Marriage, separation or divorce
Birth or adoption of a child
Death of a spouse or child
Your child(ren) no longer qualifying as a dependent
Involuntary loss of coverage under your spouse’s benefit plan
Return to work from long term disability
Dependents
Understand who you can include as a dependent under your benefits plan.
*A child is considered mentally or physically disabled if they are unable to engage in substantially gainful activity and remain financially reliant on you.
Dependent Type | Qualification Requirements | Additional Notes |
Spouse
| - Resides in Canada OR OR
| Applies to both married and common-law relationships.
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| Child | Your “child” is a person who:
| Must also meet one of the age or disability criteria. |
Coordination of Benefits (COB)
When a person has coverage under more than one plan, benefits are coordinated to determine which insurer should process a claim first. COB ensures that the total benefits from all plans do not exceed the actual expense.
- For Spouses/Partners: If your spouse/partner has coverage for an expense under their own benefits plan (either a group plan, private plan, or government plan), then their primary insurer will be required to process a claim before any remaining expenses can be submitted to our insurer.
For Children: If you have a child listed as a dependent, and they have coverage under another benefits plan (typically through another parent), then COB determines the primary insurer based on the birthday (month / day only) of the certificate holders. The certificate holder whose birthday occurs first in the year will be designated as the primary insurer for the child’s claims.
For example, if your birthday is Oct. 10, 1974, and your spouse’s birthday is February 3, 1979, the primary insurer would be your spouse, since in the calendar year, their birthday is first.
If you are separated or divorced, the plan which will pay benefits for your children will be determined in the following order:
1. Plan of the parent with custody of the child.
2. Plan of the spouse of the parent with custody of the child.
3. Plan of the parent without custody of the child.
4. Plan of the spouse of the parent without custody of the child.