THE CO-OPERATORS
For layoffs due to COVID19:
Lay-offs require pre-approved underwriting acceptance, which can be started by emailing service@beneplan.ca to request an LOA. In the LOA, the following information is required:
Name of employee(s) on lay-off
Date last actively at work
Type of absence (Leave, Layoff, etc)
Anticipated end date if possible
The products you wish to extend (all benefits or some)
If the member(s) will be travelling, and to where
The employer must continue premium payment. Employees who participate in a cost-share must continue their cost-sharing, or benefits may be temporarily suspended. The same mandatory participation rules apply with respect to group life insurance and group disability insurance. Individual employees cannot opt-out of Life or LTD as a result.
The employer can elect to make the payments on LTD in a non-taxable plan if the employee refuses to remit the premium, and T4 it as income at the end of the year.
As of March 24, 2020: "Plan members who are absent due to a COVID-19 temporary lay-off can have coverages extended for a period of 90 days provided premiums are paid. The policy includes a reinstatement clause which allows the terminated plan member’s coverage to be reinstated within six months of their termination. No health requirement or reset of the pre-existing condition clause."
Please note that travel insurance would not be covered during this time, as per the Co-operators' earlier announcement.
GREEN SHIELD CANADA & BENEPLAN
Health & dental with no travel insurance can be extended during this time. Please contact service@beneplan.ca to document your intensions and if you need to extend benefits longer than 90 days due to lay-off.
HUMANIA ASSURANCE
As of March 31, 2020, Humania's FAQ site states:
Exceptionally and as a temporary extension of your insurance contract provisions, the following options are available during a temporary layoff, in the current context:
Retain all benefits except salary insurance;
Maintain only the health coverage (Quebec employees only);
Cancel all benefits, including health coverage, and transfer insureds to RAMQ (Quebec);
Retain all coverages, including salary insurance coverage.
Please note that unless stipulated otherwise in the contract, the salary insurance benefit can be maintained during a temporary layoff until June 30th 2020. If an insured becomes disabled during the period of temporary layoff, while the salary insurance is in force, the elimination period provided in the contract begins on the date the employee is called back to work unless the contract states otherwise.
The employer must inform us of his choice along with a list of impacted employees. This information can be sent by email to service@beneplan.ca.
As the current situation is unique, the employer's choice may be different from that made in previous temporary layoffs.
The position adopted by the employer must be consistent for all employees on temporary layoff.
These exceptional measures are only offered temporarily as of March 1st 2020.
Since these measures are a temporary exception to your insurance contract provisions, they may be adjusted, modified or cancelled at Humania Assurance’s discretion.
"I'm not working because of the COVID-19. Does my Disability Insurance coverage continue during this period?"
Yes. However, please refer to your contract to find out what conditions apply to situations of unemployment at the onset of disability.
No changes to the current policy wording. Check the group's policy for detail. Generally, employers must request an LOA in writing as soon as the lay-off is known, and the insurer must review and approve the request. If the request is granted, premiums must continue to be paid.
RBC INSURANCE
No changes to the current policy wording. Please check the group's policy for detail. Generally, employers must request an LOA in writing as soon as the lay-off is known, and the insurer must review and approve the request. If the request is granted, premiums must continue to be paid. Each policy is different, but in general, some policies have the following wording:
SSQ
No changes to the current policy wording. Check the group's policy for detail. Generally, employers must request an LOA in writing as soon as the lay-off is known, and the insurer must review and approve the request. If the request is granted, premiums must continue to be paid.
FENCHURCH GENERAL INSURANCE
No changes to the current policy wording. Check the group's policy for detail. Generally, employers must request an LOA in writing as soon as the lay-off is known, and the insurer must review and approve the request. If the request is granted, premiums must continue to be paid.